That Long and Winding Road....

 The Home Stretch

We left the reunion with the emotions we always leave with (pardon the dangling participle).  Gratitude for the warmth and laughter and coziness of people who have known you basically forever and a tinge of sadness that some of us may not make the next one.  It is ever thus.  But it was time for us to gird ourselves for the final sprint to home.  The next stop was Michael's sister in Louisville for a brief follow up visit with Patricia and Michael.  They were attending a reunion of Michael's fraternity on their way home so  we actually beat them to Louisville -- a rather boring and arduous 9 hour drive from Harbor Springs.  However, nestled in the sumptuous guest room beneath down coverlet and luxurious sheets we recouped and were ready for the next event.

You Go Van Gogh 

Patricia and Michael had gotten tickets for the Van Gogh exhibit (immersive it was billed) at the Louisville Convention Center venue.  Our friends, Sally and Mike, had seen it in Guadalajara and thought it was outstanding so we were psyched.  Laura and Daryl had seen it in Houston but the venue had to be moved for some reason and they were less than impressed so we weren't sure what to expect.  It was marvelous.  If you can see it, do.  Michael's photos will give you a better idea but photos are static and this exhibit was constantly shifting and moving.  You were in the sunflower fields, you were swept up into the starry night.  Just terrific. I opined that if we were our younger selves this would be an excellent artistic opportunity to be seriously stoned. 

People enjoying the visual experience of Van Gogh.

It was an immersive experience which allowed you to see the detail & the evolution of Van Gogh's art.

Van Gogh Video

To get an idea of the unique nature of the exhibit, click on the Van Gogh Video above.  All the scenes moved like this one but I thought this was the most striking. 

From Van Gogh to a visit to The King

Next stop Memphis.  At first we were just going to breeze through Memphis but then we realized we couldn't traverse Memphis without visiting the home of Rock and Roll (not to mention the Blues) and the King of Rock Elvis.  We decided to go full in and stay at The Guest House at Graceland.  I anticipated being surrounded by Elvis impersonators and assorted weirdos but was disappointed to only find rather boringly dressed, devoted Elvis folk.  The hotel is a bit over the top -- although the pool was outstanding. 

The first afternoon we did a pilgrimage to Sun Records.  Anyone who was anyone recorded there (Elvis, Johnny Cash, B.B.King, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty, Ike Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison etc.) In the 60s the studio moved next door and the original studio was sealed up and remained "as was" until they opened it up for tours.  One of the best tours we've ever taken.  Apparently, one night (December 4, 1956) Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis all just dropped by Sun.  Of course they jammed.  And, of course, Sam Phillips -- who owned Sun-- couldn't resist recording them on the sly.  By that time Elvis was recording with RCA so what Sam did wasn't really kosher.  The jam session didn't see the light of day for more than a decade.  We called Justin and Alex to see if they wanted T-shirts from Sun and their answers were so emblematic of the two of them.  Justin: "My God, Sun Records?  Of course!"  Alex: "Sun Records? What?  Oh, Jeez you mean the studio The Trailer Park Boys stopped at?" The Trailer Park Boys is a TV series of very dubious artistic merit that Alex and I love.  When I told the tour guide about Alex's reply he said, "Oh yeah! That was a ripping episode."   I almost felt young.

This is the original broadcast booth where "Daddy-O" Dewey Phillips broadcast his "Red, Hot & Blue" radio shows from 1953-1959 from inside the Hotel Chisca. The studio was carefully removed from the abandoned hotel and reconstructed at Sun Studio in January 2014.

Sam Phillips (no relation to Dewey) founded Memphis Recording Service, later named Sun Studio. Sam recorded Elvis Presley's first record, "That's All Right". In 1954 Sam gave the recording to Dewey Phillips to play on his wildly popular radio show. After nearly fifty phone calls, fourteen telegrams and spinning the record over a dozen times, the song was an instant hit.

The actual Sun Studio recording booth and room, with musical instruments scattered around the studio.

Deirdre getting an opportunity to use the mic at Sun Studio.

