Franklin, TN

Craig, Bridget, Hannah and Taylor drove up from Georgia to spend the day with us!  YAY!  How I enjoy these beautiful people.  We toured a civil war battlefield, and went antique shopping in historic Franklin.  Then Hannah, Taylor, Rob and I went Honky Tonking.  My husband complained because I didn't dance ENOUGH with him.  Who is this guy, who can't help but dance?  The best part of THAT experience was when the lead singer of the blues band asked us people dancing to form a "soul train", and Rob and I took up a Conga line.  From the stage, over the microphone, we were asked in no uncertain terms to cease and desist. A conga line is NOT THE SAME as a soul train.  Just so you know.   White people have no business on a dance floor, I can assure you.   Regardless,  I think Rob likes Nashville.  He may be back before long.

Nashville!

A little end-of-summer getaway for the Mama and Daddio was JUST THE THING to get us ready for the impending school year.  The fact that this vacation was paid for by my work just made it so. much. sweeter.  We were able to do things that we never do, like fly locally instead of driving 8 hours to a hub, check our luggage instead of carrying on, and pack WHATEVER WE WANTED instead of being minimalist.  We stayed at the super-fancy downtown Hilton, and even hired a Lyft driver for the first time ever.  Such luxuries, all the way around!  Definitely a different way to travel for us!

We got to Nashville before our room was ready, but that was just fine, because our hotel was across the street from world class restaurants and the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Lunch was delish.  We HAD to take pictures. 

One of Johnny Cash's ACTUAL gold records.

 That's our hotel in the background.  

The new convention center, also across the street from our hotel, was in the shape of a guitar from the air.  Crazy.

 Rob, dressing as the natives.

Elvis' gold plated Cadillac, with crushed diamonds in the paint to make it shimmer.  Some people have TOO MUCH MONEY.

Later that evening was the Lifepoint Mercy Awards reception and banquet.  I had to take more pictures of the food, because it was beautiful.  We ended up randomly sitting from a lady who went to the same elementary school as I did, and a lady who went to the same college I did.  What are the chances of that?????  So crazy.  Super nice people.  We also had dinner with the first lobbyist that Rob and I had ever met.  He referred to it as "government relations", but... come on.  We know what that means.  

The banquet was lovely and delicious, and humbling to hear the stories of some truly amazing people.  One lady donated a kidney to a complete stranger.  Another has taken in 18 foster children.  Others bring the homeless to their houses for Thanksgiving dinner.  Just inspiring, kind, generous people.  I was awed to be in their presence.  To be counted among their number was super humbling.  89 hospitals were represented from around the country, from coast to coast.  It was pretty cool.  

Cross Country

Boys have taken on a new sport this year: cross country.  They have gone from summer-time utter laziness, where they have done little more than lay on a couch all day every day, to running five miles before 8 am.  They are more than a little sore, but it is good for them, and I'm proud of how hard they've been working!!

First meet was in August, before school even STARTED.  What with band camp and cross country, school is seeping into the last days of summer, and I'm not sure I like that!!