On my way to another 12-hour work shift at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville I ran into heavy downpours. Not one, but three! I'd be driving along Interstate Hiway 24 and hit a curtain of rain; it lasted for a mile or two and suddenly no rain. Odd. . . .
The work shift went fine. I love my new work!
Still, I was happy when the security relief arrived at seven in the evening. And not because I was tired from twelve straight hours, either.
It was because I'd gotten an e-invitation to a CD release party at 3rd and Lindsley. And not just for any old musician; she was Jonell Mosser, who attends my church, Eastwood Christian. and occasionally sings with the choir or sings a solo special.
It was my first experience of 3rd and Lindsley. Jonell had already her performance when I entered, and quickly I ascertained that the house was full. SRO, it appeared! But I was hungry, so I went ahead and approached an order station (computer terminal) at the end of the bar and made a request for nachos supreme. Within a couple minutes I lucked out and found a vacant seat at a table next to the dance floor and near the corner of the stage. When the nachos arrived, they were worth the wait and the challenge of finding a seat. De-e-e-licious!
And let my add, that my vexation at the scarcity of available seats was more than compensated by my delight to see that Jonell draws such a good crowd at one of Nashville's famous live music venues! (Jonell performs at 3rd and Lindsley several times annually.)
And it was Jonell Mosser I'd come for, not nachos or easy seating! She had a band with her, two guitarists (one prossibly a bassist) and drummer. They had been with her (or at least the drummer) when she'd performed at the public library and I'd gone.
Jonell was vintage Jonell, if I may say so. She has a great singing voice, really gets into her music with gesture and even outright dancing, and sings from her heart an eclectic repertoire. The Nashville Public Library labels her albums in their catalog as "CD Country", but Jonell is like Mary Chapin Carpenter in being "Country".
Jonell is a songwriter, and often writes songs with Tom, one of the guitarists. One of these, which I think she said is on the new CD, is about Chinatown. She sang it at a reflective pace and the song wrapped itself around me as listener. It was beautiful and so perfect for Jonell to sing! Later, her "other band", the three women singers of "Kentucky Thunder" joined her on the 3rd & Lindsley stage (they are not Ricky skaggs band).
After such wonderful live singing, how could a radio show compete? And yet the Grand Ole Opry gave me additional listening pleasure on WSM-AM 650 while driving to Clarksville. But since this involves another location, it's another story for another time.
Running account of my impressions of Nashville, Tennessee, a.k.a. "Music City", since my return at the end of July - altho' the blog commences at the beginning of November of A.D. 2008.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
News from Nashville
The past seven days or so have witnessed the end, or potential end of two Music City "landmarks".
Early last (calendar) week it was announced on local broadcast news -- doubtless also in the Tennessean newspaper -- that the iconic and beloved Elliston Place Soda Shop would close its doors for good after business on Saturday, 23 July. It seems the management of this landmark could not come to agreement with the landlord concerning rent.
But hooray for us soda-shop aficionados! A third party stepped in and averted the shut-down!
And then Sunday evening late news included a touching tribute to "landmark" Channel 5 sportscaster Hope Hines. You see, dear reader, he was fixin' to retire brom his broadcast position. His final reporting for Ch. 5 was on Wednesday (yesterday).
When I began following local TV news in 1983, I had no preference among the local TV sports guys. But Hope sort of grew on me, especially after I heard him speak at the Clarksville funeral of legendary Olympian runner Wilma Rudolph as the turn of the century and millennium approached. And altho' I found it odd that Mr. Hines was the only Hope I knew of who was not of the female persuasion, I certainly didn't doubt his masculinity nor his sports-reporting acumen.
Even tho' we will no longer see Hope's face on the Ch. 5 newscasts -- unless he does a Brett Favre-style (multiple) un-retiring! -- we who love him haven't heard the last of him. He will be writing his memoirs, due to be printed next Spring. Can't wait to "read all about it!"
Early last (calendar) week it was announced on local broadcast news -- doubtless also in the Tennessean newspaper -- that the iconic and beloved Elliston Place Soda Shop would close its doors for good after business on Saturday, 23 July. It seems the management of this landmark could not come to agreement with the landlord concerning rent.