The next day was devoted to Elvis.  All Elvis, all day.  And there was a lot of Elvis to explore.  I do believe the man never threw away anything.  I mean anything.  For instance, do you still have your Middle School Diploma?  And everything was displayed.  First there was the mansion.  the mansion was quite strange.  From the outside it looked like Tara and the inside looked like a boat.  Where there should have been a grand, sweeping staircase and entry hall there was a narrow little slit of a stairway that looked like you were headed to the galley of a boat.  The pictures will further clarify some of the more unusual facets of the house. Then we were off to the addition to the mansion housing thousands of items (i.e. Middle School Diploma).  Then there was the plane.  Then there was the display of Elvis' cars -- he really liked cars.  Then Elvis in the Army.   Then Elvis' outfits -- he really liked outfits.  We started at about 9:30 and by 2:30 I was pleading with Michael to call an end to our homage to the King.  He of greater stamina relented.

The formal living room at Graceland,...

the kitchen,

the "media" room, with its multiple TVs,

and the billiards room with folded fabric...

which covered the walls and ceiling.

Green shag carpet covered the walls on the way up the stairs...

to the den with more green shag carpet on the floor and on the ceiling.

A rear view of Graceland.

In a separate building was an exercise room, pinball machine...

and Elvis's own personal squash court.

On the side of the house just beyond the pool were the Presley family burial plots...

among which is Elvis's grave.

A front view of Graceland.

Part of the Graceland experience is the collection of automobiles accumulated by Elvis over the years, including this purple Cadillac...

this sporty Rolls Royce,...

this pink Cadillac...

and a more traditional Rolls Royce. There were also Mercedes, a Ferrari, Jaguar and limousines, in addition to come non-traditional vehicles.

Oh, but Memphis wasn't over yet.  There was still time for a meal at B.B. Kings with some good music. And time for a meal at the Rendezvous which is the best barbecue I have eaten short of Alex's barbecue. And the ducks.  You cannot go to Memphis and not see the ducks at the Peabody Hotel unless you are a Communist.  Watching the ducks march out of the pond in the lobby of the Peabody  and into the elevator to ascend to their duck penthouse after a long day is a ritual not to be missed in Memphis.  We were particularly fortunate to have an in person encounter with the Duck Master -- really there is one.  Having crammed a weeks worth of entertainment into two days we once more jumped into the Subaru to head westward to Dallas.

Beale Street in Memphis is a traditional tourist destination...

with BB King's Blues Club a necessary stop.

The signs along the street also add to its charm.

The Rendezvous Restaurant has been serving BBQ in an establishment off a downtown Memphis alley since 1948. It has an extremely loyal staff and reputedly the best Memphis BBQ.

The decor may be eclectic, but the food is delicious.

This mural was just outside the restaurant in the alley.

A view of the lobby of the Peabody Hotel...

and its famous rooftop sign.

The ceiling of the lobby is a spectacular work of art.

The duckmaster rolls out the red carpet as the ducks prepare for their journey from their pool in the lobby during the day to their rooftop abode for the night.

The duckmaster explaining the history of the ducks at the Peabody.

Everybody is gathered around as the ducks leave the pool for their march down the red carpet...

and into the elevator...

where the duckmaster will take them to their rooftop abode.

Deirdre Does Dallas

I just couldn't resist that title.  We landed in Dallas and had a quick visit with Marshall and Theresa who you met in the Reunion blog.  We were just overnighting there but we managed to do a review of the goings on at the Reunion and Marshall (prince that he is) did a thorough examination of the poor, overworked Subaru which landed us at the dealership (briefly) the next day.  But before the dealership (which by the way looked like a high end club-- so NOT Mexico) we carved out time for a breakfast with old pals.

Theresa & Marshall with their dogs Tucker & Maggie.

