Every now and then we get caught up in social obligations on the same weekend. The smart thing to do is coordinate them. I found myself doing that last weekend.
I left here around 2 p.m. last Friday headed to Athens, Tenn.  My goal was to be there in my husband's hometown to help my kind sister-in-law celebrate her 89th birthday.
Since I was running late I took a shortcut just past Spring City. I have driven the main road out of Spring City many, many times.  This turnoff road didn't look familiar but I kept going.  Finally, I came out at Decatur. 
I stopped at a Family Dollar Store for directions (most men don't do that) but I did. A very kind lady stood outside the door and pointed a direction for me with instructions. She was correct! 
Finally I found myself coming into Athens so I phoned ahead to my sister-in-law, Alice, and her son who had come in from Atlanta to help her celebrate. About 15 minutes later I met them at Ruby Tuesday's and we enjoyed a good dinner. I spent some time with her at Morning Pointe, a real nice assisted living place.  Around bedtime, we headed to her house to spend the night.  The next morning we picked her up and went to Shoney's for their bountiful breakfast  buffet.  Afterwards, I bid them goodbye and headed north down I-75. 
I found good luck!  Gas was $3.11 at the Sweetwater exit.  I wanted to stop at their fabulous Flea Market there but decided to motor on down Highway 60 to Spring City.  No time to stop for lunch but with that big breakfast, I grabbed some eat-a-snacks and Dr. Pepper and kept going up the hill to Crossville. Now I was in familiar territory. 
Heading down Highway 70 toward Monterey, I did stop at the Amish country store and bought several loaves of homemade bread and sweet rolls for my hostess gift. Then I rolled into Monterey at my longtime friend  Owene's home.
She lives in a beautiful log cabin home about a block off the main drag in Monterey.  I had a dual purpose for visiting her home.  She is moving back to her winter home in Florida this month and I had also been invited to present a children's message the next morning at Monterey Methodist Church.  After a Hardee's supper, we chatted until bedtime. 
The next morning we headed out to church which was a block up the street.  My husband had been pastor at this church back in the middle ‘50s.  I knew most of the people there. However, they also had some new faces of people who have moved into that area and live at Cumberland Cove nearby.  I presented my children's message, "The Wizard of Oz" with a biblical purpose and correlated it with “The Tin Man” (with a real tin character made out of tin cans) to the children. They were fascinated with him. This is one of the best props I have.
After lunch and a tour of another friend's new home down the street and a much-needed siesta, I headed home. Traffic was heavy coming down Monterey mountain.  About 4 p.m. I pulled into my driveway. My sister came out to greet me.  It was a necessary journey I felt compelled to make and I'm glad I did.  Very satisfying!
Some other friends of mine have also been traveling.  The Christian family sisters, Fay Nixon, Becky Womack and Jimmie Carol Panter, headed out to Greeneville, Texas, to visit their brother, Johnny and Barbara Love, for a week.  They visited the huge flea market with 600 booths in Canton.  They filled their week with shopping and enjoying seafood.  A long trip!
The library was another busy children's day last week.  Jane Ramsey, librarian at Smithville Elementary, read a story to the children. Then they adjourned to the Genealogy Room there for some fun crafts.  They will meet this week on Wednesday at 2 p.m.  This is so educational to keep their little brains active during the summer.
Get-well wishes to a high-school chum, Anne Foutch Gilpin, who has had a recent heart valve replacement; Martha Moore who lives on Griffintown Road; Elene Hayes, back home now; Lewis Conklin and Betty Bailiff.
June 15 is the Fire Department's monthly fishing tournament on Center Hill Lake.  June 15, at 10 a.m., is the 5th Annual Hero's Cruzing.  Bring your cars, bikes, trucks, old and new.  Come to New Life building on South Congress Blvd. Sounds like fun! Show and tell! June19 is Leadership DeKalb Graduation. Call the Director Jen Sherwood for details or the Chamber of Commerce.  Check the new Southern Guide in the Review the first and third Wednesday of each month for more events.
Folk are enjoying vacations this month.  Stay cool!