But hooray for us soda-shop aficionados! A third party stepped in and averted the shut-down!
And then Sunday evening late news included a touching tribute to "landmark" Channel 5 sportscaster Hope Hines. You see, dear reader, he was fixin' to retire brom his broadcast position. His final reporting for Ch. 5 was on Wednesday (yesterday).
When I began following local TV news in 1983, I had no preference among the local TV sports guys. But Hope sort of grew on me, especially after I heard him speak at the Clarksville funeral of legendary Olympian runner Wilma Rudolph as the turn of the century and millennium approached. And altho' I found it odd that Mr. Hines was the only Hope I knew of who was not of the female persuasion, I certainly didn't doubt his masculinity nor his sports-reporting acumen.
Even tho' we will no longer see Hope's face on the Ch. 5 newscasts -- unless he does a Brett Favre-style (multiple) un-retiring! -- we who love him haven't heard the last of him. He will be writing his memoirs, due to be printed next Spring. Can't wait to "read all about it!"
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
A Most Memorable Music City Weekend
Have I truly moved from Nashville to Clarksville? Dear reader, you might not know it from all the hours I spent in Music City this past weekend!
Beginning Saturday: I drove from C'ville to my work at the Tennessee State Library & Archives building, signing in at seven in the morning. It was what I've been told is a typical Saturday: busy! Certainly we served more Patrons than on Thursday or Friday, same shift time (7am to 2:30pm). I took some photos while at work. BTW, I truly feel as tho' I'm a State employee now; Thursday I received my photo ID and Friday my State Internet system ID and password -- now I can do work-related e-mail.
After work I drove to Vanderbilt University's central library building, to do Internet stuff -- personal e-mail, Facebook, blogging -- and listen on-line to one of my favorite radio broadcasts, "Front Porch Fellowship". It's an hour show featuring the best in Bluegrass Gospel music, hosted by Les Butler on Solid Gospel 105 (FM). You can catch it at 4pm Saturdays, repeated same time Sundays.
I topped off my Music City Saturday by returning to downtown, specifically to the Nashville Convention Center, where I joined in the "kick-off" worship service for the biennial General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the denomination thru which I participate in the universal Church, and which denomination ordained and endorsed me to Army chaplaincy (1981-84). I saw several D o C folk I knew, both from Texas and from Tennessee (or formerly from Tenn., now from Ohio). The preliminary music and brief speeches made much of Nashville as "Music City" and our friendliness. And the actual worship included hymns and songs. As one speaker commented, "Singing is NOT a spectator sport for us Disciples!"
Sunday morning the Tenth I drove IH 24 from C'ville to Nashville again, for choir rehearsal, breakfast and an early (8:30am) worship at my church, Eastwood CC(DC). It was SO GREAT to see and speak with my Eastwood brothers and sisters again! The sanctuary was packed to the walls with worshipers -- I hate to imagine how over-the-top SRO the "regular-time" service would be! But members and our many visitors (including former Eastwood pastors) got treated to a rousing choir Anthem of "Lord, Here Am I" (hence my showing up extra-early for rehearsal), other fantastic musical offerings, and a fine sermon by Mike Kinnamon, titled "Why 'Tell It' Isn't Enough". "Tell It!" is the theme of the Assembly taking place right now in Music City.
Don't get me wrong! I love Clarksville, and am glad to be dwelling in the Queen City. But for this special weekend Music City was almost my home again!
Beginning Saturday: I drove from C'ville to my work at the Tennessee State Library & Archives building, signing in at seven in the morning. It was what I've been told is a typical Saturday: busy! Certainly we served more Patrons than on Thursday or Friday, same shift time (7am to 2:30pm). I took some photos while at work. BTW, I truly feel as tho' I'm a State employee now; Thursday I received my photo ID and Friday my State Internet system ID and password -- now I can do work-related e-mail.
After work I drove to Vanderbilt University's central library building, to do Internet stuff -- personal e-mail, Facebook, blogging -- and listen on-line to one of my favorite radio broadcasts, "Front Porch Fellowship". It's an hour show featuring the best in Bluegrass Gospel music, hosted by Les Butler on Solid Gospel 105 (FM). You can catch it at 4pm Saturdays, repeated same time Sundays.
