CHOOSE TYBEE HAPPY: NIGHT & DAY, GATLINBURG

"Do you snore?"

"I snore."

"Do you snore?"

"I snore."

The sky lift lit at night looked like lightning from the church steeple!   

To the drawer..."Nasal strips for everyone!" Such corny fun.

That picture was taken from the balcony of Black Bear Inn.

Next morning, before heading to the continental breakfast I just had to make sure my toes were trimmed.  A first for me, to paint them 2 colors!  On the run, girly fun!  

  

We should've eaten here at Crockett's Breakfast Camp, but we were up too early.  

As you can see, no one was about.  Like ants to sugar, the people will come out.

In will straggle one or two, then a pair, a couple, then more and few, until they're clustered about and clumped around waiting for the reservations inside to dwindle down.

Instead, at the Black Bear Inn's breakfast we sat at the chess table regaling each other with funny tales of John's bus driving, and Uncle Paul's pranks, and Jeani's fun life's stories.    Later we'd eat at Cici's Pizza where the cinnamon sweets come in squares. 

 

Later, later, on the road south, Jeani gets a phone call.  We don't know who, we don't know why, we just hear these words, no lie, 

"Alligators aren't in Tennessee.  We're looking for hillbillies!"  Laughter; fun!

And there ya go, onward ho!

To The Incredible Christmas Place we go!

TYBEE HAPPY: IT'S A GOAL

  

We're on our way!

Sevierville today, 

Gatlinburg tomorrow

Tybee the next day!

It's a plan, it's a goal, it's a vacation for the soul!

Usually I'd drive first thing, while rested from a good night's sleep.  Then Calvin would drive during the rough part of the day, during rush hour or through a big city.  Jeani not so much.  John never.  

"I'm the back seat bellyacher," is his claim.

Riding shotgun, Jeani chimes in, "I'm the professional tourist!"

Like the song says, "We're tooling down the highway doing 79" well, actually, depending on who was driving, our speed was way faster than that.   If you follow the fastest car, you never know what speed you'll be doing....upwards of 90?  Ma-a-aybee ... ma-aybe ... 

As passenger, free hands, free time, I called ahead to Black Bear Inn to secure our reservations.  The very nice, young gentleman with a southern drawl, answered the phone.  After I told him we'd be having supper quite late and therefore would be arriving quite late, would he still hold our rooms.  Yes, yes, he would.  He himself would be there until 10.  I had to chuckle and tell the others his final comment, (remember to read this in a southern drawl), "Y'all guys enjoy you alls' dinners."

So, dinner at The Diner in Sevierville included mouth-happy thirst-quenching really good sweet tea.  But I have to tell you, it's hard to say grace with rock n' roll playing in the background, "Give Me Shelter" !

Always, since the first vacation with my father who taught us to grab some pamphlets, I pick up advertising for fun things to do.  Here at The Diner was  just such a postcard size paper -- Three Monkeys Photo Emporium.  I'm bored.  We're waiting to be seated.  It's going to be a while.  Every working establishment is begging for help.  I looked at Jeani, John, and Calvin standing in a row next to each other.  

"Calvin.  Plug your ears."  

"Hey, John, cover your mouth."  

And before I could trick Jeani into covering her eyes, like the See No Evil Monkey, clever gal says, "I know what you're doing."

John shakes his head, "It ain't happening."  Durn!  

Calvin, brain clicking awareness, "Oh!  No.  You're doing the 3 monkeys, see, hear, speak no evil.  NO!"

It would've made a fantastic picture!

And that was day one,

the beginning of fun.

"WAKE UP! WE WANNA PLAY!"

"Good Evening!  Wanna come along?  Let's babysit the grandkids!"  beckoning to darling hubby.

Ever watch kids play?  They rarely nap or sleep, but, by golly, they get their rest!

Walking along, holding one of their hands, they drop!  They've decided they can't go anymore, so --  plop.  Bottoms down.  Sitting on the sidewalk, right there. 

"What are you doing?  Get up!  Are you nuts sitting here in the hot sun.  Let's go!"  Yes, kids find ways to rest.  

The sun's bright, the green swing set's a'waiting.  The newly planted garden is protected by electric fencing.  The flag ruffles in the wind.  Flowering bushes compliment the pink brick.

Smiles, everyone!  See the welcoming committee?   Here come the kids!

"GrammyPam! GrammyPam!"  Lilly holds the screen door open.

Her body jitters, she wants to rush me.  But Jacob is still gripping the door frame.  He's toddling down the step. Here they come!  Run, run, and they grab my legs.

4 y.o. Lilly says, "GrammyPam, GrammyPam, come play with me!" 

2 y.o. Jacob who can't say GrammyPam says, "iPad!"

Play we do.  I'm first.  

I drop to the kitchen floor, "Nap time, bring me a pillow so I can snore."    "Ssssssno-ore!"

Jacob actually drags Lilly's pillow to me.   I snore.  "Ssssssssno-ore!"  I let my body go limp.  I'm liking the firm coolness of the floor.   "Wake-up" Jacob pats my face with little soft hands.  Lilly smacks my backside, "Wake-up, GrammyPam".  "Sssssssno-ore!"  Suck in air, "Ssssssssssno-ore!"

"Wake-up, GrammyPam, we wanna play."  

"OUTSIDE then!"  Hide and seek!  They behind the trees.  Me behind a mound of dirt.  They'll be awhile.  I crouch low in a comfortable position -- I rest.

Giggles and giggles, "GrammyPam!  You can't hide.  We found you!'

