Honeymoon’n
You can ask just about anybody where their first date was with their spouse, and they can generally supply you with the name of the city and the restaurant. ‘Round here, it’s frequently “We went up to Gatlinburg.”
It’s easy, it’s fun, there are no lack of things to do and see, so even if you don’t like your date, you’re in a pretty place with lots of fudge. I mean, how bad can it be?
Y’all have heard about our first date before: hiking, no makeup, no heels, no dainty salad for supper. We went to Texas Roadhouse after scaling the mountain.
The one in Gatlinburg.
I ordered a barbeque chicken sandwich. Johnny’s pretty confident he got a barbeque pork sandwich. We’ve never been pretentious people.
I had already warned him that I wasn’t a girl that ordered salads for a meal. Salads are what tide you over until the beef makes it out. And rolls. Mmmm rolls….
I digress.
It was a pretty normal date, as far as dates go. He kissed me. (!) But I couldn’t tell you much else, I had stars in my eyes, and the fact of the matter is, I’m accustomed to the beauty of the mountains at this stage in my life.
Johnny works in Gatlinburg a lot, as there’s typically some new building going up or being remodeled, but we don’t head there on dates. It just isn’t convenient, especially due to all the jammed up traffic. He’s been working up there for the last year or two. And this has affected him deeply. It’s sickening and paralyzing.
So today when he called me, and that was where he sat in a booth eating lunch, memories of our first date came rushing back to me. “That was where we had our first date!” I blurted.
“Boy, it is, ain’t it?” he whistled low.
And of course my eyes filled. How many people are fortunate enough to visit where they first met, or the location of their first date, or the place they were married? Lots of locals and tourists alike now won’t have that option. Now they’ll join the multitudes that will say, “Oh, we got married there, in a little chapel. But it burned up in that big fire…”
The mountains are still here. They’re a little tarnished, but they’ll be good as new and restored to their former glory in a couple of springs. Come on, all you lovebirds. You remember Gatlinburg. You had an ice cream on the sidewalk in front of the space needle. You were white knuckled with nerves riding the tram up the side of Ski Mountain. You gazed at the oddities behind the glass at Ripley’s. You had pancakes for breakfast and got a hole in one at the mini golf. You bought a tie dyed t-shirt and a stuffed bear for your kids at a little tourist shop in the Village. You loved Gatlinburg. It’s still here. Our firemen saved it for all of us to enjoy for awhile yet.
6 COMMENTS
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Jena Miller | 10th Dec 16
Many memories in Gatlinburg, including hikes with you!
Mom is rather sad about the chapel, that is where her and daddy renewed their vows.
Keep writing, your words are music to my eyes!
Amy | 10th Dec 16
Oh no!! I didn’t know that. Bless her heart double. And I mean that in a good way.
Thank you, I love that lol 🙂
Tracy Humphrey | 11th Dec 16
A friend of your mothers, I have been keeping up with your posts and you have a very eloquent way of writing while still being true to your southern roots! Love reading anything you write and looking forward to reading more! Love and hugs to you and your family!
Amy | 11th Dec 16
Oh, thank you Tracy!! I appreciate that so much.
Lori SPURGEON | 12th Dec 16
Amy,
I am blessed to call you my friend! You have such a wonderful talent! I am glad to see you putting it to use.
Amy | 12th Dec 16
Thank you Lori! And I am blessed to call you mine. I still owe you supper. Text me soon! <3