Leaving Arrowhead Trails in Kentucky called for an early wake-up, quick breakfast and final packing before gassing up the Prius and pulling out on the road. It was overcast and 76 degrees with high humidity at 8:30 a.m.

We traveled back East for a ways before turning North to find Lincoln’s Boyhood home near Lincoln City and close to Santa Claus, Indiana. Abraham Lincoln lived on this farm from the time he was seven until he was 18 years old. His mother, Nancy, died here when Abe was only eight. But, it was here that Abraham grew into manhood. It’s well known that he loved to learn, but he had very little formal schooling because he was working to help the family survive. The Visitor Center has two memorial halls, one dedicated to Lincoln and one to his mother. They are used for community gatherings, weddings and special occasions. The exterior of the center is covered with relief depicting the stages of Lincoln’s boyhood and career – writ larger than life.  Only a few stones mark the area where the cabin where he lived once stood.

Traveling on to our next point of interest we went back South and then West to find the Memorial for George Rogers Clark, who was instrumental in defeating the British in skirmishes over the Western Territory.  This fighting occurred during the war for independence and was significant in that these new lands almost doubled the size of our young country. I had never heard of George Rogers Clark and was surprised to learn that he accomplished these victories at the age of 26. I also learned he is the older brother of William Clark, of “Lewis and Clark” fame. The brothers were two of ten children . . . George was one of the oldest and William the youngest. Why had I never heard of George before?

The monument erected to him is a massive circular colonnade that reminded me of the Jefferson Memorial in D.C.  It is situated along the banks of the Wabash River in Vincennes, Indiana.

The skies were gathering clouds and gloom as we left Vincennes for St. Louis. We managed to outrun the rain for almost an hour and a half. Finally, at a rest stop along the Interstate the cloudburst happened and we not only had a comfort stop, we had a shower as well. I had to find my jacket as we got back in the car as the temperature had dropped by 12 degrees and we were soaked.

We entertained ourselves for the long drive with more of Steven West’s “Philosophize This.” Today’s topics included “truth” and “tolerance.” Both worthy topics of discussion and we enjoyed unpacking the thoughts after each episode.

As we drove out of the rain shadow I saw a brilliant rainbow among the corn fields. The sun came out again and we rolled into our motel in St. Louis as the sun hit the horizon. First order or business – nourishment. We asked the motel clerk where she might recommend and she asked us if we liked BBQ. My Dad used to respond to a question like that with, “Is the Pope Catholic?”

We got directions to “The Sawmill,” which was only two miles away. By the time we had arrived at 6:45 many of the menu items were already sold out. We made some selections from what was available and . . .  it was over-the-top-fantastic! St. Louis wins the BBQ competition as of today.

This marks the beginning of another “leg” of our wanderings. We have turned West and are now slowing making our way North. And, after the next two days in St. Louis, this will be the another “family” portion of the trip.

Delighted to be close to civilization again (although we loved our KY retreat) we find joy and grace in the speed of the internet here! No more waiting hours to see if maybe the connection will work. Small thing to be grateful for, but we are grateful, nonetheless.

It must be time to leave this lovely place. Some cleaning, laundry, sorting and packing was the order of business today. But, before all that we enjoyed a leisurely brunch made of the last of our breakfast provisions, out on our veranda. We feel like we are the only people in the world. It’s so quiet and peaceful here.

Next, a return to the laundry facilities and afterward, a good amount of cleaning, sorting and packing. Why does it always feel like I’ll never get this all back in our little Prius, when I KNOW it all came out of it? But, such was the puzzle for the day.

All of that took me into the dinner hour and we had a “clean out the fridge” dinner that was filling, but not very imaginative. I have to say, our planning was spot on, though. We will not waste anything, except perhaps a cup of milk.

I never got out for a walk, as I was intending, but while taking the garbage out I was grabbed by the amazing sunset. It was glorious! Our last gift from this special place. Beauty and grace abound here, even into the darkness. I could hear geese honking as they flew down the river; the crickets sang and their fellow insects joined the chorus. It felt like a special good-bye song just for us. We will not soon forget this time and this place.

The last of the packing will fill our evening and tomorrow we are on the road again.

A slow start contributed to the feeling of a long day, but we were only going to visit one stop, Stone River Battlefield, TN. That makes for a short day, right? Not necessarily so.

