My husband has been working so hard since starting this new job in May of 2005.  He’d had a break at Thanksgiving, but other than that had been either working or on call the entire rest of the time.  So now that the other part time Neuro in the area has moved away, dh is the only one in the area, that has made for an even more an intense work environment.  In order to get dh out of town and give him time to relax, we headed to Kentucky.  The area around the Natural Bridge in Slade, Kentucky is just beautiful.  Small mountains, lush woods, ferns growing naturally everywhere, and kudzu out the wazoo… We stayed in a small cabin up a steep one lane gravel switchback… it looked like the last little lonely house deep in the Entwood.

We had an interesting ’sink’

 in the ‘outhouse’

which despite all indications to the contrary was indoors. The tub was betwixt the kitchen and living room…but was a jacuzzi… and contrary to all requests when searching for a place to stay, there was no. internet. access.  Not only that, but no cell phone coverage.  Not only THAT, but no phone in the cabin AT. ALL.  It was remarkably beautiful and conducive to contemplation, which perhaps might have been more likely without children romping about and the constant knowledge that friends were taking part in discussions which I desperately wanted to be a part of.  As was, I got a substantial portion of my current book, The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton, out of the way. (Awesome read by the way…)

We spent most of our time resting… and trying to find FOOD. If it hadn’t been for the Lodge at the State Park Resort, we’d have been in a world of hurt.  It wasn’t great, but it was edible. We did get out and walk up the road from the cabin a bit to this lovely cave up the hill.  It had a big rock outcropping that made up the top, with very tall, mature trees growing up out of it… It was unreal looking! 

Of course, dh and dc had to climb up to it… I am well aware of my level (lack of) fitness and chose to be the photographer.  Self-preservation instinct is not entirely dead in me.  As usual, Cricket (dd 9 yrs) climbed up nimbly as a mountain goat and encouraged the rest who were less… agile…  We got some pictures of them up there together, and then they began to work their way down.  Once again, Cricket managed to get down first and hopped around enthusing to me, “Mom, did you see me? I slid that last little bit down the hill! I was dirt-surfin’!”  Whereupon, seeing her little sister Sunshine (dd 8 yrs) having some trouble with the descent, she clambered back up to help… which included the admonition that if she’d just ’slide a little’ it would help her get down.  Sunshine informed her in no uncertain terms that, “Sliding is just not my thing!” 

 Deciding on Sunday that we should head home early due to Cricket’s metabolism issues (She must eat frequently and the scarcity of easily available food was a real problem.  The pans in the cabin were rusted, and the food in the little store looked like it had been in a bomb shelter for the past 50 years, so we stuck to the relatively freshly cooked food from the Lodge… but three meals a day, however full she gets, simply is not enough to prevent blood sugar problems.),  but decided that we really should stop and see the Bridge on the way out.  I informed dh that with at least a five hour drive ahead of us, we did not have time to do both the trail to the Bridge and the skylift.  We headed for the trail.  Two miles and a million 14 inch high steps later, still not to the Bridge, we declared discretion the better part of valor (for those of you unkind enough to recall the necessity for said quote recently, discretion IS a virtue) and headed back, much to the distress of Precious (dd aged 11 in four days).  She didn’t like us much all the way down the hill.  At the end of which, dh and I agreed that sewing machine legs aside and time delays notwithstanding, the skylift (which we had just realized goes to the Bridge we desired to see) must be taken in an attempt to stave off long term regrets with Precious. (Long story, much history, but this was not giving in to a dd’s tantrum in any way… rather an attempt not to repeat mistakes made by a previous generation… and the response to a very real hurt done to a daughter who is more selfless than most human beings I know.)  Note to reader: Do the skylift first.  As we were in the car on the way to the lift, the children were discussing the Natural Bridge, whereupon Sunshine was heard inquiring as to the interest level generated by some big rock, bridge or no.  Cricket responded, “I know. Just look fascinated when you see it. It makes the locals feel good.”  We enjoyed a fabulous lift ride up the mountain, ended up walking ON the Natural Bridge… Beautiful views, and a few pictures later we headed back down and began the drive home.

We had a good time, but were very glad to get home and back to grocery stores and our own kitchen.  Dh is much more relaxed and ready to tackle patient care once again. The children and I are ready to tackle school and housework… we have much to do before the trip in October.