When Lightning Strikes

I know, I know.
I dont get to see or chat with most of you for long periods of time and then I go and disappear all together. I appologize. I would do better to travel more so I can keep in touch with all of you.

So I happen to visit Tennessee not so long ago. And let me tell y'all, that its quite nice. Got to practice some of my southern accents and of course some southern cook'n. Gotta say, that I did not have any gritts while I was there. But that was ok with me since I have already sampled them. No comment on gritts though. If you're that curious, you can go and try them out for yourself.

So for those of you who are thinking of going, do yourselves a favor. Rent a car! Really. I did not, and let me tell you. A car would have come in really handy. I guess Im a bit spoiled from Europe, but public transport in the south was a bit lacking. Took a few cabs and bought passage on a greyhound bus out to visit my friend Dave. Bus sucked. Sat next to a guy from Watts California. Of course; dozens of seats on that bus and I get a guy from Cali that wants to have a chat. I had a magazine in my pack that I picked up in LAX when I left, and was reading it, when he started interviewing me. Then he found out I was from California and it got worse. He was talking about how he was not sure if he was going to make it back home for work in time, since he could not afford a plane ticket. Then about how he was bussing it all the way back. Thank god his phone rang and I hurriedly put in my ipod earphones before he could get back to me. Whewww. that was close. This was the perfect opportunity for me to practice my pretend sleeping. For those of you who don't know; I hate forced conversation. Especially when Im trapped on a bus in the window seat. Thankfully, I was the first stop on that bus ride. That could have gotten ugly.

At the bus depot, I cought a taxi to Daves. Well, it was a guy in his very old lincoln that smelled of ciggarettes. But he offered and I bartered him down to a reasonable price. About that time a lady came over to the car and asked if she could get a ride. The driver told her that we were already going somewhere because I was there first. I asked where she was going and it turned out it was the same direction as me. So I offered to share the cab. Off we went. Well turns out we were taking her a bit out of her way. She begin to get upset and started complaining. I just smiled, leaned back and said that next time she could just wait for the next taxi then. Some people just suck.

The weather report on the area was calling for clear skies, but the weather at Daves house had a forcast filled with lightning. Let me warn you about the lightning there in the south. Not all of it comes from the sky. Some of it comes out of little mason jars in the form of a clear liquid. White lightning, that is. Or moonshine if you will. Tried some of it. Its got some bite to it. Hope I didnt lose all the enamel from my teeth. Gotta say, "Not bad though." Then again, I havent met a drink yet that couldn't eventually convince me of her charms.

At the party I got to meet some of the locals. Had a great time talking to them. I just listened mostly. Loved hearing that southern drauwl. His neighbors are really cool. One of them, Glenn, wore overalls the entire time. He was an older gentleman about my hieght with a good size belly. From good eat'n I suppose. When he met me, he asked, "So you lav at thar en ellay?" I said, "Ya, I live in L.A.... Fed and bred." He kinda squinted at me with a hard stare. Not sure what he was looking for, but it felt like he was sizing me up. So I leaned towards him and said in a real soft voice, "Im a damn yankee." He bursted out with a laugh, "Ye damn yenkees...". Then he smiled at me and gave me good pat on my shoulder. I think he just didn't know what to make of me.

On the menu for the bar-b-que was pork. But not just some pork. Im talk'n about an entire pig. That along with all the great fixins his friends and family brought over, made for quite the buffet. I nearly busted trying to sample all of it. Dave and his wife were kind enough to drive me into town the next day so I could catch my flight home. Short visit I know. But sweet though.

And much to my dismay I did not make it out to the Jack Daniels distillery. I hope you all wont think less of me though.

Special thanks to Dave's beatiful family for all their hospitality. I hope to make the trip out again and hang with Dave and wrangle us some cattle.

Enjoy the photos. More blogs to come.

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