Georgia on My Mind

One of the nicest memories I have (and there were many) of our several days in Georgia with our daughter, Amy's, family recently was the day we had nothing scheduled. Amy was off work for our visit, so she had planned ahead to make the most of our time together.

One day she did have to go to her closed office for an hour of paperwork, but that gave us the opportunity to go along and see where she works. She showed us her lovely office, decorated with nice appointments and family pictures, opening to a waiting room for out-surgery patients. We saw the rest of the facility where she is clinical manager and were thoroughly impressed and duly proud of her! She caught up with us a little later at shops nearby, then the whole family went to Olive Garden for a festive soup, salad, and breadsticks lunch.

Another day we walked the Victorian-style historic district in Rome, Georgia, where her hospital is located. A pleasant stroll among the charming brick structures led us to a fascinating antiques/old book store, a quaint bakery with a glassed-in view of fancy cake decorating in progress (where our daughter selected a decadently rich chocolate cake for her husband's birthday) with a huge, plank table for deli-sandwiches, and a flower shop doubling as a gourmet kitchen store.

This was after Amy had treated us to a "high afternoon tea" at an ornate old tea room draped with ceiling-high valances and heavy panels, carved friezes of cherubs along the walls, scalloped silver chargers on white tablecloths set with china tea pots and delicate floral cups. We had hot tea of different blends, finger sandwiches, delicacies and soup. The atmosphere was as memorable as the food, making for a great experience for all, including my husband.

For weeks I had been wanting to see a film my son mentioned to me, "The Iron Lady," a story of Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of England, but it was never anywhere near our viewing area. The closest place was in Wichita, 90 minutes away from our home, and then never at a convenient time. I couldn't believe it when I saw it playing at an out-of-the way theatre near Amy's! Howard took me to see this fascinating slice of history when an equally-fascinating woman was in power for more than 10 years. We also saw the movie, "October Baby," which I had heard about, an important story of an abortion survivor.

Sunday church, relaxing on their deck or front porch, picking up one granddaughter from golfing practice and seeing her in her golfing togs and watching the other grandddaughter's gymnastic practice, listening to grandson's musical compositions he sang and accompanied on his guitar via internet, and enjoying home-cooked meals were other high points of our visit.

The day we stayed home, Amy made a plate of egg-salad sandwiches, gathered some tasty left-overs from the fridge, and we had our own tea-styled lunch on her screened side porch. Her dad had to clear his books from the round table, but we lingered in unhurried conversation over our lunch, Howard spinning stories for his daughter giving rapt attention, all in the fresh air with blooming azaelas showing just outside. Priceless!