I topped off my Music City Saturday by returning to downtown, specifically to the Nashville Convention Center, where I joined in the "kick-off" worship service for the biennial General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the denomination thru which I participate in the universal Church, and which denomination ordained and endorsed me to Army chaplaincy (1981-84). I saw several D o C folk I knew, both from Texas and from Tennessee (or formerly from Tenn., now from Ohio). The preliminary music and brief speeches made much of Nashville as "Music City" and our friendliness. And the actual worship included hymns and songs. As one speaker commented, "Singing is NOT a spectator sport for us Disciples!"
Sunday morning the Tenth I drove IH 24 from C'ville to Nashville again, for choir rehearsal, breakfast and an early (8:30am) worship at my church, Eastwood CC(DC). It was SO GREAT to see and speak with my Eastwood brothers and sisters again! The sanctuary was packed to the walls with worshipers -- I hate to imagine how over-the-top SRO the "regular-time" service would be! But members and our many visitors (including former Eastwood pastors) got treated to a rousing choir Anthem of "Lord, Here Am I" (hence my showing up extra-early for rehearsal), other fantastic musical offerings, and a fine sermon by Mike Kinnamon, titled "Why 'Tell It' Isn't Enough". "Tell It!" is the theme of the Assembly taking place right now in Music City.
Don't get me wrong! I love Clarksville, and am glad to be dwelling in the Queen City. But for this special weekend Music City was almost my home again!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Whoa! Not So Fast!
My previous posting on this blog, I said was my final post.
Not so fast!
In a way, I'm back! Yes, I'm still living in Clarksville, about 50 miles to the northwest of Music City. But no sooner did I move than I got called back to Nashville for a job interview! And then called back for a second interview -- always a good sign! And then was offered the job!
So. . . for four days each week I'll be commuting from C'ville to downtown Nashville, to work in the Tennessee State Library and Archives as a receptionist-security guard. It may not be as fun nor as exciting as the tour guide position I flubbed at the Grand Ole Opry House, but it's a job I CAN DO in a work environment I enjoy: a library! It sits across Seventh Avenue North from the Capitol Building. Indeed, as I sit at my front lobby desk (counter), I'm constantly looking at the capitol I consider the most beautiful and unique of all such buildings! And the TSLA itself is a magnificent Art Deco edifice, erected in the early Fifties. Plus, it's a memorial to Tennesseans of World War Two.
Also, I've not changed church membership to any congregation in C'ville, nor am I in a hurry to switch from Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in East Nashville. I'll be working every Saturday, and some of those Saturdays I'll be working until 7pm. So I'm seriously considering staying overnight those times and attending Sunday worship at Eastwood.
Therefore, Music City has definitely NOT seen the last of yours truly! I'll probably post occasionally on my blog here. . . .
Not so fast!
In a way, I'm back! Yes, I'm still living in Clarksville, about 50 miles to the northwest of Music City. But no sooner did I move than I got called back to Nashville for a job interview! And then called back for a second interview -- always a good sign! And then was offered the job!
So. . . for four days each week I'll be commuting from C'ville to downtown Nashville, to work in the Tennessee State Library and Archives as a receptionist-security guard. It may not be as fun nor as exciting as the tour guide position I flubbed at the Grand Ole Opry House, but it's a job I CAN DO in a work environment I enjoy: a library! It sits across Seventh Avenue North from the Capitol Building. Indeed, as I sit at my front lobby desk (counter), I'm constantly looking at the capitol I consider the most beautiful and unique of all such buildings! And the TSLA itself is a magnificent Art Deco edifice, erected in the early Fifties. Plus, it's a memorial to Tennesseans of World War Two.
Also, I've not changed church membership to any congregation in C'ville, nor am I in a hurry to switch from Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in East Nashville. I'll be working every Saturday, and some of those Saturdays I'll be working until 7pm. So I'm seriously considering staying overnight those times and attending Sunday worship at Eastwood.
Therefore, Music City has definitely NOT seen the last of yours truly! I'll probably post occasionally on my blog here. . . .
