BATMOM: Lake Watauga

July 24

We were scheduled to be in Lake Watauga in Tennessee by the afternoon, but we were also scheduled to stop at a Target for children’s life jackets (for the lake) and to see Woodrow Wilson’s birthplace in Staunton, VA.

A family reunion from my mother’s mother’s side of the family was being held in the lake community where Uncle Mike and Virginia have a place.

Woodrow Wilson’s home visit was a disaster. Adeline was on the floor within moments of entering the museum. I was obviously not going to see this museum. We were running late, and I was grouchy about it even though I was equally to blame. I wanted to see my family!

I sat on a bench with Adeline and let her cry. I tried not to freak out about the minutes passing. Adeline finally stopped screaming, and a nice man offered to take our photo. Here we are… not crying!

There were other stops too. Potty breaks to be sure. Grocery stores. Cole refused to get off this horse once he got on (Tom had put 50 cents in the machine and threw the kids on and off it until it ended. Having never been on one of these rides it did not ocur to them that they could each get a separate turn).

We arrived at “Driftwood” for dinnertime. The lake was beautiful as was the driftwood-accented lake house. The kids were naturally drawn to all the scary things (waterfalls, the spiral staircase, steep hills, unsecured rock piles, spiders). They loved it!

We met the newest member of the family… Elijah Bradley. At 4 months, he has an incredible set of blue eyes and jet black hair. He does a mean Elvis impression with raised lip and eyebrow.

The family stayed in various cabins situated within walking distance. We were in a great place up the street, with a swing and a view. Cole took to the swing right away and parked himself there until forced to go to bed.

My cousin Nicki got lost, and a rescue brigade, equipped with flashlights, was sent out for her. Once located, Nicki sent her father off to bed, and she and Aunt Sandy began Mission Flamingo. In honor of my mom’s birthday and my Uncle’s which is 3 days later (they are 11 months apart), they gathered 129 plastic spinning pink flamingos (the combined age of Ellen – Babu -- and David) and planted them in the ground in front of the swing.

“Look who flew in for David and Ellen’s 129th birthday.” The sign read.

We set up a pink breakfast and finally went to sleep.

There was little time to savor the pink moment the following morning (there were inflated flamingoes, hats, leys, sponges).

Bindi the dog escaped and Uncle David spent the morning chasing him. Mom broke a bottle of wine and there was glass and red wine all over the floor. The kids saw the doughnuts and cupcakes and WANTED them. They settled, momentarily, for the leys.

(Cole is being a mean, pink Iron Man).

Pink Breakfast moments:

We took slow cruises on one of Uncle Mike’s pontoon boats, which was perfect for the little ones. There was also tubing behind a speedboat. I rode next to Heather, which was smart as she was 16 and knew what to do! I must admit it was very fun, though I am clearly not 16 anymore. Half way through the ride my arms started their falling asleep routine and the arthritis in my hands set in. I panicked a little when I couldn’t feel them and wondered if I’d be able to stay on and even swim if I fell off. I think Patrick, John, Becca or Ali must have seen my worry because we stopped shortly.

George, Cole and Adeline were yelling at me as I stopped. “I want come!”

There were naps (for everyone) and more boat rides. While Cole was sleeping, Adeline was with Tom, and George was on a boat ride with Babu, I had some time holding Eli and talking with my aunt Virginia and Great Aunt Rachel. Rachel was my Grandma Toney’s older sister. She looks fantastic at 88.

We had cocktails on the deck overlooking the lake and a potluck dinner. All of the children ran madly about. It made me nostalgic for my time of running around at my Great Grandmother Kate’s veranda and gardens with these same people singing some of these same songs. They are happy, happy memories. I feel certain that as Adeline, Cole and George climbed down the hill and sat on the big chairs overlooking the lake; as they jumped in a circle of relatives for the pink balloon; as they danced on the parked boat, they were building happy memories, too.

(Ballon tossing)

Uncle Mike lead an outdoor family history presentation projected on a rented projector. We’re directly related to Abraham Lincoln. Others in our family, but not us, are related to GW Bush (whew, that was a close call). We’re related to Daniel Boone and Cole Porter and John Howland…The last being a passenger on the Mayflower and the first person believed to carry Familial Polyposis (well, he or his wife. Yippekaiay.)

We had a left-over brunch the following morning, and all headed our separate way after big goodbyes. It was a lovely time. Tom and I realized that it was the first time on the trip that we had really relaxed. We had nowhere we had to be, nothing to visit or fix, no errands to run… lovely.