Just Us: Butcher Holler

Saturday night it rained all night, a nice steady rain. By morning it was just threatening but not sunny at all. We hurriedly dressed and drove back to the Mayo Methodist Church for Sunday service. It was also Mothers Day. The sermon was on mothers and he included those, like Shirley, who had no children but had the love in their hearts of mothers. It was a nice thought and was nice to include those "mothers" who had not had children but had "mothered" many. Probably one-quarter of the congregation was from our Airstream group. As usual we made quite a stir and were introduced as a group and were acknowledged as being from all over the US; CA. WA, TX, IA, LA, etc. probably 20 different states in all.

Lunch was just us, we ate at "Floaters"a little place on the dock near where we are camped. We had real roasted turkey, cornbread dressing and all the rest as we sat outside watching folks catch fish. After this we all loosely carpooled to visit Loretta Lynn's childhood home about 10 miles from here. This in itself was an adventure. The road at first was busy and well marked, then it narrowed and there were no cars at all. Then it narrowed some more and there were old houses and trailers mostly abandoned. Then we came upon still more signs and some inhabited housing with people sitting on their porches celebrating Mothers Day. Next, hardly a road at all, one lane, curving, winding, desolate, and no signs.

We began asking people we saw, one man stated that when he mowed his lawn he would have to shut off his mower about 20 times to give directions. Today we were the first. Finally we pulled up to the house and we were there. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we would be here. Met the brother, we were welcomed into the home like we were relatives. He apologized that the house was not cleaner etc. We toured the place and then left as it was starting to rain in earnest.

Next we visited Store #5, the "company" store, still open and run by Loretta's uncle. It seems there are signs posted on how to find the home but all get stolen. We had Moon Pie and RC Cola, well I had an RC. We had tasted these delicacies on last years Civil War caravan and did not feel the need to do so again. I remembered I did not like Moon Pie and now I remember I do not like RC cola either. Twice in a lifetime is enough.

We drove back to the Country Music Highway Museum for a dinner and entertainment provided by our own musicians, Bill and Betty. The rain was torrential and we were glad to be inside instead of outside where our dinner was first scheduled.