“It’s a Tennessee thing.”

It’s a Tennessee Thing

Leaving thrilled from the incredible writer’s conference at the Blue Ridge Mountain Retreat (BRMCWC) I looked forward to rendezvous with my husband, Roger, to share my experience.

He planned an after-conference celebration in Nashville (Music City USA), our first-time visit.
Ah, but the summer thunderstorms had another plan of cancelling my flight to Atlanta. There is no way to go directly to Nashville by plane.

I stood in line at four car rental companies and always the person ahead of me got the last car. My last hope was one more company. A lovely young man with a lilting southern accent, “Mam, we have one vehicle left, but it is a BIG truck.” “I’ll take it,” wondering how I would do with one of these monster vehicles. He excused himself for a moment. “Mam, you won’t believe it but we just got a compact car in if you prefer.”

I was on my way for the 5–6-hour drive to Nashville in the rain. GPS sent me on beautiful back roads, the countryside teaming with green pastures. The speed limit was 70MPH and people were going 80! Prayers shot up as the car shook, going over 60.

But the journey brought me to what we believed to be one of the “happiest” and friendliest city we’ve ever visited. From “Joe” the late-night manager at the hotel who helped me figure out how to navigate the parking app to ensure my rental car wouldn’t be towed, to all the LYFT drivers who “blessed” us for coming to visit, the outpouring of welcoming angels was infectious.

The Grand Ole Opry was a special event in that each performer (there were 8 unique acts) recognized the historic circle. During a flood that damaged the Ryman Auditorium (original home of the Opry), they reclaimed a six-foot-wide oak wood circle and positioned it center stage of the new Opry. The iconic circle represents the country’s talented musicians, who made the music part of the American lexicon.

Singers and musicians who’ve not been inducted into the Opry would carefully step around that circle, respecting its special aura reserved only for those who had. There are only 68 current members. Being invited as a member is one of country music’s major achievements and why the circle is a place of honor.

I thought about my circle being the Cloud of Witness of published authors I’ve met and who’ve encouraged me in my 3.5-year writing journey. Looking at that Cloud of Witness circle, I also stand back and admire the perseverance of what it takes to create a novel. I respect the learning of the craft, which never stops, the enormous research, and the dedication even if it means giving up other things in life. I look at this circle with hope in my pursuit of publishing my biblical novel.
Do you have a special circle? Something that you hold true and honor? Something you admire and want to emulate?

Oh, and about the ‘Tennessee Thing’? We visited the ‘Best Food Truck’ in Nashville and, of course, had what made them the best, “It’s a Tennessee Thing.”

Built like a cathedral on an aluminum pan… they lined the bottom layer with fried cauliflower (or French fries but we chose the “healthier” cauliflower option) followed by a deluge of brisket, onions, cheese, spices, and topped off with an onion ring. The counter woman asked what name should she call out when the order was ready.

My husband said “KING HENRY”. She asked incredulously, “KING HENRY?” He replied, “Well, if I said Blake Shelton, I assumed you wouldn’t believe me.” In her best Southern drawl she smiled, “No sir, I don’t think I would”. The entire Kitchen crew laughed at preparing lunch for KING HENRY. Imagine royalty partaking of their lunch truck cuisine.
The circle won’t be unbroken, by and by Lord, by and by…