(Annabelle and Jace dance at Dry Falls Brewing
Company.)
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
-James 4:14 (NIV)
My family often ventures for a weekend away to spend
time together as a family. Lisa and I recently visited Easley, South Carolina,
the hometown of my grandfather, James Louie Cartee, Sr. As many of my
acquaintances know, my grandfather was an avid fan and supporter of the Clemson
University Tigers sports teams. Easley is located very close to the Appalachian
Mountains and some of the most beautiful state parks in the United States
(i.e., Table Rock, Caesar’s Head, Paris Mountain). Easily is also positioned between
the cities of Greenville and Clemson.
In addition to stopping in Easley, Lisa and I had long
been wanting to visit Brevard, North Carolina. This small mountain town is known
for white squirrels, mountain biking, waterfalls, and is the home of Brevard
College. Brevard involves an active Main Street scene with family-style
restaurants, art galleries, and other quaint shops. Our family ate lunch at the
Brevard Diner, and I ordered the grilled trout as my lunch entrée. It was
delicious! It tasted as if it had been freshly caught that morning in the cold
mountain streams. Our waitress was fantastic! I drank all the water and coffee
my bladder could hold. The décor of the restaurant was a classic diner like you
might see in a movie, simplistic but still local.
We spent most of the afternoon on Main Street,
including a visit to Rocky’s Grill and Soda Shop, where we were treated to
delectable ice cream desserts. Rocky’s is a known establishment that has resided
in Brevard since 1941. I ordered my usual two scoops of two different flavors.
Lisa, on the other hand, ordered the largest ice cream Sunday on the menu. Annabelle
(two years old) has not yet learned the crucial lesson of sharing. She claimed
Lisa's Sunday as her own, however, we limited her intake of sugar. As a youngling,
Annabelle loves ice cream, a treat she might eat once every few months.
We arrived at our Airbnb in Easley late Friday
evening, where we quickly prepared both kids for bed. It was a long day
traveling but a good one for many reasons.
The next day we slept in as long as Annabelle would
let us. We drove to Greenville, South Carolina, another beautiful area that
incorporates an active lifestyle in the residential scene. For example, we
decided to visit the Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery. In a utopian mindset, Lisa
loves grocery stores! This place was the most extraordinary grocery store I
have ever been to. Everything is locally sourced in South Carolina from other
family businesses. On the grounds, there is a café with several wonderful fresh
offerings that make for a good lunch. A nearby building was an old bicycle shop,
which had been turned into a community space with ping pong tables and arcade
games. Imagine a large green space that resembles a beer garden for families,
friends, and couples. This establishment neighbors a city greenway where bikes
run rampant. Riders often take a break
from long distances at the Swamp Rabbit. Among multiple outdoor picnic tables, over
a hundred people hung out while enjoying the pleasant weather. While the
grocery store carried unique gifts, like candles and labeled t-shirts, the
amount of fresh produce and selection of beers was immense.
After stopping at the Swamp Rabbit, Lisa and I wanted
to visit the Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, North Carolina, situated about an
hour from our Airbnb. The orchard was massive and resided on the top of a
mountain where you could see local views in every direction. Apples were still
being picked here in mid-November, which is typically a little late in the
season. Lisa drank apple cider. I drank an apple slushie and ate several apple
donuts. Like the ice cream Sunday, Annabelle possessively claimed a half donut
from me, stating “Mine.” All four of us took a tractor ride around the orchard.
I also shot an apple cannon at targets across a lake on the property. The canon
was loud and resembled the force of a potato gun. These products and services
were available for a modest price. The orchard provided a place for families to
have a good time in a safe environment.
After another lovely day in these beautiful
surroundings, we decided to eat and drink at Dry Falls Brewing Company in
Hendersonville, North Carolina. On another previous trip, I visited the area
just before Annabelle was born. At the time, the owners of Dry Falls offered
the opportunity to pre-buy a drink for a police officer in order to honor these
public servants. I sponsored one beer like several other local customers. When
off duty, a police officer could enjoy some beverages on the tab of others who
supported their services. So, I immediately had respect for the business!
A food truck named Heidi Ho on The Go supplied our
dinner with some gluten-free, meatless options for Lisa. I had a few beers, and
Lisa drank blackberry cider (also gluten-free). We both agreed that the food
and drinks were flavorful. Most importantly, Dry Falls encouraged families to
enjoy the atmosphere with an emphasis on tiny humans, meaning Annabelle and
Jace. The residents of Brevard, Flat Rock, and Hendersonville seemed especially
patient toward young children. Annabelle can sometimes test the nerves of
customers close to us. During the week before our trip, I had completed and
passed four six-hour comprehensive exams in my Ph.D. program at The University
of Tennessee. So, we used the occasion to celebrate this momentous
accomplishment! Dry Falls provided a great environment to do so!