Featured Guests:  Betsy and Betty  

Length of Relationship:  Betty - 44 years, Betsy 36 years

Background:  Betty was the wife of my boss, Dan, at a company called Datapoint.  It was a wild company in any number of ways and Dan's division kept growing at 40+% a year ensuring that all of us had a very good time.  These were the days of flying first class, expense account lunches and having a SECRETARY. I never had a better boss nor a better job.  Later, Dan and the family moved to Wellesley and I worked for Dan again and the families became good friends.

Anecdote:  Betsy went to Wellesley College in our town.  One summer, when Michael was looking to start his own business he hired Betsy to research possible franchise opportunities and write up reviews of them and then discuss the pros and cons with him. So, she was responsible in part for Michael's selecting Mailboxes Etc. to invest in. Dan hired me, Michael hired Betsy.  It's not nepotism but it's sort of close.

Betssy, Betty and Deirdre.

Going to the Land of Willy Nelson

We've always liked the Hill Country since the time we lived in San Antonio.  So we decided to take a few days to recuperate in Seguin and take advantage of seeing some friends and relaxing a bit.  Our friends Kent and Kari came out from Austin and another friend, Bob  joined us from San Antonio for a long lunch at the Grist Mill in New Braunfels.  We had decided that we had plenty of time (obstinate optimism again) to do a tube float down the Comal River before lunch. They assured us it would take two and a half hours.  We arrived a tad late due to a trailer truck stuck under an underpass but we were sure it would be fine.  We were to meet at 2 PM.

It was the usual 100+ degrees out which meant that EVERYONE decided to tube the river which looked a lot like the Mass Pike at 5 PM on a Friday.  And the tube ride wasn't 2 and 1/2 hours -- more like 3 and 1/2.  Three hours in with the clock ticking, Michael hopped out of his tube and in a stunning display of stamina alternately pulled and swam dragging the tubes to the take out point.  Thereupon we leapt up 50 stairs, threw ourselves in the bus, changed clothes in the car and stumbled into the Grist Mill to meet our buddies.

Deirdre relaxing in her tube with water near at hand as we drift down the Comal.

At one point there was a rope swing, much to the delight of these children.

We encountered one man who has a unique was of walking his dogs. He walks and they swim.

Tubes, tubes everywhere as everybody was in the water trying to beat the heat.

Featured Guests:  Kent, Kari and Bob

Length of Relationship:  Kent - 44 years,  Kari- 25yrs. approx, Bob -44 years

Anecdotes: Kent and I always had to do a trade show in San Diego each September - which we hated. At one point we decided we needed to find Black Beach -- the nudist beach in La Jolla.  I do not know why. Well, year after year (drink after drink) we tried to find it and always ended up on the green of the 18th hole of the Torrey Pines golf course  overlooking the Ocean. It became a quest.  Never fulfilled.

Bob worked for me doing P.R. and was often involved with Kent and me in strange exploits.  Also working with us was Cindi who did Advertising. They became enamored of each other and desperately tried to remain discrete but, of course, everyone in the office knew.  One day, I returned from lunch to find them sitting on my office couch looking nervous.  "Yes?"  I said. They both started talking at once, stopped, started, looked at each other and stared at me.  "Yeah, I know.  We all know.  Just keep it cool." They visibly sighed with relief and left.  And married.  And had two fine kids.  Things work out, si?

Kent, Kari, Bob, Deirdre and Michael outside the Grist Mill Restaurant.

From The Hill Country the only imperative was to make it to Ajijic as quickly as possible and in one piece.  A night in Laredo (not memorable) and a night in a motel in Matahuela (that looked like Ricky and Lucy just checked out) and we were finally back home.

The Stats:  We passed through 24 states plus Washington DC  in the U.S. and 5 in Mexico.  We put 14,366 kms/ 8,905 miles on the car.  We stayed in 25 cities and visited a total of 100+friends and relatives.  It was a massively fun and rewarding trip.

And So...

"The long and winding road that leads to your door. Will never disappear-- I've seen that road before.  It always leads me here...leads me to your door." - The Beatles. Let's hope that we will have the chance to be led once more to those doors that we were lucky enough to visit on our Sentimental Journey,  The End.