The trip down into Tennessee was swift, for all intents and purposes – we drove interstate the entire way. But, it was difficult driving with what seemed like all trucks bearing down on us along every mile. Sometimes we felt like we were in a tunnel made of trucks – all going 70 mph. Seriously. After we made it through Nashville and all the left exits, then immediate right exits just to stay on the appropriate road, we were relieved to finally make it to Stone River, Tennessee.

Stone River is the site of yet another bloody Civil War battle for control of the rivers and rails. Whoever was to triumph in the conflict would absolutely need to have control of the shipping and supply lines. The Southern General Bragg thought after one day of battle he and his troops were triumphant and left the scene to report his victory. Yet, the Union General Rosecrans continued to fight with his men and took a stand on a ridge where they constructed a continuous line of cannon to confront the approaching Confederates. This proved to be the demise of the Southern troops in this battle and although Bragg had reported a victory, had he stayed in the area he would have witnessed the defeat of his forces.

Once again, today it is a beautiful peaceful place that also has a large National Cemetery and the oldest Civil War Monument. The monument was constructed immediately after this battle ended while Union troops were burying the dead and designating the spot as a Union Cemetery.

While we were looking forward to sampling some Tennessee BBQ in Nashville, because of the traffic we decided to bypass Nashville all together and take another route back. So, in Dickson, TN we found a tiny hut labeled “Ronnie’s BBQ” with a sign that boasted “Voted the best BBQ in Dickson.” Well, that’s just what we wanted; the best BBQ in Dickson. We parked and went in. It was a one room kitchen with a counter. The tables and chairs were outside in the form of picnic tables. We decided to be brave. This was a little “local color” after all. (The year after we were married and made the move across country a friend had wished us a good trip and reminded us not to be afraid to experience some of the “local color” that new places could offer us. And, to this day, we’ve tried to remember Fr. Greg’s advice.)

I think Ronnie himself might have helped us at the counter. We ordered pork and brisket and flap jacks and coleslaw (with the option of mayonnaise or vinegar!). He packaged our goods and we went out to enjoy the décor of his dining room along the road. Needless to say, the meat was very good, but we liked the signature BBQ sauce even more! We were so happy with our meals we went back in to get a piece of the chocolate chess pie and Southern pecan pie we had seen on the counter for our dessert. Both were delightful. I think we found the best BBQ place in Dickson, Tennessee!

While making our way through the country back North and West to Canton, we saw many, many churches. One Baptist sign quoted scripture: “Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord.” Under the quote was added “Free samples inside.” I laughed out loud. Someone had some creative advertising campaign going. It caught my attention. I only wish I would have been fast enough to capture a picture, too.

After such a complete meal my driver was feeling a little road fatigue. So, we pulled into a parking lot so he could close his eyes for a few minutes. To my delight there was a Dollar Tree and a Walmart to keep me entertained and where I could get my evening walk around the stores and the parking lot. As I walked, I noticed the clouds were stunning. This one reminded me of a woman gracefully dancing.

So, the last hour of our day was driving back in twilight as we watched the sun turn the clouds in the sky pink and magenta. It was beautiful. And then it was dark. Very, very dark! Thankfully, by that time we only had about 15 miles left to travel. I knew we were in the deepest part of Kentucky, but we had not yet experienced it as the deepest, darkest part of Kentucky.

Yet, we found our way back and relaxed from our travels. It’s so nice to have a “home base” to come back to after exploring. This little place in Canton along the Cumberland River has been perfect in every way.

Since we’ve been out and about almost every day of the trip we elected for another day of resting. Just because we could! Yesterday our little Dixie recorded 50 miles per gallon! And, although she’s doing well with the gas, we thought she might enjoy a rest, too.

We made a farmer breakfast of bacon and eggs and ate on the veranda. But, today we decided to turn on the air conditioner for a bit. Continuous days of over 80 degrees does begin to feel hot.

But, I went out through the surrounding neighborhoods and took a two mile walk, then settled down to read my book. I sat down by the river in the swing and just admired the beauty. Why would anyone need to go anywhere else?

We walked to the Dollar General Store for hot dogs and buns to go with our salad for dinner and called it a good day of resting. Blessed!

Using Canton, KY and our little condo as a home base, we ventured south to find Shiloh, Tennessee.  Shiloh was a rail hub for the South during the Civil War and the Northern armies wanted to control the rails so the South would be split in two and would have no direct lines for supplies to their troops. Thus, the battle of Shiloh. As with most of the history of this terrible war, it was a bitter battle with high costs on both sides. But, Gen. Grant prevailed and managed another major victory in the South.

