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| Main Street just outside our hotel |
It seemed not as slithery under the surface. Going down Beale Street where all the blues bars and restaurants were located, it seemed brighter. I saw a store window with a newspaper clipping posted about a curse having been lifted from the city. I do not know about any curses there, but something has changed.
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| Building near our hotel on Main Street Memphis |
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| Beale Street |
Connie celebrated 19 years of sobriety on the day we were in Memphis on Beale Street. That is pretty ironic, hey? Only God! He is funny sometimes.
We ate dinner on Beale where there was an outdoor courtyard with red bricks and black iron patio furniture. To our right was a spiral 3 stories tall leading to a tower cap; a rail-less goat run. A sign said these were flying goats. Patrons tossed bread up to the goats to try to get them to jump off the top but the animals had better sense than the people did. Sparrows flitted about and a skinny orange tabby cat slinked away to our right as two musicians paid tribute to King of the Blues, BB King, and King of Rock and Roll, Elvis. They played other songs as well and were quite talented. We arrrived at the later part of their set, just in time to tip them nicely for a job well done. The music was much better than the food.
We found the statue of Elvis in time to help a family get a photo together. (We later ran into the same family down on Main Street at the ice cream parlor.) Hayley noticed a homeless man about a half block down from Elvis Statue and at first wanted someone to come with her to encourage him and give him something. Then she decided that she would do it on her own. The man did not solicit for any help...he was not bothering anyone, he kept to himself. Connie imagined he must have thought an angel came over to him. We are seeing a lot of growth in Hayley. I know she exhibited a great deal of courage to go by herself (under our watchful eye, of course.)
Back toward Main Street a hungry man asked Connie for her left overs, which she promptly gave happily. She was glad she had something to give him.
It began to drizzle by the time we got back to the hotel and it was dark.
There was a hot tub outside on the 2nd floor roof. Connie, Hayley and I enjoyed that while Lesa stayed behind in the room.
In the morning, I found a seat next to a window to write and post the update about Little Rock. I really enjoyed the alone time while it lasted.
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| Outside of Nashville on Route 100 |
Nashville was loud and crowded. There is not much to do there but walk down the main strip, see cowboy boots and hats, souveneirs and bars with country bands. Since it was Friday night, it was especially busy. We ate dinner at Rippy's, a two story restaurant known for its ribs, with tin ceilings and dark stained plywood floors. Our waitress was a tiny young woman who wore cute frilly boots. I pointed out someone to bless. This woman was crouched down on the street stuffingssomething into her backpack. Her arms were as skiny as sticks and her hair dirty and matted. Lesa peered around the corner and said,"You mean that girl who is stuffing stolen goods into her backpack?" She had unopened packages of sheets. OK. Not so much. We headed to the end of the road where the river lay before us and watched a barge load of coal come slowly down stream pushed steadily ahead by a tug boat by Captain Wilson.
It was getting late and we were trying to get together with a friend who has attended a couple of God's Girls Ministry Retreats back in Virginia. After a quick stop at Target to resupply the car for the road trip tomorrow, we met with Marie and talked and laughed and shared stories. She was woken up by the holy spirit at 3:13 am to pray for us. I love how God loves us so much and gives us faithful people who love him and obey him and listen to him.
We head to Charlotte tomorrow.
