Mike's Last Visit

Isabel & I made our annual October trip to Gatlinburg this week.  Got here on Wednesday, blew down the driveway and raked the rest to the street.  This is pretty important.  It had rained and the leaves are slippery and the nuts are a trip hazard.  Did a few other odds and ends then got the traditional Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner.  Thursday, Isabel took Mom to the Wild Plum and I went to Gatlinburg Golf Course.  Mom had a blast getting out of the house on a social visit, Dad enjoyed the peace and quiet and I shot a 94 which was better than the score indicated (I parred both Par 5s on the front and the first three holes on the back, but really blew four holes). Traffic was bad in Gatlinburg, so Isabel and I went to Joe's Crab Sahack in Pigeon Forge, mom and Dad enjoyed KFC again, and we called it a day.  On Friday I played the Sevierville Golf Course River Course (formerly Eagle's Landing) and shot a 92 which I felt was worse than the 94 at Gatlinburg.  The course is wide open, and I couldn't hit a fairway.  Good thing, I increased the number of balls in dad's bag- Golf balls and golf bags for those of you who are picturing something else GROSS!  Isabel went strolling through Gatlinburg and even she suggested we stay out of town, so we ate at the Alamo.  We finished watching Remington Steele with M&D.  Today Isabel is out to Five Oaks, I have at least three chore to do, then I will try taking a shower (for those who remember the time we had a reunion here and Dad didn't want me to dirty the shower, so I took a rag from the garage and wiped myself down with it) and do laundry.  We're leaving Sunday after Church.

While here, I transferred slides to JPEG files.  I started when I came out here the first time and have gotten through 1967.  I got to say, Mack you didn't like shirts did you!  Now I have pictures to hold over every one of my brother's and sister's head!!!

I would like to suggest that we all try coming out here in an organized fashion about every 6-8 weeks for a couple of days.  Not because M&D are dying, but because they need stuff done around the house and Mom needs to get out.  She is doing much better than the last visit, but still prefers the walker aound the house.  Dad doesn't want to leave the house and Mom is getting stir crazy in it.  Isabel described Mom as a "puppy sticking her head out of the car window on her ride around town".  Also, Mom doesn't feel good enough to cook for visitors and they didn't mind when we had plans to eat out.  She was bugged that I bought the KFC.

When I get done with the slides (probably in three more visits), I will leave a CD at M&Ds.  That way if you want the pictures, you'll have to come down and visit them!  Until next visit......