It's only a two-and-a-half-hour drive, we were told, from Birmingham to Rome, Georgia. We made it in just under six. If there's a wrong turn in northeast Alabama that we didn't take, I don't know where it is.
One time, we drove for over an hour only to find that we had come full circle back the the point where we had exited the interstate. We would take heart at a sign that announced we were 35 miles from our next turn, only to see another sign 45 minutes later that told us we were now 53 miles from that spot. We went through Collinsville, Alabama, twice--each time from a different direction. We saw a few landmarks so many times, we can now call them friends.
We drove for miles and miles on a deserted highway/road/path/pig trail that became more and more narrow the farther we went. Finally, at the point where we were sure we had ventured into someone's driveway, we saw a car coming toward us.
"I hope there's nobody in there playing a banjo," my sister said fearfully.
But I think it was the point at which Ramey saw the sign that declared "You are now entering Booger Hollow" that put the cap on her stack. We had had such a "Twilight Zone" afternoon that this was just too much for my sister's vivid imagination. She definitely did not want to encounter any boogers.
After Sirius XM's serenading us throughout the trip with such songs as "Take the Long Way Home," "Hotel California," "Homeward Bound" (I wish I was),"Still Crazy," etc., Ramey just knew for sure we had been caught in some Stephen Kingesque time warp or worm hole or some such.
But we got out of Booger Hollow physically unscathed, and at last found the right road to Rome. We found Berry College, where Ramey's event, as part of the Southern Women's Writers' Conference, was to take place the next morning, had a great dinner, and retired to our hotel room where we slept like logs, logs who had had one adventure too many.
That's Ramey in the photo above after a good night's sleep, standing in front of one of the beautiful buildings on the Berry campus. After Ramey's reading yesterday morning, we took time to drive over the campus and see the beautiful buildings, grounds, and wildlife. (We got lost then, too, but were able to find our way back to The Gate of Opportunity without any sojourns through Booger Hollow.)
On the way back home yesterday, we stopped for a while in Cave Spring, Georgia, a wonderful little village whose main attractions are a cave and a spring, but we stopped for all the great gift shops.
We got back home mid-afternoon. At home, I was greeted by two very happy and excited dogs--and a bathmat that had been used as a doggy potty, apparently for the whole time I was gone. Jesse swears the dogs had access to the outdoors while I was gone, but it sure didn't look like. Sophie, in her excitement to see me, followed me into the bathroom and ran through the, shall we say, gifts. So of course, her action made a bad cleanup job into a disaster. It took a while, a lot of bleach and cleanser, a doggy foot washing, and a few choice cuss words, but finally all was clean again, and the mutts and I cuddled up on the bed for a nap.
Jesse came downstairs to greet me before we drifted off. By that time I was too tired to fuss at him for letting the dogs befoul my boudoir. I accepted his explanation that he was clueless as to how such a thing could have happened.
Below are a few more photos of our visit to Berry College Campus. I wish now we had taken a photo of the Booger Hollow sign. But I don't think Ramey would have allowed me to stop the car in that fearful spot long enough snap a shot.
After a harrowing road trip, Ramey looks great beside the
Berry College entrance.
Berry deer
Berry cows
Berry beautiful architecture
Disclaimer: Some of the above statements have been slightly, and only slightly, exaggerated to add drama.
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On 09/22/2012, Ramey Channell said ...
Exaggeration, my eye! I think you have down-played it considerably! For one thing, you left out "Slip Sliding Away" by Paul Simon, which I think we heard more than once during our harrowing drive. And the fact that when we, mercifully, reached our destinaion, Paul McCartney immediately began singing "When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness ..." etc etc.
By the way, since we have now returned safely to our home, I learned that Berry College has a 26,000 acre campus. Who knew!
And, if I'm not mistaken, it was Booger Holler, rather than the more elite sounding Booger Hollow!
On 09/22/2012, Joanne said ...
Great pictures. Baby Sister is so cute! And I admire you both for getting there and back. Not sure whether the music helped or hindered the direction-finding, but that's all in the past and you got by somehow.
On 09/22/2012, Barbara Anne said ...
What a hoot! Y'all comprise a family of writers, published or not!! Great photos, too!
I saw an advertisement on TV tonight for some Survior program and the banjo music you referred to came immediately to mind. Scary!
Cheers for safely in numbers, music, gift shops, and bleach!
Hugs!
On 09/23/2012, Kai said ...
Okie dokie, Ms. Ramey! NOW you can start a NEW book, please & thank you! I'll be WAITING for it, too! Booger Holler sounds like prime fodder for a funny novel, & you are JUST the author to take it on! And, warning: IF you choose not to, I'm planning to coerce, aggravate, beg, torment (etc.) SUSAN into writing it! What SAY you, sister-ladies? P.S. Trip sounded fun despite the drama & delays!
On 09/23/2012, Linda said ...
Sounds a lot like a trip I once had from Memphis to Tuscaloosa. Missed Highway 45 in Tupelo, missed Highway 82 near Starkville, and then missed Highway 45 near Starkville on the way home! I was taking my dad to see my daughter at school, and apparently we were talking to much!!!
On 09/23/2012, Pat said ...
Very same experience only in NW Alabama several years ago! My mother, sister and I drove for hours, even getting to a "Booger Holler" road and meeting loggers or whoever works back off in the woods - no banjo though. I'm here to say along with you, we made it home safely!
On 09/24/2012, Diane W said ...
I'll leave a real comment when I stop laughing.
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