Momma, I'm comin home!!!

“In just under 6 hours I will be hitting the road. I'm going to Nashville tonight, and then on to N Alabama in the morning. It is my grandfather's 80th. b-day. I spent my summers there when I was in Highschool, but haven't been down for a few years so I am SO excited. This small farm really holds a special place in my heart. I have to drive home on Sunday, but I will take anything I can get. I really love the Scottsboro area, and if the job market were better I would have already moved there. Just beautiful. Too bad I won't have any time to ride. When I was a kid we would take the horses up into the mountains camping. There is quite a bit of VTA property around there with loads of good trails, and little ponds and lakes. Great memories.”

“Sometime it is GOOD to be home...then again, there are those who say you can't go home anymore...hope it will be pleasant.”

“That sounds like a great weekend! Don't you just want to go back to those days sometimes?”

“XL that would be Thomas Wolfe....I visit his home about twice a week and sit on the front porch!”

“It should be a lot of fun. It is a surprise party. There are over 100 people coming in from all over the country. Really cool. He is the most amazing man. How many 80y/o men do you know that still break their own horses, and bail hay in the AL summer heat? He's tough as nails, but the most gentle generous man I have ever met. Drove semi's for disaster relief - volunteer. He once saw a pregnant woman sitting outside a mall in the rain with no shoes on, so he gave her the umbrella he had just bought his wife, and $100 to go get a coat, and shoes. Then he just drove away. He's just one of those people you count yourself fortunate to know, and hope that some day you can be half as good as they are.”

“MG you are gonna make me cry...I miss my grandparents so bad...enjoy him while he is here.”

“When I ran away from home @ 16 it was his house I went to. I showed up unexpected, hadn't had a shower in a couple days, nearly out of money, scared, and mad. He had family staying up for the weekend, and they were on their way out to dinner. He never even balked. He just said to park my truck in the drive, and go to the restaurant with them. He bought dinner, and the next morning followed me half way back to Indy.”

“My mom has a London Broil, shrimp, asparagus, red potatos and a 6 pack of Honey Lauger waiting on me! Will 4:30 ever get here?????”

“Daaayum! Got room for one more? What's the occasion?”

“No occasion...she misses me!”

“Awww... Cool!

I keep singing Ozzy in my head.
an I don't care about the sunshine yeah
cause Momma, Momma I'm comin Home
I'm comin home....”

“2.5 hours to go...”

“:-)”

“Have a good time, MG.”

“15 minutes to go.
I'm outta here. Y'all be good, and if ya can't be good - just be good at it.”

“Bro, when I go home to Alabama to my mother's house, I always have to rock out with this along the way....

enjoy the trip!

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Yea, yea Montgomery's got the answer”

“Did you make it?”

“Thank you meangreen for sharing that.

I hope your homecoming went well... Happy Birthday to your grandmother.”

“Indeed. Congrats. I miss my grandparents immensely. As long as we can remember these times, we can survive all the flame wars. Stay safe, and We'll see you on the trail.”

“MG how was your trip?”

“Absolutely incredible, Gurly. There were at least 130 people that showed up, and he had no clue till he walked in the room. It was great to see friends and family that I hadn't seen for years. It was too short of course, but still great. There were tons of cards after the party, and all of them said basically the same things that I said above. Really cool to know that so many people think so highly of him. I think a road trip will be in the works for this winter too. I really need to get down there more often.”

“I am glad you enjoyed it. Times like that are priceless.”

“WOO HOO!!! Me and the kiddies are Bamma bound for Thanksgiving! Getting to the farm twice in 3 months is unheard of for me but I am totally stoked. I have officially PO'ed the ex, and her family and I don't really care. She has screwed up every holiday since she left, and her family has always made me and my family bend over backwards to accomodate their holiday schedules. So now it's my turn baby! I'm leaving Wed afternoon, and not coming home till Saturday afternoon. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough to get the kids on the horses, or at least the 4-wheeler. I don't mind if it's not though, I'm just glad to get down there. And to make it even better starting this Sunday I will be on a vacation for 10 days.”

“Good for you and your kids!”

“Where in Bama are you headed?”

“Northern.
Stevenson. It's near Scottsboro on the Tennessee river. Beautiful country.”

“have a great trip!”

“That is a nice area. Check out the Walls of Jericho. It's on the TN line in Jackson County. They have about 10 miles of horse trails and you can hike the last mile into the Walls. I think they have a short trail and long trail for the horses. Also, it's about a 6 mile round trip on foot. I might have a map, if you're interested.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/253085178bzNgMJ”

“Thanks. We plan to. I'm not sure who is more excited, me or the girls.
I gave them the choice to either spend Thanksgiving here with the two families, or spend 9 hours in the car to see their great grandparents for 3 days. They all shouted for Alabama. They're so cool.”

“Have a great time.

Doug”

“I don't think the kiddies would be up for a trip that long they are pretty young - 8,5,3.
The oldest hasn't had enough time in a saddle to try it if it were just her, me and my grandfather. That would be a cool trip for he and I though. Maybe this summer... Hmmmm. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks DH.
last edited: 11/16/06 5:36:41 PM”

“I belive it's on 79 right before you cross into TN. I think Stephenson is around 79, so it'll be really close if you elect to go in the future. Have a great time.

Also, on your way down or back you might consider the aquarium in Chattanooga. It's really nice. Then again you might not be going that way. If you're heading west then the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville is always a hit.”

“Interstate 65 will be a #&%!$ that day. Plan on some delay in Lovisville and Nashville.
I dispise driving long distances on holiday weekends. Good luck, be safe.”

“I am going east. I did the aquarium about 12 years ago, and it was incredible then. Good idea! The kids have never been. They would have a blast! Thanks again DH!

Oh damn goat! I didn't even think about the traffic! I am mostly driving at night so hopefully it wont be as bad. We aren't leaving home till about 3:00pm so it will be evening by the time we get to Nashville, but Louisville will probably be a bear.”

“I'm glad you get to go! Have a great time and be careful! :)”

“the whole weekend will be a bear. It is Thanksgiving dude. Everybody is going somewhere.
If you leave at 3, you'll be in Indy at 4ish. Just like you, some people have gotten off work early and are already heading to Grandpa's place. South of Indy, you'll eventually be back to 4 lane interstate and both lanes will be packed.
Understand that you are not going anywhere really fast, and there will be points where traffic will be at a standstill.”

“We are headed to Dallas for the Tgiving weekend. Gonna cook for 24 or so Thursday (family invites friends without family to join us) Friday is the pilgrimage to REI, etc.”

“Have a good time, bro. Be safe.”

“Enjoy, and party in the Stock Yards for me dude!”

“UM thats Ft Worth Mean....I will be in Dallas (LOL)....Its a once a year thing...we go, remind ourselves why we live 1200 miles away (LOL).”

“ya but they are right next to each other.
LOL! My dad's family has a reunion about 5 or 6 years, just to remind each other why they don't have them more frequently. LOL!”

“meangreen - Glad to hear you are able to escape the craziness...have a terrific time with the kiddo's.”

“37 minutes till vacation”

“Ok I'm really leaving now. Y'all be good, and if you can't be good at least be good at it!”

“Have fun......................!”

“yo bear!”