In desperate need of a short walk after driving 230 miles towards Asheville, North Carolina from a town outside of Murfreesboro Tennessee, I stop in a quaint, historic town: Dandridge, Tennessee. The second oldest town in the state founded in 1793!
I sought facilities at the nearby town hall, which doubles as a historic museum. While looking at the various items encased in class (including original handcuffs and uniform for old jail), I see the reflection of a handsome gentleman of advanced years.
"Yer here early, I reckon!" he says. "I'm in this museum, actually. Would you like to see?" He asks in a lovely Tennessee drawl. How could I resist those blue eyes? He walks me over to the section on war. There he is! A photo of a handsome man in his uniform from 1952 smiles back at me through the glass.
He tells me about his Ike jacket. "Only wore it once or twice...It was too hot, there in Korea. There's some place there in D.C. that wanted my jacket. They said millions would see it every day. But I wouldn't see it! So I donated it here instead. This way, I can walk here every day and see it." We look at the log book for Dandridge museum: 4 people. Total. In 4 days. One of those visitors is me. And one signature belongs to him, from his earlier visit.
"May I take a photo of you with your photo?" I ask him.
He has a large piece of chocolate cake. "I reckon I should be puttin this cake down then?" A man after my own heart. Chocolate cake! At 8 am! "I could get you a piece, if you want? It was my birthday last week."
It must have been exhaustion from driving for four hours that has me responding: "Thank you so much, but I can't have chocolate cake yet. It's a bit early for me." What a silly response!
"That's okay! I also made fresh corn bread! You must get a piece. It is upstairs! Promise me you'll have some!"
I promise. It is amazing.
A veteran, a gentleman, a cook, and a man who appreciates chocolate cake??!!! Shame he is 50 years older. :)
I sought facilities at the nearby town hall, which doubles as a historic museum. While looking at the various items encased in class (including original handcuffs and uniform for old jail), I see the reflection of a handsome gentleman of advanced years.
"Yer here early, I reckon!" he says. "I'm in this museum, actually. Would you like to see?" He asks in a lovely Tennessee drawl. How could I resist those blue eyes? He walks me over to the section on war. There he is! A photo of a handsome man in his uniform from 1952 smiles back at me through the glass.
He tells me about his Ike jacket. "Only wore it once or twice...It was too hot, there in Korea. There's some place there in D.C. that wanted my jacket. They said millions would see it every day. But I wouldn't see it! So I donated it here instead. This way, I can walk here every day and see it." We look at the log book for Dandridge museum: 4 people. Total. In 4 days. One of those visitors is me. And one signature belongs to him, from his earlier visit.
"May I take a photo of you with your photo?" I ask him.
He has a large piece of chocolate cake. "I reckon I should be puttin this cake down then?" A man after my own heart. Chocolate cake! At 8 am! "I could get you a piece, if you want? It was my birthday last week."
It must have been exhaustion from driving for four hours that has me responding: "Thank you so much, but I can't have chocolate cake yet. It's a bit early for me." What a silly response!
"That's okay! I also made fresh corn bread! You must get a piece. It is upstairs! Promise me you'll have some!"
I promise. It is amazing.
A veteran, a gentleman, a cook, and a man who appreciates chocolate cake??!!! Shame he is 50 years older. :)
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