The landscape on the way to Tennessee was similar to what we had seen in Kentucky. Only we were able to spot some distinctive crops along the way: tobacco drying on racks in the fields or in barns, and fields and fields of cotton popping from their pods in the early October sunshine. Again, our route was mostly back roads, as there seems to be no direct north or south; east or west road in Tennessee. Looking at the map it is easier to understand why. All of southern Kentucky and all of Tennessee looks like a map of the veins in the body. Each little vein on the map represents a river or a creek. So, understandably, there are no straight roads for a direct route to anywhere since the early roads followed the rivers.

After many twists and turns through small towns, along farmland, and though thick growth, we arrived at Shiloh. It is the site of the battlefield park and National Cemetery some distance from any real civilization. First, we viewed the very excellent film at the Visitor Center to give us an overview of the struggle over the two days of the battle. We walked the immediate grounds by the cemetery and ate our picnic lunch in the Fall sunshine that was offering us an 82 degree afternoon.

We followed the driving tour through the battlefield and read about the conflicts that took place at each stop along the way during those fateful days in April, 1862. Satisfied we had seen all the park had to offer, we stopped in the bookstore. Being the only ones in the bookstore, the attendant asked where in the North we were from . . . and, I had to ask him to repeat himself as I couldn’t understand a word he said. This wasn’t a movie we could stop and play back because we didn’t understand the dialect. Truly, I was surprised I couldn’t understand him, but his Tennessean accent was thicker than a bale of cotton. “Wur y’all frum in da North?” My driver answered, “Seattle.” To which he replied, “Seattle! That’s not north. That’s West.” Hum. Was there an answer to that conclusion? We decided not to engage him. So, undeterred, he continued to enlighten us with bits of lore and whimsy that surly have a long history in the area. I bought my pin and patch and we finally found our way to the car for our return trip to Canton.

We back tracked the same roads we had used on the way to Shiloh; only traveling in the opposite direction provided a completely different view of the very same landscape. The late afternoon light is my favorite time for photography and I wished we could have stopped at every beautiful scene. But, we traveled on. As we crossed the Land Between the Lakes – and both lakes – to make our way back, the clouds had turned a soft pink and were mirrored in the silver blue of the lake water.

“Home” again, we warmed up leftover pizza from the other day and accompanied it with a side of chili mac and cheese. Our outing to Shiloh was complete and we are so glad we went. Shiloh marks the farthest point South we will go on this trip – and that was almost to the border of Mississippi.

Technical difficulties arise here at inopportune times. But, I think I’ve got the pictures documenting the day. Thanks for your patience.

We had a bit of a “lay in” (as the Brits would say; which means we got up late) and ate our yogurt and bananas on the veranda where we could see the river. Clouds and sun accompanied a pleasant 67 degrees, which would work itself up to 78 degrees before the sun set. Perfectly beautiful. We just sat for the longest time and simply enjoyed the day.

With what was left of the morning I spent sorting laundry and hauling loads over to the laundry room. It’s really nice to be in a place with laundry facilities where one doesn’t have to sit right by the machines. I filled 3 washers and went back to sit on my veranda. Once the wash was done (a couple of hours later) I went for a walk.

I walked down to the end of the road to find we are actually situated on a tiny peninsula that juts out into the river and behind us there is a lovely little lagoon of sorts. There are hardly any people around this time of year, but I can imagine it’s a busy place in the summer months. Still, we would prefer to be here in the quiet and solitude. It’s simply lovely.

As I turned the corner to walk toward a business down the road, three dogs of various sizes started barking and came off their front porch, running toward me. Oh no, I thought, I might have to turn around and go back to the condo. But someone came to the door and yelled at the dogs to be quiet. Then she stood in the doorway smoking her cigarette while she watched me walk past her house! I smiled at her, but I got the impression she wasn’t going to waste a smile on the likes of me. I felt a little like I was in Mama’s neighborhood from watching the show “Justified,” and was just happy she had called the dogs back.

I sat by the river for a while and then came in to make some dinner. Chef salad with grilled cheese sandwiches were the menu items for tonight – and for some reason, they were absolutely delicious. Eating out is wonderful, but one can tire of it quickly. The grilled cheese and salad was just what we needed.

