Lazy Dogs; Crazy Highway; A Sundial; Last Documentary Viewing; Karen Taylor-Good; A New Blog?

Reveille was early Thursday morning, at 0630. We wanted to get an early start for another long driving day. Rudy and Gretchen, however, were not so inclined. Here they are trying to sleep in... I had just said, “Okay, guys, let’s get moving; who is ready for a walk? Come on with Dad outside into the cold, damp grass...  Hey, is anyone listening?” Looks like Dog Dad is being, like, totally dissed and ignored! Who is in charge here?  

There were some big hills on I-81 in southwestern Virginia and on I-40 in Tennessee, but the terrain is far less rugged than Colorado, except where the highway drops down steep hills with tight curves. Fast curves require use of The Bus’ exhaust brake, which quickly drops you from 6^th into 4^th gear. It’s almost like throwing out an anchor, and stabilizes what could be a runaway, 18 ton behemoth into an almost docile lady...well, almost. There were some thrilling moments, fortunately not documented digitally, with Your Correspondent gripping the wheel with white knuckles and muttering Navy expressions when an 18-wheeler passing us at ½ mph over our speed (and holding up 20 cars behind him) wandered slightly into our lane. “Wasn’t that interesting? I would have preferred that idiot have stayed in his own lane... okay, sending love now...  Remember, I am a New Age Kind of Guy...."

This sundial by artist Preston Farabow at a Tennessee rest stop caught our attention. Suzanne was trying to tell time with hand signals, but I think the sundial was more accurate. Rudy and Gretchen were obviously confused...  

We have arrived in Nashville! The Bus is now parked in Unity of Nashville’s parking lot; campgrounds were 15-20 miles away, too far to commute from/to. Rev. Cherie graciously allowed us to set up camp here; I hope she won’t mind the campfire or the trucker friends I made on I-40 who promised to visit for the pig roast and to swap highway stories.

To be serious for a few moments, we had a very special Messages of Hope viewing Thursday evening. Suzanne introduced the film, answered questions, and explained details of the film, such as Ann Lavelle’s remote control. 

Suzanne then introduced Karen Taylor-Good, the Nashville singer-songwriter who wrote and sang If Not for Love, which is played at the end of the movie.

Karen then sang If Not for Love and Precious Child “live.” She is a real Star, a delightful person, and an extremely talented and gifted musician. Karen spends a lot of time on the road touring, and we were honored that she was able to be at the documentary viewing last night.

Suzanne met Polly Case at the Afterlife Awareness Conference co-sponsored by the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE) in Virginia Beach last year. Polly was excited about the possibility of the Messages of Hope Tour visiting Nashville, and made sure that we made a right turn at the I-40 West/I-81 South junction. It was great to meet her (again for Suzanne, first time for me).

This documentary viewing ends the scheduled events of the Messages of Hope North America 2012 Tour. We will spend a day catching our breath here in Nashville, and then head home to The Villages in central Florida. We expect to arrive home on Monday 1 October. This blog will continue until we get home, and then will be re-born under a new title, Life As Ty Sees It. More info to follow for those interested in keeping up with my sometimes quirky view of life....