Back in April 2017 we visited Graceland:

Growing  up the music of Elvis was a very normal sound in our home.  Even now when I hear his voice I become nostalgic and it warms my heart.  It reminds me of my daddy.  Singing, dancing and being silly.  So Graceland was a very warm and exciting experience for me.

Of course his home still looks the same as it did when he passed away in 1977.  To me it was incredibly gawdy but I guess that was the way the rich decorated their home back then.   Below are two examples.

I would like to remember Elvis the way I did when I was a child so I choose not to reference all the unpleasantness that ended his life.  I imagine it’s immensely hard being so famous!  His death was a big deal in our home.  Somber.  His music lives on in my soul and my heart!

Roni

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Our first night in Nashville, TN was to see this lovely lady, Loretta Lynn.  A living legend for country music.  It was also her 85th birthday and they were celebrating it with family, lots of music and fun.   We had an added bonus because her sister, Crystal Gale who is a chart topping country artist was also in attendance and is behind her in the above photo.  I considered seeing her “a once in a lifetime chance” and it will always be most memorable.

Once again John and I visited  a Civil War cemetery.   History and graveyards are extremely fun and interesting for us and probably one of our favorite places to visit.   The below picture was of a graveyard directly across the street from the above pictured one.  I would say another thing John and I enjoy is a tree that has character and this one certainly had it.  The tree has been around long enough to push up gravestones have been around a couple hundred years.

Although we have no pictures of Franklin, TN where these cemeteries are we were enchanted by it.  It was small, clean and quaint. Friendly also as we found out when we talked at length to a gentleman who had just moved there from the Silicone Valley with his family.

John and I also blew Nashville up walking up and down the main avenue while listening to music coming out of every tavern, bar and pub there was.   I would have to say I had too much fun but that is a story for another time 🙂

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John and I have been enlightened by the struggles of African Americans over the last few hundred years on our current trip throughout the states from The Underground Railroad to today’s news stories.  Birmingham’s Civil Rights Institute was no exception.  The 16th St Baptist Church (seen below) as seen through the trees of the Kelly Ingram Park is where 4 young girls were murdered by an explosion in 1963.  Something most of us can remember considering the last person brought to justice for this horrific slaying was in 2002. That in itself is an injustice.

Something I learned and was appalled at was the treatment of children who marched.  Below is a monument in which the children who marched in those protests are recognized.  Over 500 were jailed at the directive of Bull Connor after he had used water cannons on them.   We will never forget his name.

There is no possible way to explain what can be learned here that you wont learn from a text book.  At this time in history all eyes were on Birmingham.  They were pivotal in how many other cities responded to the civil rights situation.

As with any of our blogs we encourage to read up on all the places we have been.  They are fascinating!  Please go to http://compositionbyjohn.com and http://facebook.com/compositionbyjon to see all of John’s wonderful pictures and thanks for checking up on our preciousventure.

John and Roni

As in the King family.   Martin Luther King Jr.

April 4, 2017.  It just so happened to be the 49th anniversary of the assassination of  Martin Luther King Jr.  We did not intend to be at the Martin Luther King National Historic Site on this day it was just where we landed.  We thought that was cool.  Right?  We didn’t know how honored we were about to be.

We strolled around the site and were brought to tears at times and at other times in awe of the story and pictures that we had heard of throughout our lives of this man and the many other courageous people who stood up for what things that should have been God given rights.  John and I were somehow taken to the Ebenezer Baptist Church unknowingly and at the perfect time.  A service was about to begin.  I looked at John and hightailed it up the stairs to the chapel.   If a service was about to begin I was going to attend.  After all what a chance to be in the pews of the very church that MLK and his father and grandfather had all preached and been reverends in.

I don’t get star struck easily but John and I were so honored to have this opportunity to listen to the words of Martin III and Bernice who had learned so much from this man, their father.  We were the second row back and they held my attention so as to inspire me and make me think of how I might be someone who acts and doesn’t just talk.

As we travel this great land of America we find so many examples of people in our nation standing up to oppression, to evil people, to what is wrong, not for themselves but for the betterment of all members of our society.  We learn so much each time we spend the time listening to their stories and feel grateful our country is honoring them in these National Park Service venues.

Pictures of our wonderful visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site can be found at http://compositionbyjohn.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/compositionbyjohn

Thank you for following our blog 🙂  John and Roni

After coming back to our trailer that we left at Scott and Nikki’s while in Seattle, we headed over to the west side of Florida.  I lived in the Tampa area for over 20 years so I have some history there.  The picture above is of Sharon and myself.  I worked with Sharon at Thompson Cigar & Co. and let her know I wanted to get together with her and anyone else who could see me.  Being the awesome person she is, she set to motion a wonderful Thompson Reunion sort of speak with current and previous employees pictured below.   I love this woman and she holds a very special place in my heart!

I thought I would throw in the picture below because Craig also is very special to me.  He has an awesome sense of humour, a big heart and is kind of a no nonsense guy and anyone in his presence can’t help but smile.

I have never met a group of people (many are not pictured here that I include in this statement) that just click and years after leaving employment with Thompson or continuing employment still click as if nothing ever changed.  I am so grateful for the time I had with each and everyone of them and hope that they all know it.

As always I am thankful to John who is always the man behind the camera for me.  More pictures can be seen at http://compositionbyjohn.com and http://facebook.com/compositionbyjohn

Thanks for reading our blog,

John and Roni

After our Christmas in Seattle with the McGarveys, John and I headed over the next day to Spokane to visit my youngest daughter, Haley and the grandbabies, Ayvah and Damien.  As with any of my daughters or grandchildren I get giddy in route to see them.   There is no feeling like the one of being able to be in the presence of these people who are so sacred to me 🙂  As usual John blesses me with pictures to remember the moments.