Saturday, June 11, 2011
I'm leaving her, but she shall never leave me!
Yup! This is my final posting on "Musings about Music City". You see, dear reader, it's rather difficult to muse about events, people and venues in a burg where one no longer lives.
I've left Nashville to live about 55 miles to the northwest, in Clarksville. The move came Thursday afternoon the Ninth. Doors in Music City figuratively got slammed in my face, while the window up IH-24 flew open wide.
So I took the last train to Clarksville.
Okay, so it was a pick-up truck of an Eastwood Church family; I couldn't resist reference to my new home-town's most famous song!
I'm happy about the move and at peace in my new "digs" -- a home shared will four other military vets in transition. It will make marital reconciliation much simpler, since the wife lives here and not in Music City.
But yes, I will miss the old home-town. Especially I shall miss the frequent visits to Vanderbilt for library perusal or attendance at events like baseball games. NOTE: the Commodores beat the Beavers of Oregon State 11-1 Friday in the first of a best-of-three Super-Regional in Nashville!
Especially I shall miss close proximity to my music and radio-personality buddies and to a wide variety of music events (mostly freebies, too).
And most especially I shall miss every-Sunday attendance at dear Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) and choir rehearsal on Wed. eves. Lord willing, I shall soon acquire trasportation to occasionally make that trip back down IH-24 to Music City USA.
But C'ville is where I need and ought to be. So with this, Yours Truly is signing off. The dear Lord of all be with y'all!
I've left Nashville to live about 55 miles to the northwest, in Clarksville. The move came Thursday afternoon the Ninth. Doors in Music City figuratively got slammed in my face, while the window up IH-24 flew open wide.
So I took the last train to Clarksville.
Okay, so it was a pick-up truck of an Eastwood Church family; I couldn't resist reference to my new home-town's most famous song!
I'm happy about the move and at peace in my new "digs" -- a home shared will four other military vets in transition. It will make marital reconciliation much simpler, since the wife lives here and not in Music City.
But yes, I will miss the old home-town. Especially I shall miss the frequent visits to Vanderbilt for library perusal or attendance at events like baseball games. NOTE: the Commodores beat the Beavers of Oregon State 11-1 Friday in the first of a best-of-three Super-Regional in Nashville!
Especially I shall miss close proximity to my music and radio-personality buddies and to a wide variety of music events (mostly freebies, too).
And most especially I shall miss every-Sunday attendance at dear Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) and choir rehearsal on Wed. eves. Lord willing, I shall soon acquire trasportation to occasionally make that trip back down IH-24 to Music City USA.
But C'ville is where I need and ought to be. So with this, Yours Truly is signing off. The dear Lord of all be with y'all!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday morning @ Eastwood Church; what I needed
Actually, I need Eastwood Christian Church (Disciples) every Sunday morning, plus choir again Wednesday evenings. Those of my FB Friends living in Nashville who have never been to ECC(DC), really must pay a visit! If you're seeking a place where people really love one another in the John 13 and I Corinthians 13 way and who live out the Master's teachings about service, self-denial and doing good unconditionally, then 1604 Eastland Ave. in ZIP 37206 is THE place for you. If you're hurting spiritually, emotionally or mentally, ditto!
I'm not just writing this to shamelessly promote my congregation. I'm a witness to all I've said thus far, and I hope I've done my share in painting the picture.
Take this past Sunday morning, 5 June. It had been a bad week for yours truly. I'm working on three leads to potential job placements; Friday afternoon one lead evaporated on me. Friday morning The Academy, the group transitional home (mostly for vets) where I'd lived since beginning of 2011, and I parted ways. I'd seen it coming, since for one thing I'd felt like I'd crash-landed on another planet since arriving at The Academy -- I hold almost NOTHING significant or important in common with the other residents and also have issues with a few of the procedures or customs at the place.
Therefore, I wasn't really upset at being booted out the door. Praise to God and thanks to my mother, I had a couple hundred dollars freshly deposited in my bank account. So for this weekend ouing I'm staying in a cheap motel on a bus line (tomorrow I'll be seeking new quarters in earnest).
