Itinerary

Daisy, the World's Most Spoiled Dog, and I leave in 2 weeks for our grand adventure! Our itinerary goes something like this:
Winchester, KY--Family reunion
Memphis--quick visit to a cousin
Poplar Bluff, MO--overnight stay to visit my trees in Reynolds County
Omaha, NE--overnight stay on my way to SD
Vermillion, SD--visiting cousins, and on my way there, check out LeMars, IA, for next year's family reunion
Rapid City, SD--several days in the Black Hills
...from this point the plan is more fluid...
Wyoming--see friends, beautiful sights including Grand Teton NP
Montana/Idaho/Washington, Oregon--Lewis and Clark trail and other historical stuff
California--visit family, friends in mid and northern CA, Yosemite, etc
Arizona, Utah--Grand Canyon, Brice Canyon, Zion NP, etc
NM--on way to TX, Route 66, etc
Abilene, TX--family
Austin, TX--family
...the rest is weather (hurricane) dependent...
New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Keys, St Augustine, Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington, home

Any and all ideas for places to see are welcome. I expect to be home the 2d or 3d week of November, and am so happy to have house sitters while I am gone.

Packing--again!

We haven't been home 2 weeks yet (and we were gone 4 days to the beach to see friends--great fun!), but we leave again in less than 3 weeks (Sept. 4), so it's time to start packing. I am doing 2 things at once--starting to pack for the trip and packing more stuff away in my house to make room for the friends who will house-sit while we are away.
Daisy, TWMSD, and her side-kick, Cameron, do not approve of these activities. I tried to appease them with an hour-long car ride this morning (I had a book on CD that I wanted to finish), but they are not amused.
I've packed 2 containers already for use once I'm in the mountains--Wyoming and beyond. They'll stay in back of trunk till we get to Rapid City, SD, and I repack everything--swapping summer for fall clothes. I'm probably packing too much, but I'm allowed, I'm a girl.
One thing I wonder...when I get home after 2 and a half months of wearing the same clothes over and over, will I embrace the much larger wardrobe at home or feel as if I have "too much stuff" and get rid of more? I've already filled a bag for Goodwill with the work I've done today.
The big question is how many and which books to take.....

Art

The attached pictures were part of my birthday present from my niece and nephew in New Hampshire--beautiful!

Shenandoah Valley

On our way home from our northern travels, Daisy and I decided to go to the Shenandoah National Park and drive south on Skyline Drive. This national park was built in large part by the CCC and dedicated by FDR in 1939. I've attached a couple of pictures--they do not really show the beauty of the place. At one point a big deer ran across the road in front of us but too quickly to get a picture.

If you ever get a chance to tavel this scenic route or the Blue Ridge Parkway (further south), you will not regret it. But be prepared for slow travel--the speed limit is 35 mph -- to protect you and the wildlife.

It's Daisy's and my first morning home in 2 and a half weeks. It's as if we never left -- except for the mounds of laundry and half-unpacked suitcases scattered around 3 rooms. We will have a quiet day today and clean up a bit! For the weekend, we're driving to Wilmington, NC, to visit friends for a few days.

My blog posts will be less frequent until we depart of our big trip on September 4.

The world will little note nor long remember what we say here but it cannot ever forget what they did here

Those of us of a certain age likely memorized those lines within the full (but short) Gettysburg Address. Those who did not, should. It is staggering to think that over 600,000 Americans lost their lives in our Civil War--10 times the number lost in the Vietnam War. It is with awe, humbleness, and great thanks to all military men and women of all times in US history that I visit some of our Civil War battlefields.

Gettysburg was the "high mark" of the Confederacy; a battle ultimately lost by Gen Lee and his troops, on July 1-3, 1863. Just a day later the Confederate troops suurendered at Vicksburg; this double loss ended hopes for a Confederate v, but the war raged on for almost 2 more years.

The second picture is the Peace Memorial (with an eternal flame), dedicated by FDR at Gettysburg in the 1930s. It stands as a reminder to all of how precious peace is. The creation, expansion, and maintenance of our Civil War battlefields is a fascinating story, and at each battlefield there are stories of how soldiers from both sides came together years after the war to honor their dead. Most states have erected monuments at each battlefield where their soldiers fought. The North Carolina memorial at Gettysburg is beautiful (but I do not have a picture of it to show you) and was scultped by the same artist who created the Presidents at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. 1 of every 4 Confederates who died at Gettyburg was from NC.

