Charlottesville

Yesterday, I told Don to check out my first blog submission before we hit the road. He got really excited! Not because of the blog submission but because he thought the URL sounded promising.

http://peganddonsexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/

HA…it must be a gender/sight thing.

Well, we got on our way and beat the snow and sleet on Saturday. Don and I bonded by having deep discussions, such as, “Who IS Arthur Treacher” of fish and chips fame and what was the name of Jimmie Dodd’s sidekick on the Mickey Mouse Club? We listened to oldies CDs from the ‘60s and now, listening to all the words, wondered why Leslie Gore was always taking those cheatin’ guys back.

Our first stop was at Manassas, VA, where the Battle of Bull Run took place. It was considered the “loss of innocence” of the Civil War. It wasn’t quite clear why the federals call the battle Bull Run and the southerners, Battle of Manassas. Anyone know?

We decided to eat at local places and found one called the Cracker Barrel (ha, ha). What is amazing about this chain is that it is the same everywhere one goes…right down to the packs of Teaberry gum for sale. I imagine a franchise on the moon with nary a lunar reference. I have crossed the place off my list. Don is dying to stop at an Iron Skillet, so I guess one more chain restaurant is in our future. And, needless to say, we brake for Stuckeys. However, I don’t think they are around any longer. Maybe in the Midwest?

After Manassas, we drove to Charlottesville, VA. What a lovely place. About six years ago we spent two weeks here. Don was then the guest of Prof. Ming Jer Chen and University of VA. It was nice to be back and particularly to visit the Chens. Andy and Abraham, their sons, have certainly matured since we last were with them. Looking at our friends’ “children” and our own “child” (Claire turns 28 this month) really brings home how quickly the times goes. The Chens were lovely hosts for the evening. Moh Juin and Ming Jer are so gracious.

I am determined to amass as many Marriott points as I can, so we stayed at a Fairfield Inn. This morning we are planning a drive to Fearrington, outside of Chapel Hill where we will stay at the Inn there. I have wanted to visit there ever since I saw their ad in the New Yorker about 20 years ago (strange obsession?). We will see if it lives up to the two by three column ad that has been running for decades.

Oh, Claire mentioned she posted a comment on the blog, but I don’t see it and Sue mentioned she was prevented from posting, so I will check into the protocols and post instructions…unless one of you beat me to it.