Day 1: Wednesday, April 2, 2003
I took two of my grandchildren with me to pick up my cousin at the Huntsville, Alabama Airport.
His flight arrived at 5:53 P.M.
I tried to give a little history about the Buxton Family to my grandchildren.
I told them that one of my great-uncles was a midget.
My granddaughter said, “ Granny was your great uncle born small and did he grow small?
My granddaughter was trying to figure out why my great-uncle was a midget.
I took the grandkids to Zaxby’s for supper where they ordered hot wings.
While we were at Zaxby's the kids asked me what my cousin looked like, and I said I had not seen him in five years but I am sure he looked the same.
After we finished eating we went to the airport to pick up my cousin. We met up with him at baggage claims.
My cousin said he was starving so we stopped a SubZone.
My grandson was still hungry so he ordered a Meatball sandwich.
The ride home took a little over an hour and a half.
We stopped at Ronald's and then I took the grandkids home.
My cousin was impressed by the double-wide trailer where the grandkids lived.
We live in an RV with only one bedroom so we booked my cousin a room at Days Inn in Florence Room number 124.
Day 2: Thursday, April 3, 2003
I picked up my cousin and we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.
I ordered two pieces of sourdough toast and my cousin ordered fried apples and muffins.
My cousin wanted to make a long-distance call to his wife, so we stopped at a pay phone booth at a local gas station.
Off to see the sites that the Shoals has to offer.
Our first stop was the Renaissance Tower, it was closed for renovations, but the front office was open so we went inside.
The clerk in the office said, “The Renaissance Tower will open again to the public in about one and half years.”
Then she said, I love your accent, where are you from?
Somehow we got on the subject of wine and the clerk said,” They have French Wine at Sam’s Club and it is marked down to $4.00 a bottle.”
She said the reason you can get the wine for this cost is because of the French. They supported the Americans in the war against Arabia.
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| The Renaissance Tower |
We rode across Wilson Dam
We stopped at my cousin's, she had just pulled into her drive.
She had left her husband at the hospital in the ICU and had just a few minutes to visit with us.
We rode to Spring Park to see the beautiful manmade cascading waterfall.
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| Spring Park |
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| Ivy Green |
Next, we stopped at Ivy Green, the birth home of Helen Keller.
We paid the admission price and the curator was very knowledgeable about the Keller home.
She told us how Ann Sullivan had dedicated her life to Helen Keller.
She told us that Helen was the daughter of Mr. Keller and his second Kate.
She also told us that Helen was born in the small house next to the large house, which was at one time occupied by David and Mary Keller Helen’s grandparents.
She told us that Helen had spinal Meni at age 18 months, which left her deaf, dumb, and blind.
We thanked her for all the information and started touring the house.
Next, we walked outside to the building where Ann Sullivan took Helen, so she could teach her without interruption.
We walked by the water pump where Helen said her first word, WATER!
I rode passed the house that my grandfather built and lived in until his death.
My cousin is a relative of my grandmother on my father's side.
I also rode passed the cemetery where they are buried.
We stopped at McFarland Park which is along the Tennessee River.
For lunch, I took my cousin to the historic, Classic Parlor Trowbridge on 316 N. Court Street.
They are known for their different types of ice cream, hot dogs, and quick sandwiches.
Don’t remember what we ordered but I know it was good.
Our next stop was Pope's Tavern.
We paid the admission and the curator started filling us in on the history.
I think she said was a former professor and a Watson.
She told us some history about the Watson family not sure right now how that related to the Tavern.
She was a very interesting person and she kept us way past closing time.
We rode to my home where my cousin used the computer to send his wife an email.
For dinner, we went to Barnhill's where we met up with other family members.
Amelia and her husband Peanut, my brothers David & Terry, and Terry's wife Caroline.
Harry and his wife Brenda and my son Mike.
We had a very enjoyable meal reunion.
We dropped my cousin off at the hotel and drove home.
Day 3: Friday, April 4, 2003
My cousin and I ate breakfast at Cracker Barrel.
I ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, and two slices of sourdough bread.
Our first stop was Wal-Mart.
My cousin had promised to give my aunt, who worked at Wal-Mart, some British coins.
My uncle was also there.
In Wal-Mart we met a woman in the automotive department, she asked my cousin where he was from in England and he said Reepham, then she said, I am from a little town not far from where you live.
She said I married an American Soldier and came to America to live.
Next, we went to the bus station so my cousin could purchase a bus ticket to Myrtle Beach South Carolina.
More site seeing:
Our first stop was the log cabin/Home/Museum, where the Father of the Blues W.C. Handy was born and lived. The cabin was moved to this site. We saw the Handy library, Several photos hanging on the walls. There were a couple of quilts lying on the rockers, a quilt atop the bed, a fireplace, a rug on the floor, Kerosene lanterns, a beautiful piano, and in the kitchen wooden dough bowl, glassware, and many cooking tools, dishes, rub-board, dipper, bucket, washpan, soap, pitcher, and many other items.
Our next stop was Indian Mount where we walked many steps to the top.
We rode across the O'Neal Bridge named for Governor O'neal who once lived in this area.
We rode to Tuscumbia to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
We toured the museum and stopped in the gift shop.
The woman in the gift shop said where are you from? I love your accent. I said my cousin is visiting family and he is from England.
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| WC Handy Museum |
For lunch, we stopped at Rick's in Muscle Shoals.
We ate supper at Newborns in Florence. Once again we met up with family members.
Amelia's husband doesn't eat fish so he ordered chicken.
Day 4: Saturday, April 5, 2003
Amelia cooked supper and everyone brought a dish.
Bobbie, Dad, Teresa, Rick, Harrison, Paula, and Robert
Amelia had prepared chicken, blueberry, and strawberry cheesecake.
My cousin talked about our relatives who lived in England.
Day 5: Sunday, April 6, 2003
My husband took us to the TVA Dam to show us how the dam works.
My husband took us inside of the dam, and we all had to wear hard hats.
He showed us how the flood gates, & turbines work.
He showed us the waterfall.
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Wilson Dam Turbines
We then rode to Opry Mills in Nashville.
We stopped at the Bass Pro Shop and walked through Opry Mill Mall where my cousin bought a music box for his daughter.
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On the way to Nashville, we saw a lot of farm equipment.
My cousin was very impressed with the many different types of tractors he saw.
He is a cattle farmer in England.
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| Bass Pro Shop in Nashville |
Day 6: Monday, April 7, 2003
Sadly we had to say goodbye.
I dropped my cousin off at the bus depot and from there he is going to
Myrtle Beach South Carolina.
He said he enjoyed his visit to the Shoals and would love to come back.
I am so glad he came for a visit. It is not very often we ever get to meet relatives that live so far away.
