Old friends. Good times.

 Cullman, AL  and Montgomery MO

Whew!   I think I am done with mowing grass, hedge trimming and weed whacking for a while.  It's gotten COLD.   Down to the mid 20s at night.   This is not what I thought living in the South would be.  Hope not to be shoveling.  

In 1980 the company I was working for in NJ opened a facility in Missouri.    I spent the summer (where it was really HOT) out there.   I hired the office and trained the staff.   I was sent back to Missouri several times in the following years.   All these years I have kept in contact with the Office Manager.  When Leonard and I were full time RVing and passing through the area we would stop for a visit.   But that has been years ago.

I had the urge to see Tudie and her hubby John again.   So we took a quick 4 day drive to visit.   A bit over 500 miles each way.  I worked out route where all but about 20 total miles were on 4-lane highways.  Easy peasy.

I thought about a couple that we volunteered with while NOMADS.  I knew they settled in Missouri.  To everyone's delight that were not that far from Montgomery City.   We arranged to meet for dinner.  Both couples suggested the same restaurant about halfway between.  Perfect.   Not so fast.... we got there and it was closed.   But nearby was a Dennys.   We can do that.

That is Tudie and John in the foreground.  Next to Tudie is Marti then me.   Next to John is Leonard then Bill.    We were so glad to meet up with Marti and Bill.  We all have fond memories of our time together.   The two couples had never met.  But in conversation they discovered they knew LOTS of people in common.   Cool!

Biscuit was treated like a King.  Tudie took him for walks.   John fed him.  He made himself comfortable on their sofa and the guest bed.  I was concerned he would want to stay.  

Back in Cullman.   We continue to go to two different senior centers.   In a short while we leave for one that serves lunch then a Jam Session every Monday.

Always fun.

Son Lennie and DIL  Lois treated us to dinner at their house on Thanksgiving.  Of course I didn't take a picture.   But trust me, we were there.  As we were a few weeks before when they hosted their Christman motorcycle club that they founded and oversee its growth.

Cullman always has something going on.   USA Today has named Cullman to 3rd best small town in the country for Cultural events.   Southern Living has named Cullman the 9th best Christmas town.   

At this time it is their Christkindmrkt.    This town was settled by Germans so of course in October they have a huge Ockoberfest.    In the summer they have Third Fridays where streets are closed and various vendors set up.   

This is what it looks like now.   They even have an ice skating rink.

Then of course in the summer is Rock the South, a three-day concert that draws people from all over the world.   Upwards to 50,000 people attend.  2025 will feature Hank Williams Jr, Kid Rock, Nickleback, Clay Walker, Shenandoah, and many others.   If you want elite seating (in the pavilion, special parking, close by the stage, food, drinks, etc) it will only cost you $1,999.99 per person.  What a deal!

Well, time to get ready for todays fun.  I have a dump cake in the over to share.

Until next time.