We bought a couple presents for Ayvah and Damien.  I believe children at their age don’t really remember who gave them what present  so they are more for me as the glee in their eye at opening a present is something that excites me!

It was a wonderful Christmas and I cant wait to see them again.  Having my 3 daughters spread across the United States is a bit crushing as I have not had them together all at once in 8 years.  I am very hopeful that I will have  more times like this one in the next coming years.

The above picture was taken on the morning we had to say goodbye. These little ones run me ragged after a few days but I always bawl uncontrollably like I do with all of my children once we are headed down the road.  I’m crazy I think! lol  Thanks again to John for always making sure we see my girls!

We really appreciate you checking up on us via this blog and cherish your comments.  Please visit Johns sites to see more of his very well done portraits.  http://facebook.com/compositionbyjohn and

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Thanks, John and Roni

Before heading down to Key West to prepare for  Scott and Nikki to stay with us, we ventured to Homestead, Florida.  In keeping in tune with visiting National Parks, we decided Key Biscayne was next.  Only 5% of this park is actually accessible without a boat.  The total area is173,000 acres resulting in a very small area to walk around on.  We did walk the short path shown below and decided that as small as it was, it was gorgeous.  We could of opted for a boat ride but decided against it due to our upcoming activities in Key West.

Mangrove trees play a big role in the eco system here from what I could gather from the park rangers/volunteers, movie and displays that were fun to look out in the visitors center.  There is so much to this park that I could not possibly do it justice.

Biscayne Bay and all the Keys associated with it are located at the southeast end of Florida just minutes from Miami.  It was a wonderful day trip and I would love to go back and experience the boat trip.  It was also nice to kick our feet up and stare at the scene below 🙂

As with all our blogs we appreciate you checking on us and appreciate feedback.   Please look for more pictures at

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Thanks!

Roni and John

We continued on from Chareleston and had the pleasure of meeting up for breakfast with Jennifer, a friend of mine  who ran around in the same gang as I back in Mt. Shasta.   We probably haven’t seen each other since we were teenagers.  She has grown into a lovely woman and has a wonderful heart!  Jen is someone I would love to know better and stay in touch with 🙂  Knowing we were visiting  Savannah and mentioning we loved going to old cemeteries she informed us of Bonaventure Cemetery.  Off we went!

John and I had tried to visit this cemetery the day before Thanksgiving but were turned away at the gate as it was closing early.  FEMA was coming in to clean up debris and such due to Hurricane Matthew recently coming through and creating a little havoc.  So we ventured out the next day and we were so excited and enthralled with the mysterious and even wicked scene we found.  The moss hanging off the trees gave an eerie feel to the place and the few autumn colors still hanging on for dear life before winter claimed them just popped and was such a contrast to the crippled branches and old foliage.

I can see why this cemetery was used in the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.  To call it spooky would lessen the beauty of it and make it sound trivial.  There is certainly history here and I would have to say by far it is the best cemetery we have been to so far!

As always John and I cherish your comments/thoughts and appreciate you reading about our precious venture.  Don’t forget to see more great pictures from John of Bonaventure Cemetery by visiting http://compositionbyjohn.com and http://facebook.com/compositionbyjohn

Next on to Chareleston, SC where we experienced a little more of the south.   John was not able to get many pictures here as we took a carriage ride like the one above and it is a bit hard to take pictures without stopping which wasn’t possible. Nevertheless we enjoyed it as it was also relaxing!

Keeping in tune with our love of train, boat and carriage rides we took out boat ride out into the Charleston Harbor which took us out to view Fort Sumter and also under the magnificent bridge above, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.  This boat ride was especially fun for me!

We visited Fort Sumter National Monument  while in town and enjoyed the well thought out visitor center.  It spoke of the first battle of the civil war and the story of the  underground railroad which seems to have followed us on our precious venture which is fine with me as I am captivated by the history.

At the suggestion of a friend we decided to have lunch at Hominy Grill.  She raved about the chocolate pudding which we found out they are famous for and well deserving of.  We also tried the soul food that was being served here and we were in for a treat.  We started out with Jalapeno hush puppies since John had never had one and we continued on with an assortment of other southern fare. She-crab soup, fried cheese grits, collard greens, cornbread, red beans and rice and a glass of ice tea!  Don’t gasp in astonishment as we did share 🙂

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As I said in my previous post my daughter, Mallory and granddaughter, Jaedyn along with Steven, Skiler and Macie (our first time meeting) were able to drive from West Virginia to visit with us.  Unfortunately Steven may not have been too impressed with us as our propane ran out in the middle of the night and I didn’t realize it until about 6am when I looked at the thermostat and it read 54 degrees and they all looked like popsicles  🙂

I did not raise my two oldest daughters so time like this is cherished beyond words.  Mallory is a caring and compassionate person who always gives you the benefit of the doubt.  She may even give it to you a few times before she finally will have enough.  It’s an endearing quality for the most part.  Her heart is very big.  She is going through some changes at the moment so we were really happy to take her and the gang to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home.  Taking my granddaughter somewhere educational made me HAPPY too!  I love doing that kind of stuff with kids.  I think they all enjoyed it!

Of course John knows how to win the kids over with food!  I was happy to meet Steven and his daughters who were a pleasure to hang out with.  Don’t wait or put off being with your children and grandchildren and doing stuff together if you can help it.  They make memories for a lifetime and are priceless.  I love you Mallory and you have been and forever will be in my heart as will Jaedyn who I thank you for!

The above pictures were all taken with cell phones. If you would like to see John’s lovely pictures please visit : http://compositionbyjohn.com and http://facebook.com/compositionbyjohn

and as always we appreciate all of you who take the time to read and join us on our preciousventure!