So, in April for the first time in my entire life as a mother...I decided to go on a girl trip. By myself. No kids. No hubby. Just me on a jet plane...to Nashville, Tennessee!
A couple of years ago, I reconnected with some of my high school buddies from Indiana where I grew up. We learned we all loved to run half-marathons and thought it would be so fun to run one together in celebration of our over-the-hill birthdays this year. We all played sports together through our junior high and high school years, so we figured if we were going over that proverbial hill, we were doing it running together--along with 24,000 of our closest friends! We signed up for the St. Jude's Country Music Half-Marathon.
It was a lot of fun over the last few months as we made our plans, booked our flights & hotels and planned our sight seeing. We set up a private group message on Facebook and shared our training and encouraged one another. (This photo is a then & now...our freshman county champs tennis photo re-creation, circa 1989 big bangs and perms.)
It was so much work to prepare the house, pantry, laundry, business and family to be gone for an entire week. And, I was kind of nervous to leave my family behind...and meet up with friends I hadn't seen in over 20 years. But it ended up being some of the best fun I've had in a long time...we picked up right where we left off--like we were 18 again. Only in 40 year-old-bodies.
One of our friends now lives in Nashville. It was really fun to have a local in the group who knows all the fun places to eat and the fun sights to see--and the bad traffic to avoid! I traveled the farthest, so I arrived a day early so I could take in some of the sights. We went to this awesome breakfast joint called Pancake Pantry. It was so hard to choose from on the menu, but I settled on the raspberry pancakes...talk about yummiliciousness!
Since she is a professor and it was finals week, she dropped me off downtown and I toured around the rest of the day. My first stop was the Ryman Auditorium. Second only in accoustical quality to the Mormon Tabernacle, and birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry. It was fun to learn how Minnie Pearl ended up with that tag on her hat and to stand on the stage that has hosted so many of country music's greats.
After a walk up and down Broadway--and a stop at the Savannah Candy Kitchen--I visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was fun to learn the history of Music City and country music and see so much memorabilia of the stars I grew up loving...here is Miranda's pink guitar along with one of her CMA awards...
Also got to tour Studio B...the first recording studio in Nashville and still operational for students of Belmont University. It was where Elvis recorded a large number of his hits. This was his most favorite piano in the entire world...it is still in the studio and the one thing all his money could never buy...
I think he was upset that I sat on his bench...this happened the next day on Broadway...
Later that evening, I finally met up with the whole group and we had dinner at Puckett's Grocery, followed by a night at the Grand Ole Opry.
Vince Gill was the headline performer...
And of course that followed up with a lot of catching up back at the hotel! The next morning we headed to the race expo to get our packets at the Nashville Convention Center. It was a pretty amazing building and we got suckered in to buying a lot of stuff we probably didn't really need...but it was a blast! Enjoyed an entertaining lunch at Honky Tonk Central...I'm such a country music junky!
It was also fun to visit with my friend's parents and sister who have also relocated to Nashville...and of course carbing up at a great local Italian place!
On race day, we had to be on our way at 5 a.m. to join our 24,000 friends and their friends...talk about some heavy eye lids!
It was a great race and a great experience. 13.1 miles goes so much faster when you are doing it with friends! Lots of hills in Nashville, but it was really fun to hear the bands playing at every mile marker. And after training at high Utah altitude...my asthmatic self was much happier.
After a nice relaxing afternoon in the hot tub, we enjoyed a post-race concert at Bridgestone Arena. Several of the cast members of the TV show "Nashville" were the main entertainment. Cute little Lennon Stella even left her prom to come sing an encore with her little sister Maisy and her on-screen dad Charles Esten.
We had our final meal together at the San Antonio Taco Company...affectionately known as Satco by the locals. Sure miss my girls!
For years, my husband has been trying to get me on a girl trip and I always felt guilty because I didn't want to spend the money on myself, or was afraid to leave the kids. But I highly recommend it. It was a great renewal that my spirit really needed after 14 years of 24/7 being a mom. It was fun to be Angie again for a week. We are already planning Runcation 2015...looking like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Can't wait!
6 comments:
Sorry for the guilt trip but I loved this write up! What a great idea. The only girls trip I've ever done have been over nighters at the cabin. I'd love to get away with friends to run. Way to post, It was my day but I hosted a baby blessing and the prep took all my hours beforehand. Love the guitar pic!
That's great that your husband encouraged this. :)
Wow! What fun!
I love this so much! What a great idea to get together with old friends and run a race. So great! I love the picture of you from back then and now!
What a great write up!! I want to go on a trip now with all my friends. Way to make it happen and cheers for your husband for encouraging it.
Runcation! I love that term. How neat you got to do this. Great pictures as usual!
Post a Comment