Road Signs
August 10th, 2010 § 11 Comments
Hello from Nashville!
We’ve been going solid for three days now – at this time tomorrow we will be in Austin! Yep, that’s right, I brought along a friend.
My – very near and dear to my heart – blend, Alex!
This lovely lady arrived in the States last Saturday to attend a very special wedding and make the multi-state trek with me. What’s been even more fun than having her around is watching people’s reactions when I’ve told them the story of how we actually never met until a few days ago. They’re all, “Huh?” and I’m all “Yup! Welcome to 2010. Glad to have you join us.” If nothing else, this community has brought into my life some fabulous people whom, I swear, don’t pack axes, guns or torture devices of any kind in their suitcases when they travel to meet you.
Saturday we got all dolled up and headed to the historic Warner Theater in Erie, Pennsylvania, to watch my cousin get married in a throwback ’40s wedding.
To say this wedding was on point would not be giving it enough credit. Every little detail of the ceremony and reception was beautiful and obviously very well thought-out. Yours truly had the honor of being the first face everyone saw as they collected their “tickets” which were place cards to the tables inside. The bridal party was decked out in wingtip shoes, pearls and gorgeous hairstyles that would rival something in Mad Men. The centerpieces boasted beautiful Stargazer Lilies and ostrich feathers. People, It. Was. To. Die. 
After all that beauty, we were faced with this monstrosity.
Luckily, everything fit. Including what my Dad will tell you is the best part of Pennsylvania (that you can’t get in Texas).
For the next 10 hours, we drank copious amounts of coffee.
And rocked it out.
Yesterday, another dear sweet friend acted as our tour guide around Music City.
Maggie is one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of friends. We met the day she moved into the dorms at college and have been great pals ever since. Having gone into the same field, she is someone who truly gets it when it comes to having a passion for something that seems almost impossible to make a living from.We have racked up hours of minutes offering support from states away over the years and yet we just pick up right where we left off with each visit.
Apparently we missed the memo that yesterday was Melt Yo Face Off Nashville 2010. Regardless, we saw the sights and heard the sounds that make up this great city. It’s hard to believe so much of it was destroyed by flooding just a few months ago.
To me, Nashville boasts something in the way of a magical feeling. Having grown up in a small town dreaming big city dreams, I can identify with the people who come here in hopes of fame and success. As I sat on a bar stool in one of the honky tonks, feet dangling high above the worn wooden floors, I couldn’t help but take it all in. Within those notes that sang country classics, Sugarland covers and original tunes was something more. I’d like to be cliché and say it was hope and determination and dreams. I’d like to make this all wrap up in some romantic way and tell you that I felt like everything became completely clear. Instead I’ll tell you that it gave me a good feeling – some reassurance, yes, but not the be-all-end-all-moment of clarity. Perhaps it was more like a sign on a long stretch of highway, letting its traveler know how much area there was left to cover and offering some relief. The number may seem high and daunting until I reach my destination, but at least I know I am still on the right road.
Thanks, Nashville.
If Mr. How Sweet went to Nashville, he would never leave.
I agree with your dad about the Yuengling. The two summers I spent in upstate NY were FULL of that glorious brew! Looks like you had a great roadtrip – happy to hear you thought of me while driving through NEOhio!
Ah, so glad you have a travel buddy! It looks like so much fun!
Yuengling is most assuredly a delight, I always drink a ton of it when on the East coast.
Safe travels!
I, too, understand being passionate about something that does not pay.
Um, Classics? Hello. No one really cares if you can translate the Illiad from its original Greek into English.
I’d become an archeologist or something if I didn’t have a bigger passion–my husband and being a mom (some day…in the future).
And then I’ll teach all my kids to translate the Illiad too! And for fun they can translate the Odyssey!
awwww….best of luck to you! you are embarking on new chapter in your life!!! all of your pics are way amazing! i hope EVERYONE of your dreams come true!!! xoxo
That looks like an amazing wedding. The sign even has their name on it! I don’t even want to think about how much money that would cost to pull off, but I bet it was amazing and worth every cent! I bet you were an amazing doorwoman!
Looks like you are having a blast. So glad to see you got him the Yuengling. (; xoxo
I’m a new reader and absolutely love your blog! Safe travels!
Jeez looking at those pics makes me miss my road trip. What the HELL.
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