Southern Antique: Trip to Tennessee!

Back in the end of July/beginning of August I made a trip to see a dear friend from elementary/middle school! We grew up together and spent the summers walking to and from each other's houses and to the snow cone stand down the road. They were .50 cents back then! All I can remember is digging 50 cents out of my parents change jar and making our way to the snow cone stand! Man, those were the days!!

She moved the summer before 7th grade and I had seen her once since she moved, but only for a weekend. It had been about 10 years since we had visited each other and it was time to make a trip to Tennessee! I wasn't getting to make many vacations during school and now that I'm taking a year off due to unfortunate events, I figured what better time than now! So I headed east Sunday morning to go to the great state of Tennessee!

My packing technique! What a girlllll..

A cool picture I got of downtown Birmingham!

and finally.. a welcome to TN sign!!!

too bad I didn't have anyone to bug with the "are we there yet?" saying! I was all alone on my 6 1/2 hour drive!

Brittany just had a sweet baby boy back in February and that was another reason for me to go visit! His name is Kaden and he is the sweetest thing ever!!!

and I fell in love! What a sweet face!

then I fed him suckers..

and he screamed when we took it away! Whoops!

and he smiled like this constantly! (sorry about the toe!)

Brittany had to work a few days that I was there, so I found my way around East Ridge, Chattanooga, and Ringold GA! I made my way out to the Cracker Barrell to visit her mom who waitresses there for some yummy lunch! Also I made my way to her sister's restaurant, Rain Thai Bistro one day for lunch as well!

naturally, I ordered delicious sushi! .. and ate it with a fork proudly!

One of the days that Britt was off, we went into downtown Chattanooga to the aquarium and sadly missed a whole floor of river monsters! Perfect floor for my Mississippian upbringings, dernit!

stingray and funky looking shark petting pool! I DID NOT PET.

an extremely large sea turtle!

The penguins, my fav! I wish they were available to pet! I could "pet" them all day! There were some babies behind another glass cage inside this one that weren't too visible.

We also saw lots of jellyfish, a butterfly garden, some parrots, a large hideous snake, and several different types of small fish. It was fun, but nothing that I haven't seen at nearly every other aquarium I've been to! Sad that I missed the river monsters floor!

Those are my brothas and sistas, y'all!

Brittany's dad took me on a ride up to Lookout Mountain on his motorcycle one day. It was such a beautiful sight. We don't have mountains here in Mississippi, so it's always nice to see such beautiful nature. I had thought that we were going to stop once we got to the top, so I stuck my phone in the little box on the back of the bike and didn't get to snap any shots. I saw out over the whole city of East Ridge and it was breathtaking. There is a little fun place called Ruby Falls and Rock City up there that would be fun to visit next time I go. When I go on vacation I always like to eat and do/see things that I'm not able to do back home. I really would have enjoyed white water rafting and hiking... but the money runs out at some point, right? Can't do it all in one trip!

One morning I offered to keep Kaden with me so that Brittany could save a little money by not having to send him to the baby sitter.. boy was that something else. It taught me a couple of things about selfishness! That's for sure. He is teething, so he was dying for attention and very fussy. I couldn't even blow dry my hair without him fussing for attention. I would step out the bathroom and he would stop hollering.. then I would step back in and here he goes again. My patience were tested quite a few times that morning and then offered for her to take him back to the baby sitters the next few days. Is that horrible or what! I'm just not used to that kind of responsibility! One day will be my turn, but not any time soon!

It was so nice to catch up with my old childhood friend. We reminisced on old times and laughed until we cried. We got lots of sonic happy hour drinks and watched some movies. We made a trip to the mall like old times. We had so much fun! I miss her and that sweet little boy already! I wish distance and funds didn't keep us so far apart. I often miss the old days.. Responsibility and growing up isn't the best of things, but I do catch myself looking forward to being out of school, having children, and starting my career! What a crazy, fast-paced life we live! Stop and enjoy the little things sometimes!