Nashville Christmas

I was afraid the trip would be a nightmare because my dad has a lot of trouble walking now, cause of his Parkinson's. Steps are all but impossible for him. Since this was a bus trip run by the Senior Center I was dreading getting him on and off the bus. But the bus driver was really patient and helpful, so the only bad part was when I had to lift his 6'2". 185 lb. body out of the bus seat. Now, my back is killing me.

The lady who planned the trip did a decent job of it; but we didn't have a lot of information before we got there. So I was very pleasantly surprised to see that we were staying at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel! We got there about 3:30 Friday afternoon, took a nap had dinner in one of the 6 restaurants in the hotel and then we got back on our bus to go to see the Rockettes Christmas Show at the Ryman Auditorium. It was beautiful! I have always loved the live nativity and all the pretty costumes. It always makes me tear up with joy and I am not one of those girls that crys all the time.



Saturday, we got up early and had the breakfast buffet. AWESOME FOOD! I ate like a refugee. Then we went to a craft show which was in the hotel and the Hall of Trees, Christmas tree display. Mom was kind enough to buy me a nice, little dress with bling on it to wear to the Opry that night at the craft fair.






While waiting for the shuttle bus to the mall I browsed one of the hotel gift shops and found myself a pink cowgirl hat for only $20! When we were at the mall I saw almost the exact same hat for $49.98. I love a good bargain and I was so happy I did a little happy dance.

Then mom and I took the free shuttle to the Opry Mills Mall and shopped! Mom has been on a quest for black flats for months and she finally found a pair she liked and that fit. She wears a 7.5N so finding shoes for her is always a chore. The mall was packed tighter than I don't know what. There was a Subway in the mall so we picked up a foot long FEAST and some chips and took it back to the hotel so we could eat dinner with dad, before boarding the bus to go downtown to the Grand Ole Opry!

I've seen the Grand Ole Opry on tv a million times, but it was such a thrill to be there. I didn't realize it was such a small venue, but the acoustics are excellent and there isn't a bad seat in the house. BONUS: They not only allow but encourage you to get out of your seat and take flash photos of your favorite performers! There were a bunch of acts but the ones I enjoyed most were Jean Shepherd, John Conlee, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, The Whites, and of course Trisha Yearwood. I love her! She sang: She's in Love With the Boy, How Do I Live?, and Your Cheating Heart. Back on the bus and back to the hotel.

We packed and loaded up, and were on the bus by 10:30 Sunday morning and headed back for home.

I didn't see a single motorcycle the whole time we were in Nashville, which I thought odd at first. However, it was unseasonably cold and some areas east of the city actually had 1-3 inches of snow Friday night, into Saturday morning. I've never been on a motorcycle when it's under 50 degrees so I'm guessing riding in the snow and the cold is less than fun.

All in all it was a good trip, mom and I bickered a few times but we do that at home too.

Just Ranting About the Usual

Dad fell twice last Thursday (12-3-09), the 2nd fall landed him in the ER with a mild concussion. His first fall was when I was at my shrinks office. Apparently he fell walking from the driveway into the garage with his 4 pronged cane. He gets nervous about steps. Fortunately, we live in a ranch house with no steps. He got all nervous & shaky due to the 1.5" elevation in the concrete from the driveway to the garage. Mom got hysterical and started crying cause I wasn't there to pick him up, as I did the previous week when he did the same thing. Finally she ran next door to our neighbors house and one of the guys there was able to come and help get daddy up and into the house.

The 2nd fall happend maybe 4 hours later at Captain D's. Mom had decided she didn't want to cook dinner that night so they went out. Dad fell walking out of the restaurant with his cane. The floor in Captain D's was not wet, it's just how he is now that the disease has set in.

I wasn't there cause I had to take the handyman home. I hired a handyman to help me get the 8' Christmas tree that mom prefers out of the shed in the backyard, and into the house. There is also a 6' tree but she doesn't like that one. At this point my life revolves around keeping mom happy so she doesn't bitch at me. Actually that's pretty much the story of my life.

The handyman also had to disconnect the old broken tv in the folks bedroom, take it out of the entertainment center, move it to the garage; and hook up the new 27" flat panel, LCD, HDTV to the cable box. Mom had purchased a new TV on black Friday. Dad as you know has Parkinson's Disease and is unfortuately all but useless to us around the house. I just didn't have the strength necessary to lift that large old television up and out of its perch.

Oh, the handyman is also a bit of a computer geek and he was able to install my new soundcard. He also sharpened my pocket knife. All that for $20! God Bless America.

Mom fell Sunday, getting off the bus, in the parking lot, at the senior center. She made it through the entire trip w/o a mishap and falls getting off the bus 5 miles from home. Her knee went out on her, this happens often . . . like daily. Usually if she wears her knee brace she doesn't fall all the way to the ground like she did on Sunday. She was lucky her only injury other than her pride was to her left elbow. It's a little bruised and the skin was scraped off in about a 2" area. I have been putting Neosporin on it and a clean bandage daily. It is healing nicely.

Tomorrow I have to schlep all the Christmas decorations out of the shed and into the house. Then I have to start writing out moms and my Christmas cards and get them into the mail.

Friday, I have to do the grocery shopping, start decorating the tree and do a host of other junk.