Truett and I have just returned from the George Family reunion in Dillard, Georgia. I will post over the next several days about the magical fun activities of our four day trip . . . and the misfortunes.
Thirty-eight George family members were scattered all along the hills in chalets of this beautiful north Georgia town of Dillard. Only a handful of Georges were not able to be with us. As Amy said on her Facebook comment: "The hills are alive with Georges. Georges here. Georges there. Georges everywhere!" I couldn't have said it any better than that.
Normally, when I think of the state of Georgia I think of red clay, kudzu, Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta.
Merry and Truett's chalet
I forget that Dillard is North Carolina's neighbor and I forget about the steep gravel hills and beautiful mountains framing this scenic valley town. So now I will begin at the beginning of our trip.
As Truett and I wound our way through the Georgia hills headed toward Dillard, we came upon Tallulah Gorge. Truett and I did not go down in the gorge since we were eager to arrive in Dillard; but I did insist that we stop and browse in this Trading Post.
Seeing the multitude of crafts, toys, homemade jams, jellies and ciders was part of the magic for me.
Color is magical.
Following the looking spree Truett and I walked to the Tallulah Gorge overlook.
Several of our family members hiked down into the gorge and climbed back up the steep stairs. They returned exhausted to the point of collapse; and we were warned not to try it at our ages and we agreed.
These peaches were growing on a tree alongside the mountain at the overlook.
I'm closing this post with two of the biggest misfortunes during our stay in Dillard because it is on my mind and I cannot share the fun parts of our trip until I share these misfortunes. On Sunday following the "going away breakfast", Boyce passed out and collapsed as he headed toward his chalet to pack.
He was rushed to a hospital in Franklin, NC and then transferred to a larger hospital Asheville, NC. He is hoping to be released today. As of this morning we did not have an official doctor's report about his condition, but our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Within an hour of Boyce's collapse yesterday morning, Melia, Kenneth's granddaughter, had a severe asthma attack and the EMS picked her up and she was rushed by an ambulance to a hospital in Clayton, Georgia and then transferred to a larger hospital in Gainesville, Georgia. I just learned that she was discharged yesterday afternoon and she and her family were able to drive back home to Louisville, safe and sound.
I suppose you could call the George Reunion '09 a bittersweet reunion.