We caught some national news and were horrified to learn of the terrible shootings in Las Vegas. Such terror seems so far away from this sleepy, out-of-the-way place in Kentucky. We pray for all who were affected in any way, and for an end to such terrible acts of violence.

A lazy day, indeed. But, at least I got the laundry done; had a nice walk around the area; and prepared dinner for us to eat on our veranda while watching the river and listening to the crickets, frogs and birds.

As darkness fell, it cooled off a little and still, we sat on the veranda watching; listening to; smelling; experiencing; and touching the grace that is this tiny, wonderful, beautiful, place!

October began with a warm and sun-shiny entrance. The morning temp was 65 and rose through the day to 75.

We leisurely ate our yogurt and banana for breakfast and watched “Meet the Press” to catch up on the weeks of news we have missed. Feeling a bit more informed on current events, we decided to make a tour of the immediate area around the small community of Canton, KY. I made my driver a coffee and filled my water bottle and we set out. What I neglected to remember was to bring my water bottle with me! Out of practice already. This place just makes us want to lean back and forget everything. I guess I’m off to a good start.

We drove over the Cumberland River and found the Visitor Center for the Recreation Area known as “The Land Between the Lakes,” or more popularly known as “LBL.” It is 170,000 acres created by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1950’s. Now it is a pristine wildlife habitat that hosts camping, fishing, boating, hiking and all kinds of outdoor sports. And, it is beautiful! We drove the length of the LBL until we made our way into Tennessee. Already that far south, we made the decision to go as far as Fort Donaldson on the Cumberland River near the town of Dover, TN. It was a gorgeous drive and before we knew it we had arrived.

Ft. Donaldson is the site of the first major victory for the Union troops in the Civil War and was a turning point in the struggle for Southern territory. The battle was led by Gen. Grant and when his opponents asked what his terms for surrender would be, he wrote back saying, “nothing but unconditional surrender” would be accepted.

The fort was a Southern stronghold along the river that controlled major shipping lines of goods and services. Being on the high banks of the river, it is a very picturesque and beautiful spot. Today the grounds were visited by all manner of hikers, picnickers, and bird watchers. We walked through the National Cemetery and went over to visit the Dover House where the surrender to Gen. Grant took place. The structure is the original building and it was inspiring, once again, to stand in the same locale as a person I admire so much. Grant has been much maligned by history, (there was fake news even in his day) but because of his intelligence, stamina, devotion to his family, and his success as a humble leader, I admire him greatly.

As we slowly drove out of the park there were several people standing and looking into the trees. We slowed and a woman turned toward my car window and said, “Thar ‘er two eagles in the tree over thar. Come stand right cheer and you can see ‘em.” So, of course, I had to get out of the car and see if I could. Eventually, I did sight one of them, but they were too obstructed by the branches to possibly get a good picture. Still, it was thrilling to see one of them. My thanks to the woman who encouraged me to try.

Without water or peanuts or any of the usual provisions I carry in the car, we had to make a stop for fuel. Next to the Ft. Donaldson Park Visitor Center was an establishment named “Mama Mea’s” that was billed as a pizza place. We actually looked around for something else, but the only other establishment in the small town looked less than appealing. So, we went for pizza. It was filling. That’s about all. But at least now we could hear some of the birds tweeting instead of our stomachs growling.

We took an alternate route to return to Canton and our little condo and, once again, enjoyed the back roads of Kentucky. Along the way, as the sun was setting, we passed two families in horse and buggies out for a Sunday evening drive. The day could not have been more beautiful.

Last stop, we had to get a few groceries for the week. We found the Food Giant in Cadiz, which, my driver joked, was more like a Food Dwarf. Yet, it had all the items we needed. So, we purchased a few fruits and vegetables and came back for an evening of waiting for the internet to download pictures. It’s a slow and arduous process here, but we are committed to carrying on.

Check back to yesterday – I think I have the pictures added there now.

Today we passed the 5,000 mile mark for the trip and our little Dixie now has 120,000 plus miles under her belt. But, before we got that far, we packed out of the Louisville area (actually Brooks, KY) and made a few housekeeping stops before taking to the road. First, we found a car wash and gave our little Prius a bath. It was sorely needed after so many miles and we had been talking about doing it for days. All that work necessitated a coffee for my driver and while he was getting that I ran into the nearest Kroger and bought some more sparkling water. Now we were ready for the road.