Oh, that's the other "bad" thing that occurred this week: the car I'd been given by a dear Sister at Eastwood had to be returned to her for the summer. It's a long, complicated story, so I won't go into details; I'll just say that I knew the reliquishing was imminent, and it occurred Friday.
So-o-o-o. . . there wasn't any doubt I'd be attending Sunday School and Worship even more eagerly than usual today. As always, in the class we had great discussion (concerning the lectionary Scripture passages for today). Then, for the choir's Anthem, we sang "Clap Your Hands", lyrics of which are based closely on the opening verses from Psalm 47. Professional musician Roy Agee played his trombone as accompaniment (along with Marie at piano), and we choir singers DID clap our hands rhythmically for much of the piece. Later Roy accompanied on guitar while his wife Kristie and Liz Johnson sang "Shackles and Chains" -- NOT the Patty Loveless hit in Country Music, but a more spiritual set of lyrics with an infectious beat ( a few of us were clapping or tapping along on this one too). The song was written about four years ago by Johnson and Agee, but this was the world premier! And it served as such a timely salve for my wounded spirit and mind!
However, before they sang, Pastor Jay gave a fantastic sermon. Fantastic! I hollered "Amen!" more than once!
Titled "Focused Witnesses" and based primarily on Acts 1:6-14 with allusions to I Peter 4:12-14 and 5:6-11, the sermon was one of the best I've heard from Jay Hartley -- and he's a pretty good preacher at that! This sermon was among the best in that he commenced with a "perfect" opening (prior to reading the Acts passage he briefly set the scene by describing the Ascension of Jesus, with the disciples staring up in the sky after him -- until two "angels" appeared and told them to "snap out of it and do your mission!" Then there was a "perfect" introductory illustration: the oh-so-recent news item about media preacher Camping's prediction of the world's ending on 21 May -- which didn't occur, did provide fodder for attacks from unbelievers, and did distract some believers from focus on the really important meaning of the Gospel ("Good News") and resultant mission of witnessing to the world about God's love and grace. As Pastor Jay said, Brother Camping needs to pay attention to Acts 1:7 before he goes around setting dates!
And then to develop his main theme, of how crucial it is to stay focused and overcome distractions in order to live the effective Christian life, he used a couple of excellent and illuminating anecdotes. One of which involved Coach Tim Corbin, whose Vanderbilt Commodore baseball student-athletes are having a stellar year (SEC 2011 season tri-champs and over 40 season victories); Pastor Jay spoke of how the Coach emphasizes focus and team-work. (I already was familiar with this, and so I appreciated the segue from the cruciality of focusing for sports into its cruciality for living in general.)
To top the message off, Pastor Jay spoke of "spiritual warfare" -- one of the allusions to the passage from I Peter -- which isn't a focus he cottons to very much. He pointed out that "focus makes all the difference [in life] but distractions are all around us." In the fifth chapter of First Peter, verse 8b describes this challenge as "the devil prowl[ing] around like a roaring lion" and verse 9a urges disciples of the Nazarene to resist and stand firm.
Well, after such uplifting, encouraging and for me personally timely songs and sermon, what better way to climax the worship than with the Lord's Supper? Indeed, I was given a vision while Pastor Jay was giving the call to communion, of the Lord Jesus standing behind the Table, smiling an encouraging and loving smile while extending his nail-scarred hands to invite and embrace us! In such a holy moment, I sensed yet again the divine Spirit telling me to take off my shoes. Which I did before I walked forward to partake of the bread and cup.
Yes! Sunday morning at Eastwood Church (Disciples of Christ) was just what I needed! Thanks be to God for His love, power and grace, and for their reflection in my ECC(DC) brothers and sisters!
I'm not just writing this to shamelessly promote my congregation. I'm a witness to all I've said thus far, and I hope I've done my share in painting the picture.
Take this past Sunday morning, 5 June. It had been a bad week for yours truly. I'm working on three leads to potential job placements; Friday afternoon one lead evaporated on me. Friday morning The Academy, the group transitional home (mostly for vets) where I'd lived since beginning of 2011, and I parted ways. I'd seen it coming, since for one thing I'd felt like I'd crash-landed on another planet since arriving at The Academy -- I hold almost NOTHING significant or important in common with the other residents and also have issues with a few of the procedures or customs at the place.