The first picture is the Texas memorial at Antietam. This battle was fought in September 1862, and was the first time Lee tried to penetrate the North. It was a one-day battle and was the single bloodiest day in the Civil War. Four times more Americans died on this day of battle than who died on D-day in 1944.

The North's victory there (after several stunning losses in Virginia prior to this) gave Pres. Lincoln the impetus he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Back to Texas...as far as I can tell, the Texas monument looks the same at every battlefield--a simple marble plank that memorializes those from Texas who died there and all who fought there. Antietam is special because Gen. Hood's troops suffered an over 80% casualty rate--the highest of any unit anywhere anytime.

I am sure you wonder why I am lecturing on Civil War History. There are many reasons, but most important, I believe we all must understand the incredible loyalty and bravery of the men (and women--over 400 fought disguised as men on both sides) who fought for what they believed in and who obeyed the orders of their leaders, no matter how futile they may have appeared (again, as in an earler post, I refer you to Pickett's charge).

And the military leaders--so many on opposite sides once were classmates at West Point. They took responsibility for their actions, and they led from the front! When you have a chance, I encourage you to visit a Civil War battlefield and take some time to think what it took to serve there--no matter the side--and that our country SURVIVED, ultimately stronger than before. Our form of government, of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall never perish from this earth so long as there are citizens who are willing to sacrifice all for us and our freedom.

Last note--for other comments on freedom and our military, please see my uncle's blog at www.unc-whatreallymatters.blogspot.com.

PS: Daisy and I are home, but she won't get out of the car.....

Save the Turtle!

A quick humorous post. We met friends at Gettysburg Battlefield Visotor Center on Sunday. We had originally planned to spend a couple of hours in the museum, but someone jokester pulled a fire alarm and the building was evacuated. The 4 of us decided to drive parts of the battlefield in my car until the buiding was cleared for re-entry. As we approached the car, we spotted a turtle under it. K-- dropped down to rescue it and several people stopped thinking he had fallen down and was hurt. Here he is with the turtle, which he deposited well away from the parking lot in the woods, we hope to live many more days.

Reunion

B and her dog Cameron got here about 8 last night. Daisy and Cam were very happy to see each other for the first time in 2 weeks. I do not think they have been apart that long since Daisy adopted me. Cameron is The World's Second Most Spoiled Dog.

It's POURING down rain here this morning; not sure if we'll see the Battlefield or not.

RAIN--for those of you who live in Texas--is this wet stuff that falls from the sky--at least on the East Coast.

Seasons

There are many who say that in the Northeast there are 3 seasons: winter, mud, and road construction (there are other variations). Daisy and I know the Road Construction part to be true. On Friday we drove only about 150 miles from my brother's to Albany, NY, and it took over 4 hours. We spent the night and I re-acquanted myself with my best friend from high school whom I've not seen in over 20 years. (Great to catch up!)
Then today we drove a bit over 300 miles to Gettysburg, PA, and I won't even tell you how long it took. There was so much construction that I finally decided to seek an "alternative route" that took me on a toll road for about 15 miles. Now here is what I do not get about most toll roads (and bridges): they do NOT tell you how much the toll is until you are in sight of the toll booth with a few semis on your butt. Further, the THREE (in FIFTEEN miles) toll booths that I encountered were not manned, requiring that I have exact change, overpay, or break the law. I had a few 20s with me (not helpful), a one-dollar bill, and a bit of change. We squeaked by with 5 cents to spare. I guess one moral of this story is to always travel with a few dollars in change or at least some ones.
So I am road weary, although Daisy is...fresh as a Daisy. Going home promises to be just as bad, as I am meeting a friend here later tonight, and she is currently caught up in the same crap coming from NC. Maybe I'll go home via Kentucky....
Tomorrow promises to be a great day--no matter that the weather man is threatening us with rain and thunderstorms. My friend B is on her way, and tomorrow we'll meet some of my parents' closest friends for lunch and to tour some of the battlefield. It's not our first time here. I find that the more I visit any battlefield, the better I am able to understand the battle itself and the heroism of all participants (and insanity of some leaders at sometimes--see Pickett's Charge). More on the Battlefield tomorrow.