We got up and packed up and loaded the car up and left to hotel about 45 minutes before we needed to be at Ft. Knox. It takes 30 minutes to get there. We managed to arrive late somehow. By the time we found seats, some guys were already on stage reciting their names and where they were from. We were panicked for a moment that we missed Josh until the announcer said something about 2nd Platoon Gladiators and then Josh’s platoon marched out onto the stage. I was a waterfall almost instantly. Without even expecting it or feeling it come on, I just started balling. I managed to recover, but the moment Josh stepped forward and yelled “Private Newberry, Gresham Oregon!” to the auditorium I lost it again and just sobbed like a little baby. I got to be the proud big sister again. I love that feeling.
Springing him from the joint was a lot easier than we thought it would be. He said goodbye to a few friends, and we left. Headed for lunch and then drove down I-65 to Nashville. Josh slept the whole way. In and out though. It was funny I got some good pictures (see below). It wasn’t a very long drive though so it was more like a power nap for him.
This is where the fun part comes in. It is early June, and we were headed into Nashville. Without a hotel room. The CMA Festival is Thursday through Sunday this weekend and since the Opry Mall (and the hotel and everything in the general vicinity) was damaged so badly by the recent flooding; all the people that would have been staying east of downtown got moved to other hotels. This created a problem for us because nearly two million people came to Nashville this weekend for this event. And we didn’t have a chance in hell at getting a place to crash for the next two nights. On our way down, I finally managed to track a room down in Dickson, TN which is about 40 miles west of Nashville. It was the only option. So keeping in mind that we would have to drive almost an hour in and out of town, we booked the room, and drove out there. We were floored when we walked into the room. Best hotel room ever. Not only was there a fridge and a microwave, there was a sink in the main living space as well as in the bathroom. There was also a living room with a couch and a table and chairs and a coffee table. Then there were two beds and a full sized desk with a luxury office chair and an armchair and two night tables and LOTS of plug ins for all our electronics. I mean best hotel room EVER.
We headed into Nashville, TN for the first time after unpacking. On the way into town, i noticed a truck with a cardboard license plate, it was kind of funny so we took a picture. We went in search of food and fun, and found both. We walked around downtown and saw the capital building and some cool fountains and we could hear Alan Jackson’s concert across the river at the big stadium. Then we hit 2nd street and the bars and clubs and Josh and Toto and I went into McFadden’s (I love McFadden’s in Portland, so I thought it would be fun here too). It was such a different feeling here. Not bad at all, just different. We had fun though. Josh loved being in a bar, even if he couldn’t drink. While walking down the street, we encountered some Marines, and Josh struck up a conversation about tanks because they had brought one in for the CMA Fest. Then we went to a brewery and had nachos and Josh flashed his military ID and got beer, and LOVED it. Then we went “home” and crashed.
Sean
License Plates Seen
Hawaii
Maryland
South Dakota
Georgia
West Virginia
Playlist
Brooks & Dunn
Nickelback
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