It seems like we just got here to Alabama, but it was time to jump in the truck and leave again. This time, we went to Georgia to visit some of our family. We drove about 100 miles through the Alabama countryside before we got to I-20:
We saw this chemical lime plant in Calera, Alabama–everything in the area was covered with a thick layer of white dust. I wouldn’t want to live nearby to that:
We made it up to I-20 for the next 100 miles. The fall colors were still hanging on to the trees up there:
We crossed the Georgia state line:
Then into the Eastern Time Zone:
and finally to our hometown:
I grew up in Douglasville–my family moved there when I was 13. I lived there until we sold our house in August of 2000. The town is nothing like it was back when I was a kid–there are so many people, so many cars, new businesses and a mall. You can’t get out of people’s way in the stores or on the road. If we didn’t have friends and family there we wouldn’t go there at all.
The first night in town, we met up with my daughter Emily, son-in-law Thomas, and grandson, Spencer at Longhorn Steakhouse. Mmmm, we used to go there about once a month. After dinner we went to the mall to walk around and look at stuff. I bought a couple of sweatshirts that I wound up taking back the next day. Emily got some bar stools for her new house that she also wound up taking back.
On Sunday, we went over to Emily’s new house:
They bought this house a few months ago–it has three bedrooms, 2 baths, a huge kitchen and dining room, front porch across the entire front of it, on six acres, with a barn, for $110,000. They got a great deal on it. Spencer loves the big yard and tire swing.
From Emily’s house, we met our daughter, Becky, at her beauty shop and got our hair cut. Then, FabGrandpa and Becky went to a movie, and Emily and I went to my mother’s house. Then, we all met up at Red Lobster for dinner–there was me and FabGrandpa, Emily, Thomas, Spencer, Becky, and our nephew Daniel and his family–Alicia, Brodie, and baby Katherin. We were so glad to see Daniel–we haven’t seen him since before Brodie was born and he is 3 now. Spencer and Brodie got along so well, and the baby was passed around and loved on by all of us!
Seems like all we did was eat eat eat, but that is not really true. We drove, ate, visited, slept, and did it all over again for four days. On Monday, we drove up to Cleveland, Georgia to visit FabGrandpa’s Mom and Dad. They live a hundred miles from Douglasville. We had a very nice visit with them–didn’t get any photos there though. We spent the night at the Days Inn in town, then went back for a second short visit before heading back to Douglasville for one last night there.
And it always surprises me that even though I lived there for so many years, went to high school there, and was the service unit director for the Girl Scouts there, I NEVER run into anyone I know anymore. Except–FabGrandpa and I went to dinner on the last night there at our favorite barbecue restaurant. It was very crowded, so we squeezed into a booth. When I sat down, the man sitting at the next table reached over and put his hand on my thigh. I was mortified and couldn’t speak for a moment!! It turned out that he was one of our friends we used to hang out with when we lived in Douglasville, and haven’t seen in 10 years.
Wednesday morning, we finally loaded up all our stuff and headed west, back to Payne Lake in Alabama. It was a whirlwind trip, four days and nights of rush rush rush–I am glad it is over and we are back home to sleep in our own beds. And the only traffic we see is this, right outside our door:
Hey – you forgot a picture of Emily’s house! I love front porches! It looks like an awesome place; especially to raise kiddos!
So do they live in the barn or the playhouse? I’m with Cheryl. What a great, and very busy, time to spend with family. Going back to do it all over again at Christmas?
Great pictures! I enjoy your blog and all your adventures, you certainly stay very busy. My husband and our two kids are from Alabama so I have many happy memories from there. A very beautiful state.
Beautiful photos!! It looks like you had a good time-and that it was worth the driving!!
Jan 1, 2007 marked the beginning of what I thought would be a month, it’s possible that two, of eliminating gluten out of my diet–three years in the future, I would never return, and my reaction to gluten while in the smallest cross-contamination form is without a doubt pretty scary, so we are on the gluten-free food plan, happily, for life. for no reason got tested, but an up to date skin biopsy after a new gluten exposure caused my rash (DH) to go back revealed antibodies; that, plus the other reactions i had put together (asthma, gas pain, bloated tummy, fatigue and dry, itchy and puffy eyes) okay know more than any test would’ve that I cannot, and really should not, keep gluten in my life.
Looks like you had a lovely visit! Going back to an old hometown always arouses lots of memories.
Sounds like a perfect TG! Worth the trip. I know what you mean about going back to your hometown. I’m always shocked when we get back and don’t see people we know everywhere..