Getaway Gang to Maggie Valley

As I've mentioned several times, my three childhood friends and I get together almost every year for several days on a Girls' Getaway trip. The four of us grew up together in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. We were all four born in the summer of 1942. After high school, we went our separate ways (college, jobs, families, etc.). We lived in four different states.

SO--in 1992, when we all turned the "Big Five-O", we decided to start a new tradition. Each Fall, we get together in different places just to catch up and enjoy each other's company for a few days. Some of the places we have been since 1992 include: Black Mountain/Grandfather Mtn/Blowing Rock, NC; Blue Ridge, GA; Gatlinburg and Sevierville, TN; Boston, Mass; Grand Canyon/Las Vegas; Siesta Key, FL; New Orleans, LA; Tybee Island, GA; Asheville, NC; and Cumberland Mtn. State Park----just to name a few!!!!

This year is no exception. The four of us will be in MAGGIE VALLEY, North Carolina this week (from today through Sunday) at a beautiful cabin there. I will have my laptop with me, but who knows in those mountains whether I will have an internet connection. IF you don't hear from me, you will know that I don't have a signal. If, however, there is internet service, I will try to post off and on during the week.

I hope that you have a wonderful week. Here are some pictures of me and my friends--taken all through the years. The top picture was taken by my son in 1993 when we were near Gatlinburg, TN, at the Wunderland Hotel. Front row: Reida, me, Nita; Second Row: Susan. More pictures are below.




This picture was taken about 1947 when we were all in Kindergarten. Susan and Nita are standing near the window on the left side. Reida is at the head of the table on the right. I am on the other side of the table with a white bow in my hair.




This picture of us as Brownies was taken about 1950. I am on the top row on the left. Nita and Sasan are on the top row--on the right. Reida is on the front row on the left, two people in front of me.




This picture was taken in 2004 ---when the four of us stayed at Cumberland Mountain State Park, TN. We 'pretended' to be the Red-Hat girls.... Bottom row: me and Reida; Top row: Nita and Susan




In 2005, we went to Blue Ridge, GA --and stayed in an incredible cabin on top of a mountain there. This was my 2nd favorite trip with the first one being our first trip to the mountains in North Carolina in 1992. Each of us has our own favorite trips. We didn't get a 'four-some' picture on this trip---so I'll include one that I took of my three friends. From left to right: Susan, Nita and Reida.




This picture was taken in 2007 when we went to Sevierville, TN. Front row: me, Reida; Back row: Nita, Susan




This was taken last October when we went to Tybee, Island, GA. From left to right: Nita, Susan, Reida, me.


Hopefully, I will have pictures to share from this year's getaway. The four of us are almost like sisters --and this year will be even more special since two of the four of us have serious health issues. Reida has MS and recently had kidney stone surgery. Susan has breast cancer which has spread to her bones. Please say a little prayer for the four of us this week.

Hugs,