First stop was the Abbey of Gethsemane where Thomas Merton lived most of his life as a Trappist Monk. I had never been to the Abbey, but had read so much about it I had always wanted to go. And, here we were on our way there today. It’s situated in the hills of Kentucky and well off the main roads. So, you must know, along the way we took a wrong turn and saw even more of the back roads of Kentucky. If ever you wanted to get lost in a beautiful place, get lost in the back roads of Kentucky. Emerald green grass and ripening corn and beans covered the hills and valleys. Small farms with geese in ponds and horses in paddocks dotted the roads. Some of the roads were so narrow we had to almost pull off in the ditch to allow some farm machinery to pass us. It felt like we were traveling back in time – into the back woods of Kentucky where the deer and bird song are common and expected. Indeed, we saw several deer, and heard the birds and the crickets as if someone had turned the volume up.

Finally we found the Abbey of Gethsemane and made our way to the welcome center. We watched the film that informed us about the Monk’s daily routine. Prayer, labor, and leisure are the three staples of a monk’s life. Interspersed throughout the day are various periods of prayer and at 12:15 the Monks would gather in the chapel for Sext. Anyone who wished was invited to join them. We definitely wanted to do that!

We made our purchases at the gift shop and walked in silence to the chapel. I did stop along the way to take some pictures. The chapel was stark, but simply beautiful. The monastery was established in 1848, but the chapel had been renovated in 1967 to reflect the changes that came about as a result of Vatican II. Interestingly, the monastic tradition of antiphonal seating was maintained in the renovation.

At 12:15 exactly the Monks who had gathered stood in their stalls and began to sing the psalms for the day. Their slow chanting, all male voices, and the resounding brick of the building made for a moving experience. I couldn’t always make out the words, but the phrase I captured and will remember is, “O Lord, my soul longs for you like a watchman waits for the dawn.” It was truly beautiful and I found myself feeling the vibration of their chanting all the way down to my toes.

After sharing prayer with the monks we went on our way to the next point of interest. Not far down the road was the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. We stopped at the one room log cabin where his family lived when he was 2 to 6 years old. Then we went on to the actual place where he was born. The monument that stands in the place houses a one room log cabin believed to have been the actual house where he was born. In 2009, however, it was scientifically determined that the cabin only dated back to 1849 and Lincoln was born in 1809. It still is a typical log cabin of the era and it still gives the modern person a sense of what life in the early 1800’s in Kentucky was like. I think my bathroom may be about as big as that cabin! Seriously.

While traveling on to the next point of interest we gained back that hour we lost last week. In Kentucky they ask “Are they on slow time, or fast?” “Slow time” is Central time and is an hour earlier than “fast time” or Eastern Time. We laughed as we heard that little colloquialism.

Mammoth Caves National Park lured us into its central Kentucky location and we found the Visitor Center. Mammoth boasts the largest system of caves in the world and we found the largest number of people in one place we had seen since the Air Museum in Dayton. We walked the museum and watched the informative film about the discovery and history of the caves. One statement in the film caught my attention: “Exploration is at the heart of the human experience.” I couldn’t help but think about our travels, this trip and all the exploring we are doing. Interesting to consider this journey we are on is at the heart of the human experience. Truly, it is exciting to think that one step into the unknown can yield so much in terms of possibilities; and sad to think of missed opportunities simply because fear inhibits exploration. Yet, we found most of the tours were already full today and since we had just been in Lehman Caves in the Great Basin last year, we elected to move on.

We had two and a half hours of driving to go before finding our place for the week in Canton, Kentucky. We rolled in with only 15 minutes to spare before the office closed, checked out our keys and started to relax. We have a little condo for the week that sits right on the Cumberland River off highway 68. It’s a small complex, off the main road, with everything you could dream about. A river front you can see from the screened in porch; birds and crickets chirping; squirrels frolicking; and the setting sun pulling the shades on a beautiful day in Kentucky.

We saw several places; we stopped to pray; and we arrived at peace. I look forward to the week here.

Pictures were hard to get to this point. The internet here seems to be affected by the relaxing pace.

