Sunday, June 17, 2007
Happy Father's Day....now get lost!!!
I decided that this Father's Day, I'd like to take a road trip. I really, really wanted to go see the "Paper Clips" exhibit in Whitwell, TN. So we decided to combine that with a trip to those two icons of tourist stuff, Ruby Falls and Rock City.
First, the "Paper Clips" exhibit. I saw the documentary on the subject over a year ago, and it moved me. I knew I'd be touched by this exhibit. But my preconceived notion on that was not even close to reality. This is the second most moving holocaust memorial I've ever visited (Boston's being the winner there). That the children of this small, Southern town (smaller than my home town of Milan, MI) came up with this thoughtful way of making the holocaust real to this and future generations is extraordinary. The old cattle-car which was brought over from Germany (which had been used to transport hundreds of Jews at a time during WWII) to house this exhibit was amazing. This train car, which was an instrument of evil, is now an example of what is best in humans. This made the day a winner right off the bat. I just want to remember this place, and I honor the place as sacred.
Then it was off to the tourist stuff. I have been to Ruby Falls before, but it has been 20 years since that trip. It was still really cool after all these years. It is amazing what is 1000 feet inside the belly of a large mountain. Is is even more amazing that it was found and made available to the public. So the day continued to be great.
Off to Rock City. Now, this is a tourist area which is really a tourist area. It has been made into something worth seeing, but it's grandeur has been lost in all the ketch. It's too bad it can't be restored to a less commercial attraction and the natural beauty of the place allowed to stand on its own.
From there I decided that we would take a more scenic (and what I thought would be a less round about) way home. Ummm, I was wrong.
I am going to preface what I'm about to say with one truth...I am one of the best at finding my way around an area that I am unfamiliar with. I've usually been able to get through cities which are confusing without much of a problem, and back roads are no match for my sterling abilities.
That is, until today.
I wanted to take the scenic route. I thought we'd go from Rock City (in Lookout Mountain, GA) down the mountain and into a small town called LaFayette (named after a famous French general, I think). I thought we'd then find a nice homey restaurant to have dinner in and then go from there home.
But fate, and the amazingly confusing signage in the area, conspired against me. The trip along the crest of the mountain and down one side was without incident, except that my wife freaked every time the road was next to the mountain rim. But as we moved down the mountain, and roads either ran together or forked, I became more and more confused. I kept thinking that as long as I was moving to the south or southeast (or east for that matter), I'd be OK. But I was becoming less and less certain of that until I fully realized I had NO idea what road we were on and where the hell we were.
Now, there was no way in hell I was going to admit this. Not with my wife and both sons complaining that we were in the middle of nowhere (which was not the case, we were east of the middle of nowhere). I just kept my mouth shut and kept hoping that I'd finally find where I wanted to go.
But just as I was about to admit my error....G_d gave me a gift. A sign which said to turn left to find I-75. I took it like I had just found a pot of gold.
In the next few days, I shall look at a map and carefully try to find out where the hell I went today. If for no other reason, to make sure I don't go there EVER again.
Of course, we now must assess today based on all the available evidence. The events we went to graded out at an A+, A, and B-. The food (and we found a pretty good BBQ place in TN) graded out at a C+ (lost a lot when we ate at Shoney's in Calhoun, GA....peach cobbler without peaches is worthless). Family enjoyment and time spent together, A-, points being taken off for Jacob's losing it over there being bees at the "Paper Clips" exhibit.
In other words, a GREAT Father's Day.
First, the "Paper Clips" exhibit. I saw the documentary on the subject over a year ago, and it moved me. I knew I'd be touched by this exhibit. But my preconceived notion on that was not even close to reality. This is the second most moving holocaust memorial I've ever visited (Boston's being the winner there). That the children of this small, Southern town (smaller than my home town of Milan, MI) came up with this thoughtful way of making the holocaust real to this and future generations is extraordinary. The old cattle-car which was brought over from Germany (which had been used to transport hundreds of Jews at a time during WWII) to house this exhibit was amazing. This train car, which was an instrument of evil, is now an example of what is best in humans. This made the day a winner right off the bat. I just want to remember this place, and I honor the place as sacred.
Then it was off to the tourist stuff. I have been to Ruby Falls before, but it has been 20 years since that trip. It was still really cool after all these years. It is amazing what is 1000 feet inside the belly of a large mountain. Is is even more amazing that it was found and made available to the public. So the day continued to be great.
Off to Rock City. Now, this is a tourist area which is really a tourist area. It has been made into something worth seeing, but it's grandeur has been lost in all the ketch. It's too bad it can't be restored to a less commercial attraction and the natural beauty of the place allowed to stand on its own.
From there I decided that we would take a more scenic (and what I thought would be a less round about) way home. Ummm, I was wrong.
I am going to preface what I'm about to say with one truth...I am one of the best at finding my way around an area that I am unfamiliar with. I've usually been able to get through cities which are confusing without much of a problem, and back roads are no match for my sterling abilities.
That is, until today.
I wanted to take the scenic route. I thought we'd go from Rock City (in Lookout Mountain, GA) down the mountain and into a small town called LaFayette (named after a famous French general, I think). I thought we'd then find a nice homey restaurant to have dinner in and then go from there home.
But fate, and the amazingly confusing signage in the area, conspired against me. The trip along the crest of the mountain and down one side was without incident, except that my wife freaked every time the road was next to the mountain rim. But as we moved down the mountain, and roads either ran together or forked, I became more and more confused. I kept thinking that as long as I was moving to the south or southeast (or east for that matter), I'd be OK. But I was becoming less and less certain of that until I fully realized I had NO idea what road we were on and where the hell we were.
Now, there was no way in hell I was going to admit this. Not with my wife and both sons complaining that we were in the middle of nowhere (which was not the case, we were east of the middle of nowhere). I just kept my mouth shut and kept hoping that I'd finally find where I wanted to go.
But just as I was about to admit my error....G_d gave me a gift. A sign which said to turn left to find I-75. I took it like I had just found a pot of gold.
In the next few days, I shall look at a map and carefully try to find out where the hell I went today. If for no other reason, to make sure I don't go there EVER again.
Of course, we now must assess today based on all the available evidence. The events we went to graded out at an A+, A, and B-. The food (and we found a pretty good BBQ place in TN) graded out at a C+ (lost a lot when we ate at Shoney's in Calhoun, GA....peach cobbler without peaches is worthless). Family enjoyment and time spent together, A-, points being taken off for Jacob's losing it over there being bees at the "Paper Clips" exhibit.
In other words, a GREAT Father's Day.
# posted by Kevin @ 10:15 PM 
