Day Nineteen: Nashville, Here we Come!

I was looking forward to this day and the comfort of my friend Wynn for a while. If you run into Charlie Rich you can tell him you have seen the most beautiful girl in the world once you have seen Wynn. And the least of her beauty lies in her dark knowing eyes or her welcome to my porch smile; which are both stunning. No her beauty lies in her heart beats and the music in her soul. I arrive in Nashville from Louisville quickly and am happy about that.

My friend lives in a big blue house built of at the turn of the century, the last one, not this one. And it is positively therapeutic. We first take her two dogs, Darla and Sheva, and Louie on a walk in Shelby park so they can get acquainted. Us humans are overly cautious and the dogs are overly friendly toward one another.

We return to the house and relax on the deck surrounded by our stories of the years we have missed and the memories of the years we shared. There is something deeply satisfying about being in the company of a friend you have not seen in years and realizing she is everything you remember. Time has not taken her wit or sincerity and the visit is like donning your favorite sweater in winter.

I re-meet her kids. Eden was last seen at age 6ish and Julian was 2ish.  We were headed to see Cindy in the mountains and Julian got sick in the back seat and kept saying things like "this is dis-custing". All grown up they welcome me with a well raised hand shake and conversation.

We drink Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey on the front porch and hand out candy to the single teen moms and their babies, and talk about the ways that are wrong in the world.  The smell of homemade chili fills the air and eventually, our bellies.

Eden leaves for a party and checks in every hour as promised. Julian and his friend return from trick r treating and his friends mom comes over to pick him up. She is Wynn's friend so she is interested in what I have to say and gives me a warm hug when she leaves.

We switch to wine and as such the conversation mellows. If is nice and if it never ended I wouldn't mind.

She puts me in an upstairs bedroom on a soft futon and makes a bed for Louis. He is beside himself. I am asleep in minutes. In the morning I turn the car toward home.

Recipes: Fireball Whiskey and a brisk Fall night mixed with the echos of a childhood friend fill the soul.

Roadtrips: There are no miles or years between true friends.

Renovations: That doesn't mean you have to let years and miles get between you.