And yet another catch-up

Now it's the middle of July and boy howdy is it hot here -- 90 to 95 every day. Not a complaint, just a remark.

I have to confess that my idea of maintaining a blog is running out of steam a little. I envisioned it as cutting edge repartee and lots of back and forth dialog with the editors of The New Yorker, TIme, GQ, and Vanity Fair. Well, that isn't exactly happening.... So, I am abandoning my original purpose and will simply update life in the Crossroads of Dixie! I have never been much of a fan of those Christmas letters -- one has to be very careful in how they are written. So if I descend into that sort of journalism, will someone please drop me a hint? And hopefully I can avoid this being a diary, but on the other hand, I suspect there aren't enough people reading this that it matters one way or the other!

We had our Haddix Family reunion here the weekend of June 28th. I think we all had a grand time. And I think we ate well. The weather was warm but pleasant. It was so very good to spend more than a couple of hours with family you grew up with. Uncle Joe, Tony, and Jack went to the Chickamauga Battlefield and Lookout Mountain. The next day, Tony and Phyllis, Uncle Bert and Helen and Anne and I went to Lookout Mtn and some rode the Incline Railway and we took a short tour of Rock City and some of the beautiful homes up there. Monday, Uncle Bert and Helen and Anne and I went to the aquarium -- whew, what a day! Then they drove back home that afternoon. Three days later, Erika and Prasanna and our friend and neighbor, Greg and his friend, Diane, came for the weekend. We saw more fireworks than I have ever seen in my entire life! Spent a lot of time on the boat -- even at night while watching fireworks. A great weekend also. As soon as they left Sunday morning, both of us raced back to bed for the afternoon!

The week before the Haddix Reunion Andria, Michael, and Katy were here! I know everyone says it, but what a precious little bundle -- see Andria's Picasa site link elsewhere in this blog and check regularly if you like. We toured Chattanooga. including the North Shore and Coolidge Park -- Katy even got to ride on the carousel there. We also trekked up Lookout Mountain. Katy did not like the boat ride so we cut that very short!

Tomorrow, 7/19, we are going to Dayton, TN, to see a reenactment of the Scopes Trial that occurred there in the summer of 1925. Every year, local law students and a couple of reenactors recreate a shortened version of the trial word-for-word in the courtroom of the original courthouse. William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow were the opposing attorneys. As part of the "festival" weekend, there are two musicians who were featured in the movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" And hopefully lots of junk food! I'm due for an infusion of junk food!

Speaking of food, I think most of us grew up on white Silver Queen corn? And now I think the new Peaches and Cream, or bi-color, is better. BUT, a local produce guy swears by the newest Silver King! 'Says we will never eat anything else! It's due in about another week. We'll see,,,,

Just a reminder to everyone -- we are twenty minutes off I-75 at Exit 4, just north of the Chattanooga exit. If you are passing through, we would be thrilled if you spent some time with us or just call and we will meet you for lunch or dinner if you're in a hurry!