We moved away from Dayton and the history of aviation to travel South and West toward Louisville. But the day started by sitting in the breakfast buffet next to a couple of “Loomers.” They were waxing eloquent about all the presidential sites they had visited in their travels, each trying to “one up” the other. When we over heard the story about the locked fence around Lyndon Johnson’s grave site and how some Park Ranger had given this man private access so he could take all the pictures he wanted, I knew we were in the presence of a true “Loomer.” (The definition of “Loomers” came out of a dream my driver had the other day after a long day on the road. The people in his dream were called “People of the Loom,” “which means people who make too much of themselves, as in they “weave” stories which make them seem more important than they really are.”)

I knew for a fact this man was “weaving” a story because we have been to Lyndon Johnson’s grave site and there is nothing that obstructs pictures in any way! The result of our hearing all this banter was to wonder what WE look and sound like in the breakfast room in the morning. It inspired us to a higher level of tolerance and consideration.

Shortly after getting on the road I was reflecting how much I enjoyed going through Ohio on this trip. I had never really spent any time in this state or knew anything specific about the places or people who settled here. What I observed this trip is there is a lot of diversity in Ohio. We passed a Sikh Community Center; a couple of mosques; an Indian family operated the motel where we stayed; we passed St. Rita’s School for the Deaf – a very large institution; the National Museum of the Air Force had – I’m going to say hundreds, although it probably wasn’t THAT many – motorized carts for the elderly to enjoy the museum; as well as the requisite Baptist, Catholic, and churches of other traditions; with a good number of WalMarts and Dollar Generals as well. In other words, Ohio seems to be the middle of the melting pot of our country and it was inspiring and comforting.

The heart of the city of Cincinnati boasts the birth place of William Howard Taft. I knew little of this man, but I left the home where he was born inspired by his intelligence, demeanor, ability, accomplishments and the positive effect he had on our country. He was not only the President, but also became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court AFTER he was President. Inscribed in the lobby of the visitor center is one of his quotes. I had to write it down so I could reflect on it and share it.

“Individual liberty cannot exist unless it is modified by respect for the rights of others, and all obey the law.” William Howard Taft, 1916

These few words, spoken 101 years ago deserve some reflection for our day. I was inspired by Taft’s thoughtful level-headedness.

When we crossed the Ohio River we found ourselves in Kentucky and the landscape changed from rolling hills to distinctive hills and valleys covered fully with lush vegetation, both deciduous and coniferous. Leaves were just beginning to turn. The landscape changed so often it made it difficult for me to snap a picture. (I do have a terrible habit of taking pictures out of the window of the car while traveling at 65 mph.)

Driving on, we made our way into the city of Louisville and parked along what used to be Walnut St. I wanted to stand at the intersection of 4th and Walnut where Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton, stood in March of 1958 when he had a spiritual experience. The city was alive and bustling – nothing stopping for me – or anyone else. Trucks whizzed by; walkers ambled; workers scurried; shoppers moved with determination. It was a city intersection like any other in thousands of cities around the world. And, here – at this place – Thomas Merton had a mystical experience. I never expected to have a similar experience there, I only wanted to stand in the same place. To be where he was. To allow myself to be inspired to be open to the movement of God even in the most ordinary of places. Filled with noise; traffic and people moving in every direction. It was inspiring. I felt similar to what I have felt when finding some of my ancestors in the cemeteries we’ve walked. Then I realized, Thomas Merton is kind of like my spiritual ancestor. I have learned so much from his thoughts and writings.

Leaving the city center before Friday afternoon traffic, we made our way to a Starbucks where I had arranged to meet one of my first cousins I had not seen since 1977. We talked on the phone last night and both agreed that we would recognize each other from our common family resemblance. I got out of the car and saw her waving at me! We got closer and hugged as she said, “Oh my, how you look like your mother!” We laughed because I had told her last night when we talked on the phone that she sounded just like her mother.

We had a wonderful reunion and shared pictures of our children and began to catch up on the 40 years that have transpired. We vowed to stay in contact and we parted with hugs and more laughter. It was refreshing and inspiring to know that we could reunite after 40 years and not feel like any time had passed at all.

My cousin left to go home to her family and my driver and I needed to find nourishment. We walked the small business park/shopping area and settled on a little Mediterranean restaurant. It was delightfully fresh and refreshing. As I was sitting in the booth enjoying my dinner, I noticed there were words on the window of Zoe’s Mediterranean Shop. It read “Be in love with your life – every minute of it.” I was moved and inspired. What a motto to live by. We are enjoying every minute of this life! Every minute of this trip.

To top off our dinner we shared a lemon cookie. I’m here to tell you – it was the BEST lemon cookie I’ve ever eaten. (And, I’ve eaten my share, believe me!) We had to go back after we finished dinner and buy another cookie for an evening snack.

