November 19, 2009

"Just hook me up to an i.v. and keep it coming!" was a comment heard at our dinner table tonight. We all agree that the food in Savannah is something special and there is definitely no shortage of it. Tonight we supped at the Blue Moon or the New Moon or some kind of a moon but I gotta say that whatever kind of moon it was they served up some of the best margarita's I've ever had and the crab cakes I enjoyed were second to none. Once again...all of us were really impressed with our meal. But....I'd better back up a little as it's been another full and eventful day!

Our sessions were scheduled to begin at 8:00 this morning so we had to be on the shuttle by 7:20 a.m. and that meant a 6:00 wake up. Morning comes awfully early when you have a commute across the river to add to the fact that the Conference day begins bright and early. Our shuttle driver is great but she's a little on the wild side too....on the way over to the Convention Centre some of the crazy corners we went around meant that Jill had to wear some of her coffee for the rest of the day.

The day was filled to capacity with sessions and Linda and I have to attend them all to get the information we need for our exam on Saturday afternoon after the Conference so by the time 5:00 rolls around our heads are full and we're pretty much done for. The time between sessions is hardly enough to get from room to room so even making a quick stop in the bathroom causes the stress associated with knowing you're going to be walking into the next session after it's begun.

There was no time off for good behaviour though as after a short stop back at the Mulberry to drop off our books, we were off to the Chipawa Square (the one where Forrest Gump was filmed) for another reception. We enjoyed a drink and some local live music in the park with about 300 of our new friends (only half of the Conference was at the reception from what we could see) and then we were off on our Ghost Tour.

We piled into one of several trams and were soon on our way to being regaled with stories of voodoo, history, and ghost tales. We visited (from the outside only) the cemetery where one of the men who signed the declaration of independence is buried, Inns and private homes that have documented evidence of unearthly activities, as well as a dueling range and hanging trees. In fact, the story associated with one of the hanging trees that is located in a square in the historic part of town had an interesting element to it.....almost all of the oak trees here are laden with Spanish Moss but in the square where an innocent woman was hung (or in the words of the tour guide..."innocent blood was spilled") no spanish moss hangs from any of the trees around the one that she was hung from. It is said that she can still be heard crying if you visit the park on a quiet evening and listen.

Another amazing thing happened tonight. While Linda and I were walking toward the place we'd have our dinner.....we met our young soldier and his mom that we had lunch with at Mrs Wilkes the first day we were here. He was dressed in uniform and saying his final good-bye's to his family....of which we were now honorary members. We wished him a safe journey and as we turned away for what will likely be the last time we'll ever see him or know how he makes out in Afghanistan we were both struck by the amazing coincidence of our second encounter (although perhaps there are no coincidences). I can only imagine how difficult it must be for his mom to say good-bye based on how emotional I feel about our brief meeting and his deployment. When war visits so close to home and the people in the trenches become real....it's a bold reminder of the insanity of it all. I wish him all the best for the journey he's on.

Well....as I said it's been another full day and 6:00 again tomorrow morning will be here before we know it so....adieu for another day.

L & L