Therefore, I wasn't really upset at being booted out the door. Praise to God and thanks to my mother, I had a couple hundred dollars freshly deposited in my bank account. So for this weekend ouing I'm staying in a cheap motel on a bus line (tomorrow I'll be seeking new quarters in earnest).
Oh, that's the other "bad" thing that occurred this week: the car I'd been given by a dear Sister at Eastwood had to be returned to her for the summer. It's a long, complicated story, so I won't go into details; I'll just say that I knew the reliquishing was imminent, and it occurred Friday.
So-o-o-o. . . there wasn't any doubt I'd be attending Sunday School and Worship even more eagerly than usual today. As always, in the class we had great discussion (concerning the lectionary Scripture passages for today). Then, for the choir's Anthem, we sang "Clap Your Hands", lyrics of which are based closely on the opening verses from Psalm 47. Professional musician Roy Agee played his trombone as accompaniment (along with Marie at piano), and we choir singers DID clap our hands rhythmically for much of the piece. Later Roy accompanied on guitar while his wife Kristie and Liz Johnson sang "Shackles and Chains" -- NOT the Patty Loveless hit in Country Music, but a more spiritual set of lyrics with an infectious beat ( a few of us were clapping or tapping along on this one too). The song was written about four years ago by Johnson and Agee, but this was the world premier! And it served as such a timely salve for my wounded spirit and mind!
However, before they sang, Pastor Jay gave a fantastic sermon. Fantastic! I hollered "Amen!" more than once!
Titled "Focused Witnesses" and based primarily on Acts 1:6-14 with allusions to I Peter 4:12-14 and 5:6-11, the sermon was one of the best I've heard from Jay Hartley -- and he's a pretty good preacher at that! This sermon was among the best in that he commenced with a "perfect" opening (prior to reading the Acts passage he briefly set the scene by describing the Ascension of Jesus, with the disciples staring up in the sky after him -- until two "angels" appeared and told them to "snap out of it and do your mission!" Then there was a "perfect" introductory illustration: the oh-so-recent news item about media preacher Camping's prediction of the world's ending on 21 May -- which didn't occur, did provide fodder for attacks from unbelievers, and did distract some believers from focus on the really important meaning of the Gospel ("Good News") and resultant mission of witnessing to the world about God's love and grace. As Pastor Jay said, Brother Camping needs to pay attention to Acts 1:7 before he goes around setting dates!
And then to develop his main theme, of how crucial it is to stay focused and overcome distractions in order to live the effective Christian life, he used a couple of excellent and illuminating anecdotes. One of which involved Coach Tim Corbin, whose Vanderbilt Commodore baseball student-athletes are having a stellar year (SEC 2011 season tri-champs and over 40 season victories); Pastor Jay spoke of how the Coach emphasizes focus and team-work. (I already was familiar with this, and so I appreciated the segue from the cruciality of focusing for sports into its cruciality for living in general.)
To top the message off, Pastor Jay spoke of "spiritual warfare" -- one of the allusions to the passage from I Peter -- which isn't a focus he cottons to very much. He pointed out that "focus makes all the difference [in life] but distractions are all around us." In the fifth chapter of First Peter, verse 8b describes this challenge as "the devil prowl[ing] around like a roaring lion" and verse 9a urges disciples of the Nazarene to resist and stand firm.
Well, after such uplifting, encouraging and for me personally timely songs and sermon, what better way to climax the worship than with the Lord's Supper? Indeed, I was given a vision while Pastor Jay was giving the call to communion, of the Lord Jesus standing behind the Table, smiling an encouraging and loving smile while extending his nail-scarred hands to invite and embrace us! In such a holy moment, I sensed yet again the divine Spirit telling me to take off my shoes. Which I did before I walked forward to partake of the bread and cup.
Yes! Sunday morning at Eastwood Church (Disciples of Christ) was just what I needed! Thanks be to God for His love, power and grace, and for their reflection in my ECC(DC) brothers and sisters!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Memorial Day 2011 in Music City
Hm-m-m, already it's the First of June in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven. However, before the new month gets any older, I wish to share about a happening of late in the previous month. Memorial Day in Music City.
