Day 1: Wednesday, April 2, 2003
I tried to give my grandchildren a little history of the Buxton Family.
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 hadn't seen him in 5 years but that I'm sure he still looks the same.
After we finished eating, we went to the airport to pick up my cousin. We met up with him at baggage claim.
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 about 1.5 hours.
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 the Days Inn in Florence, room 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 sights that the Shoals have 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 a 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 stopped at my cousin's, and 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.
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| Spring Park |
Next, we stopped at Ivy Green, the birthplace 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 wife, Kate.
She also told us that Helen was born in the small house next to the large house, which was once occupied by David and Mary Keller, Helen's grandparents.
She told us that Helen had spinal meningitis 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 past 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 past the cemetery where they are buried.
We stopped at McFarland Park, which is along the Tennessee River.
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 she was a former professor and a Watson.
She told us some history about the Watson family, but I'm not sure how that relates to the Tavern.
She was a fascinating person, and she kept us way past closing time.
We rode to my home, where my cousin used the computer to email his wife.
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 delightful 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.
At 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 sightseeing:
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, with 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, a wooden dough bowl, glassware, and many cooking tools, dishes, a 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 told my cousin that he 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 the dam, and we all had to wear hard hats.
He showed us how the floodgates and 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 Mills 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 that we ever get to meet relatives who live so far away.
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