Trip To Demopolis

My “downer friend” Judy called the other day leaving a message on my answering machine. I did not return his call as he sounded real “Judy”. Being sad and morose in my choice circle for friends has equated to “being Judy”. What a sad way to have your life referenced!

One of the reasons for Judy’s current dilemma is in contemplating his mortality realizes that in the grand scheme of things the memory of his existence will fade after he is gone.

Now to backtrack to the 22nd of November:

Friends from Birmingham, Robert and Sam were taking a trip to Demopolis, AL and invited me along. Demopolis is an old Alabama “Black Belt” river port. It is a very historic town. Robert and Sam arranged to pick me up at the Lowe’s parking lot which is just off 20/29 interstate which was the route for the bulk of the trip.

This day is the first day for the replica ships Nina and Pinta to be open to the public. These ships were docked in the TombigbeeRiver.

*It is 7:00 a.m as I type this out. The outside temperature is 28°. Stumpy just clawed at the heavy outside window screen signaling it was time to let him in. Oh, the pads on his paws were so cold. He is warming up a bit on my lap as I type. What a life we live. Pretty much all is good! Back to Demopolis!*

It took a bit of detective work to find the ships. There was not any signage posted to direct traffic. We found the site after a couple wrong turns. I was amazed in how tiny these ships were. I can’t imagine actually crossing the Atlantic Ocean in one of these.

One of the docents was impressed by my Utilikilt! She knew exactly what it was. She told me she met the head of Utilikilts in Boston at a Pride Event. That gave me the opening to say just loud enough for the other docents to hear, “That is so great. Now you have to get these guys into wearing Utilikilts!” Those poor boys… their faces turned so red!

We were among the first to tour the ships. The Coast Guard was still on site doing the necessary inspections. As we were leaving the crowds started to pour in. We had timed it just right.

The next destination was Gaineswood. I’ve read about this world famous plantation and a visit had been on my “bucket list” for over a decade. What a fascinating home. We lucked out and got a personal tour from one of the most impressiv

e docents I have ever met. She knew the tangled family history of first and second wives, cousins, and what not. I told her how impressed I was on her knowledge.

She then explained in how her family was descended from the original builders/owners of this home. As a little girl she was taught the family history. I’m thinking she quoted her grandmother in telling her, “You never forger your people.”

That statement made such an impression on me. Then this morning I was reading an article comparing fast food workers today to the house servants of the past. That is my background. Mom’s mother and aunts emigrated from Scotland to Montreal and then to New York City: Five sisters who left their homeland for the new world. Two of my great aunts worked as domestics. Aunt Ina worked for a Scottish Dr, and my great aunt Bess worked for the Flagler family as Mrs. Flagler’s ladies maid. http://mcnyblog.org/2013/11/19/harry-harkness-flagler-house-chandelier-2/

*it can take me forever to do up an entry as I research on Google to back up my facts. The stuff I have learned from this practice. As much as I moan and complain about the electronic age, it really has enriched my life.

The rich and cultured had the time and recourses to document and leave a record behind. There is precious little for me to draw on to research my grandmother and great aunts. That will be for some future entries. I realize I am the last link with any real knowledge of that generation. If I don’t get down what I know any personal information will be lost forever. Maybe in the grand scheme of things it really does not matter….but to me it does.

After the Gaineswood tour it was time for lunch. Hall’s Catfish and Seafood was our choice. You order at the counter and then the food is brought to your table. We arrived at 11:45 which is kind of early, but the line was to the door already. I ordered the large shrimp and catfish which came with cole slaw, fries, and hush puppies.

When we sat Robert asked me if I noticed the looks I got from my Utilikilt. I had to laugh and tell him I don’t even pay attention to that kind of thing anymore! I guess a Utilikilt is pretty exotic in a small town like Demopolis.

I ended up boxing up half of my lunch. I did not want to be uncomfortably stuffed. Moderation is good!

The last house to tour was Bluff Hall. The heat was pretty much non existent. Even though the day was not that chilly, these old houses retain the cold.

In one of the front rooms was a Mermond Freres interchangeable music box on a matching table.

Here is a youtubes of such a box… but the one here was of a smaller size.

The docent asked if I would like to hear it once I explained how I was familiar with this type of machine. Of course I answered in the affirmative.

She then gingerly turned the crank enough to get the works going and immediately music came forth. I implored her to crank it up enough to finish the song. It jumped and lurched through to the end and then clicked off.

It is a waste of breath, but I tried to explain how you NEVER let a music box stop in the middle of a tune as that puts strain on the steel comb. Also, you need enough power on the spring for the music box to play smoothly through. It takes a great deal of power for the cylinder to pluck the teeth. These music boxes were made to be used, and not babied. Running on low power where the cylinder jerks can cause damage to the comb in the form of breaking off the tips or even the entire tooth of the tuned steel comb. I have witnessed this in numerous museums. Those unfamiliar with these machines are so intimidated by anything mechanical.

I was home at 3:30. Robert and Sam had to get back to Birmingham to take care of their dog. What a great day we had.

Now to get to the present: I need to get shopping. I’m FINALLY getting back into the swing of things. I called friends and issued a dinner invite for late Sunday afternoon. That forces me do some cleaning and decorating. Losing my Dagney really set me into a mild depression of sorts. You can’t downplay her death saying she was “only a cat”. I don’t want to end up sounding like a “spinster cat lady” but Daggy was a family member to me. As much as I want to search out a surrogate to take her spot, I know that is impossible.

The Concept 2 Challenge has had me at the “Y” daily rowing out the meters on the “erg”. Just getting out of the house and social interaction there is beneficial. Stumpy is enjoying being the top cat. He is now curled up snuggled into the wool blankets. Life goes on…