gigamatic

so, we went to see the great pumpkin.
and it was good.

last friday, we drove to c'bridge, checked into the motel, stopped at the bakery (mmm, devil dogs) and booked it to my parents', where i was supposed to mow grass, and then we were going to go walk around at the festival. instead, my dad literally grabbed me as I walked in the door, and we instead spent over 2 hours there... nala with my mom in the kitchen, and me, in front of the computer, with my dad. then, we went uptown for a while and ran into folks both known (Penny) and unknown (Krista, Lorissa, Nichole) to Nala, and i got pumpkin ice cream, and pumpkin burger, and it was yummy. we got to see a band play, whose members i all know. and we watched kids climb over the pumpkins.

and then, because i know he will say something, i decided to take the back way home. the super scenic route, if it had been daylight. but, it was dark. and, despite something like 15 forks in the road, and not having driven it regularly in 15 years or so, i only made one wrong turn. sure, it put us IN a strip mine. Unmarked, ungated mine that it was. But, I quickly recovered and made it back out (across the top of the high wall) to the highway, and back to our motel.

after a good night's sleep, we headed back to b'ville via another scenic route (past the lake), and ate breakfast at one of many local restaurants in my hometown. let me just say, after having NEVER EATEN THERE EVER IN MY LIFE, i am having regrets. $3.40 for eggs, toast, and hash browns is a good deal. Add coffee, and it's a meal. Add bacon and it's perfection, even with the 70s panelling and linoleum on the walls.

we spent the day browsing the craft shops, antique stores, all sorts of craft displays and tractor displays, and many vendor booths. and got more ice cream, and pumpkin bread. and sat through one of the longest parades ever, in which my first cousin once removed made an appearance (note: my family is NOT FROM ANYWHERE NEAR my hometown, so this was odd.) And, got to talk to my parents' neighbor and another old friend from high school, and my favorite bank teller from when i was a kid. she thought it had only been 3 years since i left town. "Fifteen," i said, "since i left for State." She was in shock.

On our way back to our home, we stopped one last time to see the parents. They loaded us up with squash and sent us on our way.

I probably forgot some details, but it ended up really being a great trip. I love my hometown, even with all its flaws.