September 26, 1994

Well it was 15 years ago yesterday I was married. Yesterday was our Anniversary. Then again, depending how you look at it - maybe it was our 22nd Anniversary - we had lived together for 7 years that same month!

I was never one that wanted a "big wedding" with all the hoopla or to-do. Never had the desire to ever be the center of attention even if for a day. I know a lot of people that have the weddings just because they feel that they "have" to, spend a lot of money, and do not enjoy the day - then again - I know some people that live and breath for that day and enjoy every aspect. I just couldn't bring myself to do that - goes against everything in me. If it had been something I had truly wanted then I would have made it happen but it was never something I dreamed of doing. That is why we went away on a two-week vacation and returned married!

We planned a trip to Tennessee and knew we wanted to go to Memphis and Nashville. Now this was before computers were mainstream and you could just plan that way - so I called the 800 number to the Tennessee tourism and waited for my brochure/booklet on things to do (remember doing that?) I also got information from AAA. I saw this area Gatlinburg and added that to the list of places to visit. Reading the booklet, I saw the "no blood test, no waiting" chapel weddings. So we decided to "do it". I picked the "chapel" from the booklet and called and scheduled a date and time!

So on a Thursday we drove to Tennessee and arrived in Gatlinburg. We spent Thursday through Sunday touring around - never once moving the car - they had trolley's that runs everywhere you want to go for $0.25 a ride per person. We went into Pigeon Forge - lots of shopping, museums, Dollywood, etc. Tons of things to see and do in Gatlinburg too - We played Hillbilly Golf, rode in a skybox, and they have this cool craft tour - you get on a bus and it's miles through the hills - you can get on and off each stop at your leisure and there are stores, homes, etc. with the local crafters. Really weird sometimes - you would be dropped on the side of road in the middle of nowhere - and then walk down a lane to someones barn, others were actually shops, It was an interesting day and fun - the bus would come at each stop every 1/2 hour or so - can't remember exactly, but it was cool because if it was a shop you didn't want to go to you just stayed on the bus until the next one. Again, I found this cool and it was by no means strip stores or mall like stores - all very very rural. Then on Monday we went to breakfast then walked over to the courthouse and got our marriage license then that afternoon we got married and spent the rest of the day sightseeing some more. Here is the picture of the log cabin chapel we married in - I believe if you wanted to have guests it would have fit about 50 people. No pictures of the two of us - can you believe it - we forgot to have someone snap our picture together!

The next day we drove to Memphis and there toured Graceland, Sun Studios and Beale Street - this is the one place on the whole trip we had a picture taken of us together - in front of the gates of Graceland - so we say that's our wedding photo and the Ghost of Elvis married us!

A couple of days later we drove to Nashville and did the Opryland, Ryman Theater, Nashville is full of shopping and museums, hall of fames, and went places like the bar where Patsy Cline sang in and things like that - I'm not a country music fan - well not the twangy country - but I do like Elvis, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and that type of country - if that makes sense!

So that's what I was doing this week 15 years ago!

Back to 2009 - not much going on here this weekend.

This is a pic of Jonesy the other day - he was "talking" to me while having his sunbath - doesn't he look like a 'Tiger-Boy"!


Also as you can see someone stole my hook so there is no hooking going on here!

Falling asleep with my hook - looks like he's giving me the "paw" "here too! No sense taking it away from him - he's laying on top of my frame so again!

Wishing everyone a good week!