We took an after dinner walk around the shopping park to wait for the last of Friday evening traffic to lighten before we got back in the car for our final 45 minutes of the day.

The day was inspiring on so many levels. We learned new facts about our 27th President; stood on 4th and Walnut in Louisville along with the spirit of Thomas Merton; and reunited a relationship that had drifted apart because of time and distance. All of this is what grace is made of.

We didn’t intend to get up late and miss breakfast this morning, it just happened. Somehow we didn’t get the word that in Dayton breakfast only lasts until 9:00 a.m. and not 9:30. No matter. We just took off for our destination today: Wright Patterson and the National Museum of the Air Force.

It was only about six miles away and we were there in a snap. As we walked up to the doors it became clear that we could be spending the whole day here. The place is huge! Stopping at the information desk, we oriented ourselves and then went directly to the 1941-1945 era displays.

Lost among the information, pictures and planes it was a couple of hours before we came up for air. My driver needed some sustenance, so we made the executive decision to stay in the museum and get a hot dog so we didn’t waste any time going elsewhere. The hot dog was hot and filled the empty spaces left from the absence of breakfast. And, it provided just enough fuel to continue on. We went back to the WWII hangar and picked up right where we left off.

About 3:30 our feet were complaining and we decided we would probably not see everything. But, I did want to go outside to the recreation of an air field in England during the war that I had seen as we were driving in this morning. My driver went back to get the car, but I took off across the prairie to catch some pictures in the afternoon light. Just as I was arriving at the door of the flight tower and realizing I could actually go IN and see it from the inside, a man came out with a key intending to lock up and go home. “Oh, no!” I exclaimed. “You’re not closing up right now are you?” He explained that, yes, he was as it was 4:00 and this part of the museum closed at 4:00. Obviously, I must have looked disappointed. “Oh, it’s alright,” he said. “Go on in. I’ll wait for you.” Delighted, I thanked him and went on a whirlwind tour of the flight tower.

Coming back down the stairs I came out to see him locking up the Nissen Hut that housed the briefing room and the Officer’s Club. “Oh no!” I exclaimed again. “You haven’t just locked up the hut have you?” He kindly explained that I could come back tomorrow. How I would love to come back tomorrow, I said, but we would be on our way to Kentucky tomorrow. “So, you’re not from around here?” Well, no, I told him. We are from Seattle. “Well, go ahead,” he said. “I’ll turn the lights back on.”

My whirlwind tour of the briefing hut and Officer’s Club took me about eight minutes, but I was so grateful this kind docent allowed me to see these two sites. It makes up for the less than agreeable docent guide at Garfield’s home the other day. I thanked him again as I left and assured him I would remember this experience for a very long time. It’s only taken me six years to get to Wright Patterson and already I want to go back.

It’s impossible to distill all that we saw and learned in this museum. We’re still thinking and talking about it. Certainly the war years were difficult for any who lived during that time. And, this museum has done a fantastic job of making some of the war experiences of that time come alive for those of us who were not yet born when it took place. If you are interested, a walking tour is available online. It’s not quite like being here, but it might be the next best thing. Here’s the link to the WWII hangar where we spent the entire day.  And, here you can go on a virtual tour of the entire museum.

So, filled with knowledge, images, and experiences from the excellently displayed museum pieces, we left the grounds happy to be sitting in the car. Even though we’d had a hot dog for lunch, we felt famished. Something Italian sounded good, so we found a little hole in the wall place and had a lovely dinner of chicken piccatta and seafood fettuccini. The Dairy Queen around the corner just sucked us into it before we got to the car and we treated ourselves to some ice cream for dessert.

My driver went back to the car and I walked back to the motel. He assured me it would be about a half a mile, so I was good with that . . . especially after ice cream. Turned out, it was really two miles. But it was actually the best walk I’ve had since we started our trip. At least I think I walked off the ice cream.

It was absolutely the perfect vacation day. A museum filled to the brim with fascinating facts, displays and memorabilia; the kindest docent imaginable, who compassionately allowed me to see all that I could, even past the allotted time; a hot dog; an Italian dinner; and ice cream. Who could ask for anything more?

P.S. For my own accounting (and for anyone interested): Shoo, Shoo, Shoo Baby is the twenty-third  B-17 I’ve seen.