Ethridge- Amish Country

The day following our return to the south from Lake Powell, we "packed up" (hooked our house to the back of the truck and threw our wader pool into the living room) and headed to Ethridge TN. One of the tires on our trailer blew out so what was supposed to be a 2 and a half hour drive turned into a 7 hour journey. Thanks to expert advice (aka Kraig and Mike) we learned a lot, got our hands dirty, and got on our way before night time. Our new home (A Place of Rest RV Park) is situated right on the outskirts of the largest Amish settlement in the south (approximately 300 Amish families live here). My new rotation is at most 40 minutes away in Pulaski (Birthplace of the KKK… one of the reasons we didn't look for a park there… I hear the annual parade has more security personnel than those marching in the parade). My preceptor is a yankee (from Illinois) and I appreciate his laid back nature. The first day at the clinic we went and performed an emergency appendectomy, he kindly let me feel inside the patients abdominal cavity before he sewed him back up (a gift that can probably only be appreciated on a surgical rotation). We will be here for 4 more weeks… I don't know if it will be long enough! Church in Lawrenceburg TN (birthplace of southern gospel music and of Davy Crockett) was enjoyable. The most fierce religious competition is the Thousand Oaks Cowboy Church down the road from our RV park. Too bad they meet at 10am or we would have been there too.

The Amish

We've been buying produce and other goods from our peaceful neighbors, almost on a daily basis. One family we stopped by (to get some amazing bread) ended up being very talkative and we spent close to an hour talking to them. They are in their 30's, have 5 kids, and were full of questions about us. Their daughter Millie took Trace by the hand and led him around their yard (she's 3). They have no choice but to become our Amish friends (we hope they're okay with that). Our favorite past time is driving on the backroads; seeing a way of life that is mostly gone from the world. 

The Artful Tracer

Shayna took Trace to a flea market adjoining our RV park on Saturday. Apparently he wanted a wooden gun that Shay wasn't going to spend 2.50 on. He threw a fit in the middle of the market grounds and got the attention of 3 old men and a woman in a rocking chair. The old men handed him some money, Trace thanked them in whatever language he speaks, and bought the gun. During the fit the old lady in the rocking chair brought over a sucker and told Trace "do you want to come live with me? I could rock you all day". Shayna just watched it all go down. He's learning some new skills here in Ethridge.

Bluegrass Festival

The Summertown Annual Bluegrass Reunion was this weekend. Including our children there were about 10 children (and about the same amount of young adults). The rest of the crowd consisted of bluegrass relics (the oldest appeared to be the tiny tap-dancing grandma, she must have been approaching triple digits). It didn't take long for Trace to take the stage and dance with the rest of the faithful patrons. I think somehow Bo Jangles is his ancestor (the boy's got some quick stepping moves). We're grateful for safe, appropriate, and jive gatherings that are close enough to enjoy.