visit with grandpa

A couple weeks ago my grandpa asked me if I would go to Dollywood with him. He said it was bluegrass & barbecue month and thought that I would be interested. Well I will admit I love myself some large amounts of both of those things, so it was an offer I just could not refuse. As the days got closer to my drive to Chattanooga, my grandpa got more excited and I became more hesitant. Now I was not hesitant about my love for some good pickin' and tasty ribs, but I was a tad hesitant about one on one time with grandpa. We have really never spent time together just the two of us. I mean occasionally he would take me out for peanut butter milkshakes, or while I was visiting we would go get the grocery's together. But most of the time there was always someone else with us. My grandma. She passed away this summer from bone cancer, she had been fighting it this whole last year. We all new it would be hard on grandpa, but we were not sure of how or what he would do. He has not stopped, he keeps going to see people or finishing old projects so he does not face the music. I must admit , I would probably do the same thing. But back to my hesitation ... One my faults is im not very good with emotion. If someone is crying or just overly emotional, I get a little uncomfortable. I will be there to listen to your pain, and give you a hug, but im sorry if you do not get equal emotion from me. I am not good with emotion because I am not emotional. It is not that I dont wish to be, it is that it just does not come natural to me. Just like my mom cant stand root beer or sweet tea when everyone else in our family can. hmm not exactly alike but maybe. I am so uncofortable with people being emotional that when I see people cry on TV, I have to change the channel or walk out of the room (wow is that not sad). Anyways so the thought of spending a couple of days with my recently widower grandpa alone , kinda started to make me think I could just turn on my nickle creek cd really loud and go and get some jimmy nicks BBQ from down the street and be just as satisfied. But this is my grandpa I told myself, I love him and I need to be there for him. So I went. We had a wonderful time, there were moments where the uneasiness crept up but I new I was there to comfort and I did my best. Dollywood was pretty fun, I realized while I was watching a show with country music singers (the Dollywood kind) that even if the show is extra cheesy, with actor/singer/dancers that probably there only fame in life is working at Dollywood, that I love entertainment shows. Oh and I also realized while I was there that fellows that play the mandolin are very attractive. Me and grandpa had a great time, and everyone he met was told that I was going to Albania so if your not sure if I am , just go talk to the whole city of Gatlinburg you might get some confirmation.

BBQ + Bluegrass = Pure Delight