300 years of watching the world go byI think the nicest thing about my trip was the weather. It was 80 degrees every day we were in Tennessee. Now for those of you in the north, this may not seem like a big deal but for me, just the air was delicious with coolness. It's hotter than that when I walk the dogs in the morning. At 5:30. In the dark.We strolled comfortably through this delicious air in Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town, the day after we arrived at my grandmother's. Now, Texas is steeped in history. The alamo, the first settlers, the native american tribes. There have been people on texas soil-and you can see their legacy-for a long time. But not in dallas. Dallas was established in the late 1800's on railroad money but we don't like to talk about that here. No, we like to talk about celebrity bakery, pedicures, hotel W and the cowboys. We like it big, shiny and new here...and pretty much in that order.Don't get me wrong. I love my city. I love the mix of urban and cowboy, without the mechanical bull. But it was a welcome change of pace to stroll through this little town that celebrated and preserved it's history.And I'm talking BIG history here ya'll. Like civil war history. Like the country being created history.We passed a hotel that past presidents had visited. And I don't mean like Bush the first or even Kennedy. I mean like Polk. And Jackson. You know, the ones we don't know anything about because it was so long ago.The house above seems like your typical old home. Pretty, but unassuming. Except that it was where the first abolitionist (anti-slavery) papers in Tennessee were published and distributed. It was next door to a church that has had a congregation since 1790. SEVENTEEN NINETY. I looked at that church and I thought about the strength of continuity. I know that change are a part of life. But I also see all around me -and within myself- the tendency to leave something (or someone) when the going gets tough. That church has certainly seen change in it's 200 plus years. But it's survived and I think, GROWN and gotten better because it stayed. It developed roots. At one time I thought that I grew and expressed best when I was constantly flying in the wind. After all, I was flying right? And since change is constant, why not always change the scenery? Don't all the books say to spread your wings and fly?For me though, I've realized that I have become more creative, more whole, more myself when I developed roots. When I landed back on earth. That's what that church said to me. Roots.And then we went shopping. :-)The local antique store was full of fun treasures. Who doesn't love carter-mondale campaign buttons?? And I kinda want a kid just so I can get the coolest trike EVER for them! the stories continue...p.s. some of the photos that are featured in these stories (including upcoming ones) are now in my etsy shop. Please check them out!
