Playing Tourists

Grandpa and I have lived here in Tennessee for just over two years. During that time, we have enjoyed some of the attractions that Pigeon Forge has to offer like Dollywood, Hatfields and McCoys Dinner Show with our friends, Eric and Mary and the Aquarium. But, there was so much more to see. 

Since Grandpa has been diagnosed with CMML (a form of Leukemia) in June, our lives have been filled with doctor visits, chemotherapy, blood tests, transfusions and even hospital stays. I swear our car could get to UT Medical Center in Knoxville by itself because of all the trips we've made there. We have spent many hours in the Cancer Institute and we know many of the nurses by first names; such a great, compassionate group of people. They have made our journey so much easier like I'm sure they have for many others.

Anyway, this past week we had a whole week off.......no blood tests, doctor visits, chemo or traveling into Knoxville. Grandpa is feeling good right now so we decided to do the 'tourist' thing and check out some of what the area offers. Thanks to some tickets from daughter, Michele, who works in Pigeon Forge, we were able to have a fun-filled week and we did something different every day Monday through Friday. Enjoy.......

Thursday -  I had quilt club in the morning but then we headed into Pigeon Forge to enjoy the Lumberjack Feud dinner show. We had great seats and it was a really fun-filled show. When you go to these attractions, they LOVE to take your photo on the way in and if you want, you can purchase it as a remembrance of the fun time you had. Well, we usually don't purchase any of them but decided this week, we were getting them ALL. So here we are playing lumberjacks.

Wednesday - We took on the Titanic Museum. Now, this was REALLY worth going to. Personally, I am a great fan of the original black and white version of the movie...which actually had a different name than the remake. So, for me to be able to browse this museum, it was so wonderful. At the beginning we got a boarding pass for one of the original passengers. After going through the museum which was phenomenal, you find out whether you survived or perished. I survived but my husband and son did not. Grandpa's passenger also perished. If you are ever visiting Pigeon Forge, I would highly recommend this attraction. Here we are standing in front of the Grand Staircase in the Titanic.

Monday - We headed to Gatlinburg to visit the Craftmen's Show. Lots of hand crafted items to look at and even watch some of the crafters work on making their items. The show runs for two weeks in the fall. We had been there once before and decided that it was worthwhile to go again. When we were finished with the show, we walked up and down 'main street' for a while until the crowds started to get to us. It's the fall season and people come from all over to see the leaves changing in the Smokey Mountains plus Knoxville schools had their fall break.....so needless to say, it was wall-to-wall people and after a while, we just wanted to get home to our peace and quiet.

Tuesday - The weather was suppose to be beautiful so we took on Dollywood. When you go to Dollywood Theme Park, you want nice weather because you do a lot of walking outside. We had never been there in the fall and as we walked in, it was just beautiful! The fall decorations; pumpkins, mum plants, bales of hay, scarecrows and lots more (and me with no camera). They call it Harvest Time down here and Dollywood ALWAYS lives up to their reputation for decor for every season and holiday. We got there early (after parking in a public lot and hopping the trolley that takes you directly to the park so no parking charge) and it was the perfect time; hardly any people so no crowds to battle. We visited the Dolly Museum which takes you through Dolly's life from being a little girl to being the star that she is today. That was very interesting and I actually came away knowing what a compassionate person she really is. She LOVES her hometown of Pigeon Forge and has done so much for the community.

We hope to head back to Dollywood for the Christmas extravaganza. It's suppose to be spectacular.

Friday - We didn't really have any set plans after getting our flu shots at Walgreens so we just played it by ear. Went to a flea market and did some shopping here and there. It was a fun quiet day after all that we had taken in the first four days of the week.

On Monday we head back to UT Medical to find out the results of Grandpa's bone marrow test that he had last Friday and see where we go from here. He has been having some trouble with his blood counts and needed transfusions of blood and platelets. So, it was time for the test to see where he's at and 'regroup' as far as treatment goes. Maybe less chemo, a different chemo or whatever we need to do or expect,

It was a GREAT week. Grandpa felt really good and we had fun playing 'tourists'.

P.S. One thing is still on our 'to do' list and that is to get an Old Time photo of us together. We have many of those of the kids and grand kids hanging on one wall. Well, it's time to add Grandma and Grandpa to that collection!