Right before I was due to fly home Sunday night from Durham, Brian called me and told me his maternal grandfather had died. I tried to reroute my flight to Atlanta, but that did not work out. So, I flew in Sunday night and got home at about 11:00 pm only to turn around an leave Monday morning for our long trek to Southern GA. It was a four day journey with three different resting stops. We stayed in Nashville the first night, Valdosta the second night, and finally Atlanta on our way home. Being in Southern GA was such a charm. I was able to meet Brian's mother for the first time-I know...I can't just put out a statement like that and not explain but in effort to catch up on blogging, I will save that story for another time:) Everyone was so lovely. Their accents I just couldn't get over, along with their true southern hospitality. The men were quite chilvarous and the ladies were proper. It was so cute-or "darling" as they would say.
In an effort to give some background on Brian's grandfather I will share some of his story. Brian's grandfather, George, met his grandmother, Emma in high school. They were high school sweetharts. But, George went off to Pharmacy school and War World II. They both found love in other places and were respectively married for about 20 years after which both of their spouses passed. George left Ohio (where Brian's mother lived growing up and Brian's birth place)and moved back to GA to care for his mother. While in GA, his mother mentioned that Emma's spouse had also died. George and Emma reconnected and the rest is history. What a cute love story. Emma loves telling the story! Emma and her first husband adopted two sons and one of those sons (whom I got to meet) later adopted three children. These adoptions are what first led to Brian thinking about adoption as a child and how he would someday like to adopt. It was neat meeting the family that has formed my husband in many ways.
One funny thing while we were there was where we had to stay. Let's just say you might be a red neck if.... you check into your hotel inside of the Stuckey's gas station that also has a Dairy Queen and Burger King. I guess you could say our room was fit for a king and queen.....not hardly! Brian and his siblings along with their mother were joking that we were staying in quite a palatial setting as we tried to think of headings for this post. I wish! It was far from it! But, luckily, we only stayed one night as any of you who know me well, know that any hotel where you check in at the gas station screams nervous breakdown for me:)But, I got over it and we all survived!
The pics here are of Brian with his mother, siblings, and his grandmother Emma. Brian's mother was just beautiful and Tayler quickly became her favorite grandson when confused he asked, "how is that your mother? she looks 38!" Brian's mother, Nancy, lives in Tuscan, AZ. (We hope to visit soon and see the beautiful painted desert and Grand Canyon) Brian's brother Scott, lives outside of Minneapolis, is married, has two sons and one child on the way. He is the Director of a non-profit working with International Students. Brian's sister Elizabeth or Liz as we call her, lives in Nashville. She is an artist and musician. She is recently back from studying in Italy. Mrs. Emma (as everyone called her) was so sweet as she embraced Tayler right away and whisked him away to introduce him to all of the family.
It was truly my pleasure meeting everyone and I hope to only continue to get to know all of them better! I am blessed to have met them all. To read about George, access this link. http://obit.mclanefuneralservices.com/obit_display.cgi?id=380130&listing=Current
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