Adult Children Are So Much Fun

"We want to see an old southern plantation," said Mariah. "Here's one that looks good, just outside of Nashville, kind of on our way to Atlanta."

So, as with much of the road trip with Kent and Mariah, we decided to take advantage of the new idea and stop at Belle Meade Plantation. Belle Meade was not really as much a literal plantation as it was a horse farm. A very famous one at that. One of its most famous sire's was Bonnie Scotland, one of the original five foundation thoroughbreds, whose direct descendants included Seattle Slew, Secretariat, Seabiscuit, War Admiral, and others. Others included none other than our own Dundees Debut. While it was really neat to see the historical preservation of the farm, with it's own dairy building, huge horse barns, inventory of carriages, main house, and slave quarters, it was kind of disappointing to see how small it had become. It's original 5400 acres had been whittled down to less than 30 today, surrounded by large and fancy modern day homes and neighborhoods. That demise was brought about by a family member who embezzled the total worth of the farm in 1907, about the same time the third generation of the founding family passed away, all in the same year. The farm never recovered.

We enjoyed ourselves so much, we forgot the time and really challenged ourselves to arrive in time for the grooms dinner in Eatonon, Georgia, more than an hour southeast of Atlanta. Our hotel, the Lodge, was on the shore of Lake Oconee, and served as a great headquarters for all wedding visitors, including cousins from Norway. After a shrimp boil dinner made by Joe's brother from New Orleans at the Manguno's rental house on the water, we waited at the hotel for Anne and Jon to arrive from Orlando. It's hard to keep up with these kids - and I do mean up - until after midnight this day.

Our Florida-based kids traveled the six hours to Atlanta just to get together for a couple of days. After arriving late Friday, they spent Saturday afternoon watching football at the Bar and Grill next door to our hotel while we attended the Manguno wedding. A totally bonus weekend, making up for the weekend visit we missed due to my grounding a couple of weeks earlier.

Saturday morning, we all went to Waffle House for breakfast. For those unfamiliar with the name, Waffle House is a very common restaurant chain found in all towns in the southeast. They're well known for having good-bad food, especially breakfasts. Kent had been hounding us since we arrived in Kentucky to stop for breakfast by singing out "Waffle Hause" in his best southern accent every time we passed one by. So we took that opportunity to load up on a weeks ration of butter, cholesterol, and carbs. Does it get any better than that?

Playing games at the unique, lakeside wedding. That Mariah is a tough competitor!

Following the wedding, we gathered in Anne and Jon's suite (sweet) room for a game of cards, snacks, and a few drinks. My Mother used to say, "unlucky in cards, lucky in love." I have no idea where that came from, but I sure was looking forward to a romantic interlude with my wife following my performance in the card game. Unfortunately, we played so late into the evening, I fell asleep within seconds of returning to our room. 

Before going our separate ways late in the afternoon on Sunday, we all loaded into the Yukon and took the short trip to Madison, GA, having heard it was a cute town on the order of Stillwater, with many historic and preserved buildings. It was one of the very few towns to have escaped General Sherman's burning of the south. After walking the town and sharing lunch at the local grill, we visited Heritage Hall, the county historical society's presentation of an antebellum home typical of those owned by plantation owners.

Here's how the Heritage Facebook page describes some of the features of the museum:

"Here in Madison the spitton (sp) was used in the public building until the 1960's. We have a collection of spittons (sp) or cuspidors that were for ladies." "We have have had a number of visitors that are from other states or country. We do tell them some of the history of the Jones family that lived in this house close to 50 years. You get to go into each room not just stand at the door way and look in."That flavor of interpretation also came in the form of a 16 year old tour guide. Waiting a few minutes after ringing the doorbell, as suggested by the sign on the door, he arrived as though interrupted from doing his homework for school. He was a long drink of water with wavy blond hair and a kind face that looked like it would break out into a smile at any moment. No one else was in the house, so we had him all to ourselves as he offered to let us to walk freely on a self guided tour, or have him come along to share some insights. We of course took up his offer to join us, and he indeed did share HIS insights. Here are some quotes, as documented by Anne, who has this uncanny ability to remember quotes verbatim - usually from movies, but also from casual conversations. 

"Here in Georgia our counties were named after plantation owners. Not sure if that's how they did it in Minnesota…"

"After the children's room, you have the Ghost Room. Personally, I think the children's room is creepier, but that's just me."

"This doll is named Old Bessie. She is 116 years old, which makes her exactly 100 years older than me. Her hair is actually made of human hair. Back in the day, it was common for people of lower status to sell their hair to doll makers to make a little money. You can see that it actually preserves well because hair stops aging once it is cut from your head. So it actually looks really nice even though it's 116 years old. Yah, it's disgusting."

"The actual owner of the house was a surgeon and you'll see him in the next room. Well...not HIM, he's dead. But you'll see his portrait."

"It's surprising what people notice when they take this tour. Some people notice the drawers, some notice the floors, and then you have your wall people."

"Back then people liked their privacy. They would close these doors so men could smoke their cigars and talk about work. Women would gossip, sew, and whatever else women do."

"They used to have pianos that looked like coffins when you closed them up. People were taxed for each instrument they owned, so when the tax collector came around they would close up the piano so it looked like a coffin. Tax collectors obviously wouldn't look in the coffin, and it was pretty common for families to have coffins in the home because people died so suddenly. Yah...it's weird." 

We laughed ourselves silly all the way back to Eatonton, where we parted ways to return to our respective homes. 

A road trip with children has the reputation of being a test in patience and fortitude. Even with adult children, an automobile can be a very small space after a few hours. Not the case here. We laughed, we played road games and card games, we watched as the next generation took on the mantel of representing the family and putting our best feet forward. The only regret was that it was over so soon.