Another Year - Daughter Trip - Tennessee and Alabama -

6 years!!!!!! Last year's anniversary was great, and I felt like I'd "made it." Yet 6 years - I've "made it past" and that is spectacular. This means I am past any markers for re-occurrence; this means I can step away from the worry-zone and move beyond, leave any fears, doubt, anger, moods, hesitancy about re-occurence behind.

And I did this the past few days. My daughter and I have a glorious time traveling together. Last year we made it to Amsterdam and Belgium, this year we went to Nashville and Northwestern Alabama. Spending time with this woman is a joy - she is my best friend; we have a great time together.

Highlights included:

Broadway St. in Nashville - walking and walking and walking and stopping along the way to listen to music - from Honky-Tonk to Country, awwww, that was grand.

Amazing BBQ at Martin's BBQ. In fact, so incredible we went back the next day. I ate more meat on this trip than I have in years; delicious.

We rode electric scooters, and it was so much fun! I didn't fall! Bikes in Amsterdam, scooters in Nashville.

We toured the Country Music Hall of Fame. I could have spent hours in here - learning the history of the "sound," learning about the musicians and seeing their guitars, attire, notes, and then listening to the music of the eras and regions.

We also went to Parnassus Bookstore, took angel-wing photos near the Gulch in Nashville, and took pictures of all of the green.

Sunday my dream came true. 3 years ago Scott and I happened upon a grocery store, turned diner, in Christiana, TN (near Shelbyville). We stood in the line outside the store prior to even knowing what it was. And - the hometown/potluck/covered dish/buffet that was served was delightful. And I told Scott that one day I would like to bring Jenna to this same place for Sunday brunch. We arrived at Miller's Grocery Store 45 minutes early, there were 3 groups ahead of us, the place opened 5 minutes early,  and we were in, even sitting at the same table Scott and I did! The food did not disappoint, we were more than satisfied, and there is just something about good food and good company that does my heart and belly well.

We ate: BBQ - southern style - vinegar based rather than tomato based, and a white BBQ sauce that is local. Hush Puppies, Corn cakes, vinegar slaw, fried dill pickles, meat and three (1 meat, 3 sides), more Mac'n Cheese than I ever have eaten.

Visited friends in Alabama - the Pettus' and Mitchell families as well as Jenna's grade school friend, Toni. They haven't seen each other in about 20 years. Seeing them reunite was glorious. We were also able to visit the Fame Studio and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. The Shoals sound definitely has influenced my taste, and even greater, Jenna's taste, in music.

Went on loads of drives - when the kids were young in Alabama, I would pop them in the car and we would go discover. As Jenna and I talked about this memory, we did similarly, ending up on one near the Mississippi border at Pickwick Lake, not on our radar at all. So much fun to see the country - green trees and shrubs, flowering trees, rolling hills, cut-grass front yards.

We went grocery shopping at Piggly Wiggly - a favorite thing to do in a new area is wander a grocery store looking at the regional foods. Jenna and I filled a suitcase with canned goods!

We drove through Amish country in South Central Tennessee, then on to Franklin where we had lunch, then off to the airport and home.

We laughed at ourselves, at each other, at our lives; we talked about hopes, dreams, reminisced, and sorted that out, and just enjoyed being in each other's space.

And here I am - 6 years, full, rich, active, happy, at peace, and moving forward in good health.