This past weekend was awesome. So life changing in fact, that although it's been five days already, I still feel the need to write about it.
George and I drove to Tennessee to meet his grandparents (both sets) and see the Rhythm and Roots Festival in Bristol Va/Tn. We spent the night at his maternal grandparent's house, along with his brother Peter and his fiance Katy. I have to say I was a bit star struck (but not by Peter). George has been telling me stories about his grandpa's adventures in geology for a while now, and I'd also independently found one of Mr. Chew's (Granddad's) books in Borders. My first love is geology - something my mom instilled in me early on. She would show me her rock collections and encourage me to make my own. In college I took some fantastic geosci courses from some very enthusiastic professors and was hooked. Rocks are awesome. But not just the rocks, the processes that create and shape them, channeling power beyond our comprehension. That's awesome too.
Mr. Chew spent a summer in Alaska during it's 20th century gold rush, uncovering fossils and other treasure. He's collected Acasta Gneiss from the Canadian Shield, the oldest rock on earth. He volunteers at a fossil dig - one he's been involved with since the beginning. He's also been instrumental in maintaining his local portion of the AT, running "Friday Hikes" for active people in their golden years. One word: Badass.
George and I drove to Tennessee to meet his grandparents (both sets) and see the Rhythm and Roots Festival in Bristol Va/Tn. We spent the night at his maternal grandparent's house, along with his brother Peter and his fiance Katy. I have to say I was a bit star struck (but not by Peter). George has been telling me stories about his grandpa's adventures in geology for a while now, and I'd also independently found one of Mr. Chew's (Granddad's) books in Borders. My first love is geology - something my mom instilled in me early on. She would show me her rock collections and encourage me to make my own. In college I took some fantastic geosci courses from some very enthusiastic professors and was hooked. Rocks are awesome. But not just the rocks, the processes that create and shape them, channeling power beyond our comprehension. That's awesome too.
Mr. Chew spent a summer in Alaska during it's 20th century gold rush, uncovering fossils and other treasure. He's collected Acasta Gneiss from the Canadian Shield, the oldest rock on earth. He volunteers at a fossil dig - one he's been involved with since the beginning. He's also been instrumental in maintaining his local portion of the AT, running "Friday Hikes" for active people in their golden years. One word: Badass.
I'm now the proud owner of three signed volumes Mr. Chew has written on geology. I told ya this past weekend was eventful...
Saturday we took off for the music fest. The first act we saw featured George's Uncle on the Oboe, the Harmonica, and the Electric Dulcimer. Same word: Badass. I didn't know dulcimers came in electric. The man was wailing on it like a rock star. It was awesome. Naturally I immediately left, found a thrift store, and purchased my own harmonica. I can play "War" by Low Rider. The entire downtown area of Bristol was blocked off. Music was coming from every nook and crevasse, bands upstairs, inside stores, on side streets, people wandering everywhere looking for the notes that would hit them right. George and I found ours: Trampled by Turtles. The band classified themselves as "Thrashgrass." Amazing. Now I want a banjo. They are playing in Arlington in October btw...
Click for the rest of the pics...
After the festival and an awesome family dinner/breakfast at the Chew's house we took Saturday morning to go see the fossil dig. (!!!!) I got to sift through old dirt. I found wood. No bones :( Next time maybe. I'm gonna come out next summer and volunteer for a day or two. The museum is well done and the VIP tour was very informational - I could have died and gone to geology heaven.
We concluded with a trip to George's other set of Grand parent's - The Privon's, where Peter, Katy, George and I had lunch and we heard stories about the boys when they were little. I love meeting people with fantastic families. It's so important and so few of us are blessed with them these days.
*Sigh* Then we had to go home. I'm soooooo going back to volunteer at that dig...
We concluded with a trip to George's other set of Grand parent's - The Privon's, where Peter, Katy, George and I had lunch and we heard stories about the boys when they were little. I love meeting people with fantastic families. It's so important and so few of us are blessed with them these days.
*Sigh* Then we had to go home. I'm soooooo going back to volunteer at that dig...
