Love of the oak tree is acquired, like a taste for bitter coffee or hiking, work or philosophy.  It may hold no sweetness or excitement for us as children, but has an enduring appeal that grows with time. 

Don’t leave the kids at grandma’s! Bring them to FloydFest

So far, so awesome! After a long wait, a long drive and a long talk with Mother Nature, we arrived at our campsite here at FloydFest Friday morning. 

We’re packed, car’s loaded.....

Each season I’m struck, lag-jawed and still, by the beauty of mountains.

Book reviews are rarely the fodder of major news controversies, but thanks to the wizardry of Harry Potter, two reviews and, of course, one highly anticipated book were the sources of media frenzy this week.

On the Road Again

Seniors may find hitting the open road not as easy and sometimes not as much fun as we remember during our traveling days of our twenties or even thirties when spontaneous trips added excitement to our lives and a sense of adventure.  Today our children would probably call out the National Guard if we skipped town for an unplanned excursion especially if we didn’t leave a specific itinerary and a directory of contact information (telephone numbers and lodging addresses).
Health issues, financial difficulties, and even the desire to stay at home create roadblocks for extensive senior travel.  Day trips or even short overnight outings refresh the mind and spirit and often accomplish as much as longer trips.  We’re blessed in our area of Southwest Virginia to have a built-in travel log of exciting activities and beautiful locations practically in our back yards.
Tourists from around the world flock to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive to experience two of the most picturesque mountaintop drives in the world.  Pull-outs along the drives provide stunning vistas of the hills and valleys below as well as safe areas for short naps.  Most parts of the Parkway and Skyline Drive limit speed to a safe 45 mph and no tolls are required since they are funded by our tax dollars.  Traffic volume is greater in the spring when trees are in full bloom and later in the fall when the trees are brilliant in their fall foliage. Its splendor is breathtaking year-round.
Several state parks are located in or near Southwest Virginia:  Hungry Mother Park in Marion, Fairy Stone Park in Patrick County, Smith Mountain Lake in Franklin County, Claytor Lake outside Radford, and Grayson Highlands between Independence and Damascus. For a stunning walk or bike ride, it’s hard to beat the New River Trail (and Shot Tower) that parallels the New River for 57 miles and connects 4 counties and 7 towns.  Usage fees are minimal and primarily for parking and upkeep of the facilities with a variety of senior rates available. Slightly north of the West Virginia line sits a gold mine facility in Pipestem State Park.  Whether it’s golf, hiking, tram riding, good eating, or just rocking on the veranda overlooking a deep mountain gorge, Pipestem is a moderately priced overnight venue for all ages and especially appropriate for seniors.
Perhaps because we have witnessed history in the making, historical spots are more enjoyable points of interest for seniors.  I believe that visiting Bedford’s D-Day Memorial should be part of required curriculum for all Virginia high school students.  It’s an especially appropriate experience for senior citizens who either served in World War II or sadly lost friends in that tragedy.  Renting one of the golf cart tour mobiles and the services of one of the volunteer interpreters is well worth their cost especially for seniors with limited mobility.
Sadly we’re willing to travel hours to explore recreational opportunities while failing to enjoy attractions in our own backyards.  Southwest Virginia counties and cities are blessed with a variety of museums, local parks, hiking trails, and commercial recreational endeavors. Our lives would be greatly enriched if we devoted one day per month or season to visiting one or more of these attractions.  Exploring is double the fun with a friend to share it with.

No one is telling teens they can’t talk and drive. No one is telling them they can’t talk on a cell phone. They just can’t talk on a cell phone and drive at the same time.  But a new Virginia law is telling teens that they cannot drive while talking on the phone. (Insert applause here).

Gov. Tim Kaine recently told a group of reporters that he still plans to launch a universal, non-mandatory pre-kindergarten program, and, he said, he’ll do it without raising taxes. Great. A pre-kindergarten program, one of the issues that helped Kaine move into the governor’s mansion, is one that should be addressed. But how does Kaine propose we pay for it if not with tax hikes?

Greetings from Hickory Ridge. Do you remember summer kitchens in the basement and swimming holes in nearby creeks? Nights too hot to sleep and the shivery joy of cold movie theaters in those days when our homes were not air-conditioned?