It’s been a great summer in spite of many days of rainfall.  Meaning many car washes to the new beast.  Of course it wouldn’t be summer without the annual trip to Tennessee with BFF Yvonne.  Our time was  filled with laughter, adventure, and the affirmation that joy holds more meaning when shared with your besty.

As you will soon see this blog post is more of a collage than an editorial.

We stayed in a fabulous hotel just a ways from the small town of Franklin.  Here is the view from our 10th floor room.

Oh, those Tennessee mountains!

Sunrise in Tennessee

Beautiful Skies

And there was shopping, shopping, and more shopping.  The Yeti cooler seems to be made popular by Chris Jansen and his song “It Can Buy Me a Boat”.

Toys galore

A yeti 450

Boutiques…

…and more boutiques.

While the hotel provided breakfast each morning and kick-off happy hour each evening we enjoyed a few of the local restaurants.  Pucketts  was a sure fire fix for southern BBQ, complete with its banjo ceiling fans. Marridees was more hustle and bustle with homemade breads and desserts.

Puckett’s BBQ

Recycling at its best.

Merridee’s Bread Basket

And Chuy’s (our favorite) was a delightful mix of delicious Mexican food and superb customer service.  Colin was a perfect representation of southern charm and hospitality.  Of all those we met during our travel to Tennessee he was by far the most memorable.  The closest Chuy’s is in Kansas city.  You might want to try it, but good luck hoping to find another server like Colin.

Colin-our server.

No cry babies allowed.

Always the willing partner in crime.

Food was amazing.

Additional highlights from our trip included a tour of the Lotz House, a sing-along bus tour of downtown Nashville, and The Grand Ole Opry.

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A few phrases worth mentioning…

I am so incredibly fortunate to have such a unique and timeless relationship with my best friend Yvonne.  Our antics, heartaches, laughter, and tears have moved along at the perfect speed for over thirty years.  I love you Yvonne.  Here’s to many more miles of traveling down life’s highway together.  Thank goodness we don’t hide crazy!