On the lighter side, my friend & former collegue, Dori DeJoseph, went with me to North Carolina to visit. We both have relatives there we went to visit. Our first stop was the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. This majestic manor is to the east coast what Hearst Castle is to the west coast. The estate overwhelming both in size and detail.
Next up was a drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway; we say wild turkeys. We went thru Blowing Rock where author, Jan Karon, lives. We visited Lee-McCray College where Dori's mother went in 1930; it was homecoming week there and we felt it. 
The highlight of our trip was little, Sammy's baptism. All the grandparents were present as well as aunts and uncles. 
Just before returning, we visited Old Salem, Furnitureland South and the Billy Graham library. The visit to Furnitureland was unbelievable considering it's a million square foot show room. This photo shows the 4 story high chest which marks the entry. We lost each other only to reunite at the car. Old Salem featured artisans in period dress making all sorts of things by hand in the various shops. The Billy Graham library visit was truly serendipitous but very well done. It's a multimedia presentation of his life and work with a strong emphasis on the message instead of the man.
We both came home feeling recharged and enriched from visiting family and reconnecting.