On Sunday morning, Lisa and I ventured to my
grandfather’s gravesite in Liberty to pay our respects. Called Jace for short, James
Louie Cartee, IV is named after my grandfather. Since Jace did not get to
officially meet his Great Grandad before his passing, we took a few pictures of
Jace next to the tombstone. Lisa was not surprised that Grandad’s tombstone
looked the “biggest and shiniest” in the cemetery. Grandad certainly possessed
a BIG personality! Watching Jace and Annabelle, Lisa was not able to attend the
actual funeral services. As a result, Lisa wanted to see the gravesite. We said
a prayer and made our way home.
Lisa and I enjoyed Brevard so much that we decided to
take the same route back to Knoxville with a few more stops along the way. We
would drive back through Brevard from Easley, which unfortunately involved many
curvy mountain roads. We first stopped at Connestee Falls, a landmark we
wanted to see Friday, however, rainy weather prevented us from doing so.
Brevard borders the Pisgah National Forest, where several more beautiful
waterfalls add to the scenery. In this national forest, we next visited Looking
Glass Falls. Both these waterfalls are easily accessible for those with
families and troublesome toddlers who have strong personalities. When I walked
down to the bottom of Looking Glass Falls, Annabelle decided to lie down in a
huge pile of leaves, like she was sleeping in a bed. She was blowing a gasket
in her collision with nature. Thankfully, she had no spiders or ticks on her
body afterward. She did not seem like her usual joyful self. I wondered what
was wrong. Lisa and I would soon find out.
On the final leg driving up the mountain from Brevard through
the national forest, Annabelle’s face turned a little greenish. After crying with
a moan, she proceeded to vomit all over herself and her car seat. We stopped
the car to clean up the mess and change Annabelle’s clothes. It was probably
about forty degrees on the top of the mountain with a strong gust of wind. This
freezing weather made Annabelle cry even louder on the side of the road. Lisa
decided that Annabelle must be hungry after literally losing her lunch in our
Honda Civic. No more than twenty-five minutes later, Annabelle threw up again
with the recent crackers and goldfish Lisa decided to give her. We stopped
again to change Annabelle’s clothes a second time. I had to unpack the entire
trunk to get clothes out of the suitcase for this next change. While Annabelle
was obviously carsick, we still had another twenty miles to cover before
reaching Waynesville and straighter roads ahead. Annabelle’s hair was styled
with vomit and leaves from wrestling with the dirt at Looking Glass Falls.
While our last adventurous afternoon was eventful, I
still found myself grateful for these messy spillovers. While probably cussing
under my breath at that exact moment (especially after going through the
vomiting scenario twice), I realized that God gave me a marvelous tiny human to
clean and care for. In my younger days, God also gave me a dedicated
Grandfather who often cared for me in some difficult situations. Lisa tends to
be the champion with our kids and quickly cleans up decorative puddles of puke quicker
than a transformer.
Annabelle gets sick occasionally. However, in a positive
light, she cries a sweet quiver when she thinks Lisa or I plan to suddenly
leave the apartment. She desires the family to always be together with her Mom
and Dad by her side.
When I pick up Annabelle from daycare, she runs into
my arms. When going to bed, Annabelle eagerly requests kisses for her and all
the stuffed animals that accompany her nighttime sleep. Jace even now smiles
when you kiss his cheeks fervently, caught between the love given by Lisa and me.
If framed in a positive mindset, the frustrating moments still lead to smiles
and remembering these mentioned blessings. Emotions might take over in the
seconds of messy situations. However, God instills joy through these tiny
humans, even amidst the grossest of moments in a vomit-filled car with a filthy
kid who needs a bath. The following Bible verse reminds me of this observed truth.
“Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.”-Psalm 127: 3-5 (NIV)
*Please view these pictures from our recent weekend getaway.
(Looking Glass Falls, Pisgah National Forest, North
Carolina)
#daddydestinations
#daddy #dad #blog #family #DaddiesAndDaughters #destinations #memories #story
#narrative #inspiration #JamesCartee #Thanksgiving #goodness #lifelessons
No comments:
Post a Comment