This A.D. 2011 is one of those all-too-rare calendar years when the observed Memorial Day coincides with the original and REAL M.D. (30 May any more is labeled, if at all, as M.D. Traditional.)
In speaking about midday with my mother by phone, she reported that in her current town of residence, Cody, Wyoming, it was rainy and cold. I had already seen on ome of the national-broadcast early morning shows, that nearby Yellowstone Park had two to three inches of SNOW forecast!
In Nashville, on the other hand, it appears that old winter has finally loosened its grip and departed for good. Temperatures did a flip-flop on this Memorial Day, with the high being quite higher than average (rather than being several degrees below). And the humidity rose along with the temp.
But never mind! There might not have been a parade nor a well-publicized ceremony in a military cemetery in Nashville (as there was in San Antonio while I was living there). But the now-customary habit of picnics in the park saw plenty of action here. Action that included the men of The Academy (the place where I presently live).
We all packed up food and fixin's and journeyed across the Cumberland River to Shelby Park, a huge old park with golf course on the riverbank in East Nashville. Between two ballfields near the railroad trestle end of this park we set up a grill and spread the food, drinks and condiments. Those who were not involved in the set-up or cooking made the journey late in the morning.
We feasted on grilled burgers, franks and brown beans, chips and homemade potato salad. The homemade salad had my personal favorite ingredient: boiled eggs chopped coarse (i.e., large pieces). Yum-yum!
Yours truly took some photographs, which involved some sauntering around that area of Shelby Park. Other than that and eating I just chilled out in the shade of the mature trees. Whenever a train passed on the trestle I focused on it; four trains chugged along in the time we were there.
About four or five fishing poles had been brought along, and some of the fellas took these over to the nearby pond. And they did have some luck! Had we stuck around 'til supper-time we might have feasted on fresh fish. (That is, some of us would have, there not being sufficient fish caught to go around.) But we left the picnic site a bit after two in the afternoon, thus beating the hottest part of a hot and humid day.
Despite the meteorological taste of soon-coming summer, we had a great Memorial Day observance, picnic style.
This A.D. 2011 is one of those all-too-rare calendar years when the observed Memorial Day coincides with the original and REAL M.D. (30 May any more is labeled, if at all, as M.D. Traditional.)
In speaking about midday with my mother by phone, she reported that in her current town of residence, Cody, Wyoming, it was rainy and cold. I had already seen on ome of the national-broadcast early morning shows, that nearby Yellowstone Park had two to three inches of SNOW forecast!
In Nashville, on the other hand, it appears that old winter has finally loosened its grip and departed for good. Temperatures did a flip-flop on this Memorial Day, with the high being quite higher than average (rather than being several degrees below). And the humidity rose along with the temp.
But never mind! There might not have been a parade nor a well-publicized ceremony in a military cemetery in Nashville (as there was in San Antonio while I was living there). But the now-customary habit of picnics in the park saw plenty of action here. Action that included the men of The Academy (the place where I presently live).
We all packed up food and fixin's and journeyed across the Cumberland River to Shelby Park, a huge old park with golf course on the riverbank in East Nashville. Between two ballfields near the railroad trestle end of this park we set up a grill and spread the food, drinks and condiments. Those who were not involved in the set-up or cooking made the journey late in the morning.
We feasted on grilled burgers, franks and brown beans, chips and homemade potato salad. The homemade salad had my personal favorite ingredient: boiled eggs chopped coarse (i.e., large pieces). Yum-yum!
Yours truly took some photographs, which involved some sauntering around that area of Shelby Park. Other than that and eating I just chilled out in the shade of the mature trees. Whenever a train passed on the trestle I focused on it; four trains chugged along in the time we were there.
About four or five fishing poles had been brought along, and some of the fellas took these over to the nearby pond. And they did have some luck! Had we stuck around 'til supper-time we might have feasted on fresh fish. (That is, some of us would have, there not being sufficient fish caught to go around.) But we left the picnic site a bit after two in the afternoon, thus beating the hottest part of a hot and humid day.
Despite the meteorological taste of soon-coming summer, we had a great Memorial Day observance, picnic style.
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