Visiting the South

March 4, 2005 Left home at about 9:45pm to DIA. Got there early and it was a pleasant wait. The flight to Atlanta was uneventful. We arrived in Atlanta 5:19 a.m. Georgia time. Hertz rental was a breeze – no line that time of day. Michael drove us out of Atlanta and onto Roanoke, Alabama. Susan remembered the way except for the exit at Newnan. We went 16 extra miles, but plenty of time to spare. Called Michael S., Susan's nephew in Newnan, GA. He and his wife, Joyce were just getting up. Susan and Michael killed about 2 hours at the Huddle House in Roanoke waiting for them to show up. Lori, Michael and Joyce arrived about 9:00 a.m. We had lots of fun and laughed and joked a lot. Michael S. has really matured and Susan was so surprised at how good a conversationalist he is now. We visited a couple of hours, then he and Joyce headed out. Lori went with Michael and Susan to the Galley for lunch with Freddie. Susan and Michael were both not hungry so we did not clean our plates. Then stopped by Superior Gas to see Mrs. Ann M. Lo and behold, the receptionist turned out to be Lorraine W. M. Susan did not recognize her at all. She recognized Susan and it was so good to see her. We visited for about 30 minutes with Ann and Little Bill. Michael was entertaining the whole office. Take a look at these pictures taken on our trip home south. Note: Since Michael stashed all pictures in several 'albums' you have to click on one to view all photos of that albums one at a time or as a slide show. Lorraine told Susan Gail B. W. was back in Roanoke, so we stopped by the pharmacy she and her husband own and chatted. Gail did not recognize Susan at all. Susan recognized her by her nose. We then did a quick drive through of Roanoke and headed back to LaGrange to the Holiday Inn Express for a quick nap. We met Mrs. M. and Mrs. H. on the square in front Mansour’s and followed them to the restaurant. Don’t remember the name of the restaurant. Dinner was wonderful and we had such a good time they practically had to kick us out. Mrs. H. was really have a good time with Michael yes-mamming her. Mrs. M. was ever so insistent to pay for the dinner and prevailed. As we parted ways on the square in LaGrange, Mrs. M. was shouting out the window at us and me back at her. It was so much fun. She yelled “Love You!!!” We feel very good that she and Mrs. H. will come visit in Colorado. Lori and Brandon came to the hotel at 8:00 March 5 to eat breakfast and visit. Brandon was fussy and did not feel well when they first got here, but Michael was able to play video games and ask him questions to draw him out, so he had fun. We took pictures, talked and had a good time. Michael and Susan then headed to Roanoke. Saw Susan H. coming out of her parents’ driveway. Stopped and rolled down the window. She recognized Susan immediately. Went to her house and visited with her and Syd. Got a grand tour of their historic home. It was a good visit. Syd and Michael had a lot in common talking about planes and such. Nick, their oldest son, is a fighter pilot. Flies the F16. Raymond and Joel (the twins) just got married within 4 months of each other and Georgia (their youngest girl) was home from Charleston College for spring break. She was in Auburn visiting. We then dropped by to see Mr. And Mrs. Hodges. It was so good to see them. Michael had a grand time 'interviewing' Mr. Hodges about his World War II time as the Commander of the 'China Bomber' group. John, their son and Cindy, John's wife dropped in also. We talked with them about their cruise to Alaska 4 or 5 years ago. We drove around Roanoke to show Michael some of the beautiful neighborhood and beautiful homes. We then went to Lagrange to visit with Susan's high school best friend, Sally and her family. Sally was just as gorgeous as ever, and their little dog Jasmine, a Shih Tzu (spelling?) was so cute. Caroline played us a concert on her cello (Mary Had a Little Lamb). We visited at Sally’s home for an hour then went to the square in LaGrange and ate at an Italian Restaurant. Susan was so busy talking and she could not eat very much. We had a wonderful time talking, laughing and left at nine. I gave Caroline $20.00 for her fund-raising. She was so happy. Michael and Kip fought to pay for the dinner and Kip eventually lost the fight.