Epilogue: lasting impressions from our cross country travels and living in the South for a year

It has been almost a year since we departed Memphis to move back home. My final blog entry discussed lessons learned from our trip, but I have decided to revisit the topic and see if the extra time to absorb and reflect on my experiences has provided me with an enhanced perspective. While I still …

2019 cross country trip: Memphis to Norfolk to Seattle

A summary of our route and places visited as recorded from my daily Facebook posts: June 14, 2019 Last stop on our way out of Memphis... It’s been a great year, now ready to head back cross-country. June 15, 2019 Move over Graceland, I’d have to say Biltmore is the most impressive private estate I’ve …

2018 cross country trip: Seattle to Norfolk to Memphis

A summary of our route and places visited as recorded from my daily Facebook posts: May 26, 2018 Day 1: Lunch in Portland at the Peruvian restaurant Andina, then picked up Blue Star donuts for later, fun time seeing our cousins Kati and Jonathon! Now spending the night in Ashland OR and planning to go …

To Memphis and back: lessons I’ve learned along the way

We have officially returned and started to resettle into the Seattle area after spending a year ‘abroad’ in Memphis. For this last entry I’ve taken some time to step back and reflect. Below is an attempt to share with you lessons I learned or that were reinforced with our transition to, living in, and return …

Homage to the River City

Sadly, our time in Memphis has come to an end. We have packed up, departed and are en route back to our Seattle homeland. I have devoted several posts to Memphis thus far, but have mostly framed them from the perspective of how it differs from the Northwest. This post will focus on the River …

Visiting Music City

This entry will be devoted to our experiences in Music City USA, aka Nashville. This vibrant city is located about 3-hours east of Memphis in the central part of the state. Fun fact for y’all: The section of I-40 that connects the two is nicknamed the Music Highway, there are signs along the road designating …

Springtime Interlude – the changing of seasons

I realize this title sounds metaphorical, like this entry could have profound meaning or life lessons involved, but it’s literally merely my thoughts and observations on springtime here. Just wanted to put that disclaimer upfront. Nothing too deep in this entry. But, if you like nature and pretty pictures, then you’re in luck my friend. …

Mardi Gras: trying to decipher this crazy celebration

As promised, here’s a post about Mardi Gras. Turns out there was a lot that I did not know about this unique holiday. I will attempt to relay my preconceived notions, what I’ve gathered from locals, what I’ve learned from my own limited research, as well as personal observations with it here in Memphis and …

Visiting New Orleans

After learning we would be spending a year in Tennessee, one city immediately stood out as a must-see during this time: New Orleans. Neither Jeff nor I had ever been, but we had heard great things from other tourists. Well, we finally got the opportunity a few weeks ago to visit this vibrant, historic city! …

Ruminations on Race: Learning more about our Nation’s injustices

Since moving to Tennessee, we have had the opportunity to visit a number of sites honoring the history and complexity of racial issues that have faced, and continue to face, our country. We have conversed with many people whose families have lived for generations in the South, as well as made our own observations about …