It's a tromp to the patio, Jacob pats the hammock.  He wants in.  I'm not familiar with hammocks, don't know if he'll roll out the other side or not.  Time for distraction, "Look!  Ants!"

I put myself in the hammock.  Swing and rest.  Rest and swing.  I'll do this thing and you do that.

Jacob lays on his belly and rolls a Matchbox tractor wheel over an ant.  Big sis stomps the run-aways.  

"Watch my show," she says.  I swing.  They expend energy.  Lilly put on a raindrop, purple umbrella show jumping off a bench, "That was a safe landing," she declares.

Her one foot forward, the other foot back, on this cement pad, safe landing?

"You go, girl!  I'll be just a'swingin'."

"Bunny!  Bunny!" Jacob squeals.  He rushes the bushes to see bunny.  Aha, there's tree stumps -- like a siren's call, "My dear, your rear here."

Lilly's excited, "Let's go on a bunny hunt. I saw his tail!  I see white."  She moves the branches AND jumps up and down, "I see him, I see him.  Let's go in!"

I'm thinking, yes, you go in and if I hear a bear growl or snake hiss I'll jump in and slay your dragon.  

At the other end of the yard is their garden.  Lilly explains, "Don't get too close.  It goes zzz.  If'en you get closer it goes zzz, zzz, and if you get e'en closer it goes zzitt-zzitt!."

"Don't touch the yellow circles, ee-thver!" her whole body shivers.

"Okay, we won't touch the electric fence."  I'm not ready to be energized anyway.

Inside, Jacob grabs his sippy cup.

"Em. Tee!"  Wanna know how I know he's upset?  Sippy cup isn't offered up for a refill, sippy isn't tossed into the sink -- sippy is dropped to the floor with force!  Pouty downward face, chin on chest.  "Em.  Tee!"

Why can toddler anger move an adult?  What are we afraid of?  You little short 2 foot body of untamed mush.  I could squash you like the ant you did!  LOL.

They play, their way...fish for Go Fish, tinkle piano keys, and Lucky Duck draw "Ja-COB!  That's not your duck!" And away he runs.

I lay, watching their play...on the living room rug.  Call me supervisor.  Call me referee.  Call me reposing GrammyPam.  It's fine with me.

You know, it's not a bad idea, to rest.  When Jacob climbs up onto the couch and snuggles under your arm, it's actually a pretty good idea!

QUICHE! THAT LOOKS GOOD! AARDVARK?

The parents:  John & Pamela

The sons:  Calvin, Spencer, & Ian

The girlfriends:  Caroline & Nikki

The setting:   kitchen, Memorial Day breakfast, a pitch-in

Pamela:  Quiche!  That looks good, Nikki!  I've never had quiche before.  Is it homemade?

Calvin:  Yes, egg, spinach and avocado.

Pamela:  Calvin.  I didn't ask you!

John:  Did she say aardvark?

Ian:  No, she didn't say.  Calvin said.  Calvin said avocado.  She said art-i-choke.

Nikki:  YAH.  Ha, ha, "she said artichoke".

Spencer:  (coming from the family room)  CHOKE!  Who's choking?!  I know CPR!  I can do the Heimlich Maneuver!  Move!

Ian:  Stop it!  No one's choking.

Pamela:  We're discussing the ingredients of quiche -- eggs, spinach, and avocado.

Calvin:  Colorado?  I thought we were going to Tybee Island.  I asked my boss for time off and everything.

Spencer:  Off with everything?!

Ian:  Hello!  Nikki, don't look, he's taking off everything!

Spencer:  Caroline, what're you looking at him for?

Caroline:  I'm not looking at him!   I'm looking for the hash browns.

Pamela:  I like 'em almost burnt.  Not that pasty white, a darker shade of brown.

Spencer:  MOTHER!

Pamela:  WHAT?

Ian:  That's racist!

Pamela:  I'm not racist, hush it up!  I'm talking about frying taters.

John:  I want some fried gators.  

Pamela:  Sheesh, no John, not fried gators, fried po-ta-toes.  We're out.  Blame Caroline.  Tell you what, though,  I'll fry some French toast.

John:  French Toes?  Huh?   You best leave my toes alone!  

Calvin:  Nikki likes French toes, that fancy cut and nail polish.  Caroline's all American.  Baseball and Apple Pie.

Ian:  You LOOK like an apple pie.

Calvin: You're a pie!

Spencer:  You're round like an apple pie

Ian:  You're round like a pie pan of quiche!

Nikki:  Quiche anyone?

Calvin:  Is it homemade?  What's in it?  

John:  Avocado, Aardvark, and Artichoke -- all American.

Caroline:  Wait a minute!  I thought Nikki's mother was Greek!

Spencer:  Creek?  As in Creek Indian?

Calvin:  Who's going to the creek?

Ian:  We are.  We're going kayaking on Pipe Creek.

Calvin:  Oh, yay?   Can I come ... too.

Ian:  Two?  You and who else, we only have so much room.

Calvin:  Room?  I'm not staying in this room.  If I have to stay behind, I'll just test drive the truck Dad and I've been working on.  

John:  Before you all leave, take 'em from the ignition; leave the quiche with me!

Caroline:  LOL, we need to find his aardvark!

Calvin:  Yardwork!  I didn't come to do yard work.  I'm outta here.

Pamela:  If you all are leaving, I'll wrap up the rest of that quiche to go.

Spencer:  Keys to go?  Shoot, where'd I put them.  Oh, there they are, on the steps.  OK, WE HAVE KEYS TO GO

Nikki:  (Coming from the kitchen) I've got OUR quiche!