Saturday, June 26, 2010

June Playdate

Last month Mikelyn and I started a new tradition - a monthly playdate for us to get together, catch up and just have some fun. We take turns picking the destination and this month it was my turn to pick. I did a little research online and decided on Eufaula after learning there would be a city music and arts festival going on today. We headed out at 8:30 this morning in order to make it there for a 10am tour of the old homes.

We pull into town and we are looking around. Where is everybody? There are no booths, no music and no art to be found. Hmp. Not really sure what's going on. We decide to just walk around and maybe we'll find it. We ended up at the Shorter Mansion just as they opened the doors at 10am.

The curator and president of the Eufaula Heritage Society has no clue what we're talking about when we mention the festival. Then another group walks in and asks the same question. So, the lady calls the chamber and there is a recording on the voicemail saying the festival has been cancelled.

Geez Louise.

Oh well. The trip is not about the destination or the events of the day anyway. The main purpose of our playdate is for two girlfriends to be together, having dedicated time with one another, and we find adventures wherever we go.

Shorter Mansion was very interesting and well worth the visit. The artifacts inside are not original to the house or family. Everything inside has been donated. So there is a random assortment of items. Upstairs, in a back room I come across a frame that has Robert E Lee in it. I stop because, well, he is the namesake of my university. In the frame it had Lee on the left, his wife Mary on the right and in the middle is a report card from Washington College, Virginia. That's where I went to school! And it is signed by the president at that time - Robert E Lee himself! How cool. It was only after he died that the college was renamed Washington and Lee University in his honor. A neat little find I thought.

After Shorter Mansion, we walk the oak-lined streets of Eufaula only to find just a few shops open. Unfortunately, the cute floral shop was closed for some local weddings and other stores closed earlier in the day.

But it didn't matter. Mikelyn and I had a great playdate. Our adventure in Eufaula was a success not because of the location, but because of the great company we shared with one another.

I look forward to July and Mikelyn's pick of the month.

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