Our car was valeted, we checked in at the front desk, given a key card that had everything you ever needed to know and a little map of Nashville, and met at the elevator by the bellman. He escorted us to our room, placed our luggage down, explained where things were, and made sure we were situated. It was a beautiful room, with extra pillows in the closet, a minibar (that we didn’t use), a bathroom with a telephone and table (hilarious), and a soaking tub with television. 
We headed back out before we got too comfortable and walked around in the freezing cold to Big River for a meal of pork sliders and green beans, bbq pizza made with a beer crust (very soft), and a sampler of their best brews. Coming back to the room, the lights had been turned off except for the dimmers over the bed, where our bathrobes were laid out, and waters and snacks on the nightstands. 
Since it was so cold we decided on a bubble bath and since college football was on, we watched the game from the tub. 
I think my husband is spoiled now. The bath products were Molton Brown and absolutely scrumptious. We tucked into bed for the night…and woke up to snow! Mind you, it didn’t stick, but it was exciting to watch it coming down! The shower the next morning was invigorating and had another MB oatmeal soap! When we checked in the night before, they asked which newspapers we would care to receive, and sure enough The Tennessean was in a bag hung on the door, as well as our checkout instructions. Breakfast in the Capital Grille was included with our room package, and they gave us the option of room service, but we decided to head downstairs to see the scenery. The room was neat, the wait staff great, and the food better. Joel got a Jack Daniels French toast and pressed coffee, while I had a spinach omelet with sausage and potato and toast. They brought me a little plate with five different options of spreads for my toast—all in the own little jars. The music was on shuffle, we heard everything from soft jazz to classical tor Bryan Adams (and caught the waiter dancing to himself in the corner; hilarious). Once we had gotten our fill I made sure Joel checked out the men’s room. While the women’s is well appointed, the men’s room is a spectacle. By the time we made it up the steps to checkout, they were aware we’d had breakfast and asked if we would like any help with our bags. We declined, but the desk attendant was helpful in making change while Joel ran upstairs and the man at the desk told me some stories about the renovation projects. Because we’re in our twenties, not wealthy, and since we were on our way to a football game were wearing jeans…you would expect most “ritzy” places to treat you like dirt. But the staff at The Hermitage were incredibly helpful, nice, and friendly. And not in a “polite only” manner, they actually carried conversation. It was wonderfully refreshing. Too bad we can’t afford to do this more often! We spent about 15 hours there and felt like we’d spent a whole weekend. 
Once we got in the car, we headed three hours out to Memphis, where we met the guys I work with and their ladies.
We braved the cold (under freezing cold) for three hours tailgating, visiting, munching, and chanting at opposing fans that walked by. 
The seats were good, and we enjoyed the game. The ending, not so enjoyable. ..so I’ll just stop there. Afterwards we went out with the crew to Rendezvous for ribs. That place seats 400 downstairs and 300 upstairs and every Saturday night they feed several thousand. It’s a machine. Then Chad and Kristen showed us around Beale Street, though because of the cold and the loss, it was quieter than previous nights. 
We once again wrapped back up into our hotel room, though we were so tired and finally warm that I immediately fell asleep in my long underwear and we didn’t care that our hotel experience had been downgraded! The morning came too soon, and making it downstairs we realized the hotel we were in was enemy territory! None of them looked too happy to see me in my ECU hat. We hit the road again with PB&J sandwiches made in the car and some coffee, headed five hours south to Louisiana. You can always tell when you’re getting closer because the roads in Mississippi have an unforgettable rhythm. We stopped at the line for a break and captured Joel overlooking the Mighty Mississippi. 
Pulling into the driveway at Papaws always feels like home. We visited for a while, recounting our previous day’s travels and catching up on what was new with him and his caretaker, Deborah. Later that night, Uncle Charlie, Lauren, Ali, and her daughter Brianna came by to visit. It’s still hard for me to believe that my baby cousin has a baby, that Lauren is almost 21, and that Erin has a car. The next day we just hung out at the house, chatting, napping, eating venison, and watching football with Papaw. We started out for a walk with the dog, and got halfway down the driveway before Joel noticed it was snowing! Too bad it only stuck to the vegetation and not the ground. Later Frances came to visit (my third cousin once removed. Yes, really.) and the three of us headed to the woods for some quality time with nature. It was muddy. Really muddy. And Joel had on tennis shoes. Luckily, the whole family keeps a pair of shoes in the closet at Papaw’s so we don’t have to travel with them. 
We went out to the pond, through the trees, across ravines, built log bridges, and made it home before supper. 
In the morning we went to physical therapy with them, and it’s amazing to see the progress he’s made not only in the past few months but in the past few years. Then we headed to visit a Hatch cousin, who’s memory about a certain graveyard in the forest helped me a great deal in doing some genealogy. Joel and I let Aunt Suzanne finish her afternoon nap and killed some time at Antique Alley. One store had a jinormous collection of Sock Monkeys. 
They weren’t for sale. After naptime we got to visit with Aunt Suzanne, then Carrie & Frances, too. We chatted, laughed, and snuggled with the dogs in front of a crackling fireplace. Time with those we cherish always ends too soon. That night Deborah made a delicious spread of chicken and veggies, then we headed over to the Big House for cookies. We finally met Ali’s husband (where has the time gone?) and visited with everyone but Lauren (who was on a date…not knowing there were cookies to be had). Joel asked for pancakes in the morning, and pancakes he got. I took a picture of him and Papaw in the kitchen, but they both have such bed hair I’m sparing them the embarrassment and keeping that one to myself. 
Pulling out of the driveway makes me cry every time, but I just have to count the days until I’m back. It was icy cold when we left and we drove that night to the other side of Atlanta, with Joel following the path of the eighteen wheelers in the snow. We slept in the next morning to let everything thaw, and only saw ice in the ditches and icicles on the car window. These survived several hours in the sun and wind!Morrisville was our next destination, an impromptu stop for Chris’s birthday. Luckily they let us spend the night and Saturday began with bagels and house discussions. In the two years of home ownership, we came up with a list on the drive home and will share in the next post.
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