Walsh is still a slow, sleepy, so-very-friendly little town. It never ceases to amaze me that we can drive from one end to the other on Main Street in about 30 seconds with non traffic stops or lights. Every one waves to you as you pass them on the street. I love seeing John's eyes light up with some of that old town glory. He's told me so many heart warming stories of living there and I love to see him remember those things. The dirt roads are tricky and charming. We had one particular experience this time where we were trying to get out to Granny's house after leaving the Doner's in a storm. The dirt road was starting to flood and turn straight in to mud. We shouldn't have been traveling that road but I was being piloted by a determined grandson who wanted to see the smile on his grandmothers face. There were so many moments I was sure we were stuck or stranded. We made it out to her home in 6 miles of prayers and anxiety. At one point john looked to me and said, "there is non reason this can should be making it right now. Thank you to the Angels pushing us on back covered in mud no doubt." I second that.
On the 4th of July we drove up to the top of a hill and set off some of our own fireworks we had driven to Springfield earlier that day to get. The children giggled and squealed and covered their ears and I did most of the clapping and cheering. We took folding chairs and sat and watched towns on the horizon 40-50 miles away shoot off fireworks of their own. It was quiet and simple and magical. Evaleigh and Avett and I had some races round the corners back and forth a few times.
We went out to Minneapolis cemetery and pulled right up to Grover's grave. We blasted a new Avett Brothers tune, No Hard Feelings, for him as loud as we could, he would have loved that song.
When my body won't hold me anymore
And it finally lets me free
Will I be ready?
When my feet won't walk another mile
And my lips give their last kiss goodbye
Will my hands be steady?
When I lay down my fears
My hopes and my doubts
The rings on my fingers
And the keys to my house
With no hard feelings
When the sun hangs low in the west
And the light in my chest
Won't be kept held at bay any longer
When the jealousy fades away
And it's ash and dust for cash and lust
And it's just hallelujah
And love in thoughts and love in the words
Love in the songs they sing in the church
And no hard feelings
Lord they knows they haven't done
Much good for anyone
Kept me afraid and cold
With so much to have and hold
When my body won't hold me anymore
And it finally lets me free
Where will I go?
Will the trade winds take me south
Through Georgia grain or tropical rain
Or snow from the heavens?
Will I join with the ocean blue
Or run into the savior true
And shake hands laughing
And walk through the night
Straight to the light
Holding the love I've known in my life
And no hard feelings
Lord they knows they haven't done
Much good for anyone
Kept me afraid and cold
With so much to have and hold
Under the curving sky
I'm finally learning why
It matters for me and you
To say it and mean it to
For life and its loveliness
And all of its ugliness
Good as its been to me
I have no enemies
I have no enemies
I have no enemies
I have no enemies
I love that song. It's how I feel about dying someday. John and I spoke briefly about being buried there someday. It would be a beautiful place to be laid to rest. Wide open skies and earth as far as the eye can see. Not to mention a plot there costs $1. Sold.
Walsh has a certain charm but it's a charm that I can soak in for about a week and then I start to get a bit antsy for traffic or crowds or I don't know...a Target.
Our road trip with the kiddies was quite nice. They were sick on the way out So a bit fussy but very patient on the way home. We stopped outside of Memphis on the way back and swam out some wiggles. The little potty came in handy 4 times, good thing we had it.
When we drove east on 20 and spotted the Atlanta skyline we both look at each other and smiled. I knew what we were both thinking, "Home."
