Walking In Memphis

Hello dearest friends!

Today for our YAV community time, our usual vocational discernment (discussing a book, talking with Janet, hearing from a guest speaker...) was replaced with a day trip to Memphis. Six YAVs and Susan, squished into a mini  van. (Those things seem way bigger when you're like seven...) While it was quite a lot of car time (about seven hours, total) I think we got some good stuff in while we were there.

We started off with a barbecue lunch at Rendezvous, which as it turns out is rather well known. And by that I mean mentioned in my book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. So, that was cool. And delicious. We even got free red beans and rice! (We're fairly certain everyone gets them there....but. We also decided to pretend it was because they liked us.)

Then we made a pit stop across the street at the Peabody Hotel, which is coincidentally also famous. For ducks. That hang out in the lobby and apparently march in and out each day to music. We weren't there for the marching part, but we saw them chillin' in their fountain.

A quick trolley ride (mini impromptu photo shoot included) and then...

Lastly, and mostly (as in...the reason we went to Memphis is the first place), we spent time at the National Civil Rights Museum, which is installed in the same building that was once the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It was so interesting to be in a place that brought together different parts of the civil rights movement in one coherent museum, and a pretty powerful place, too. Apparently other people agree, as the museum is also in the "USA & Canada" version of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. But in all seriousness, it was almost overwhelming to stand just a wall of glass away from the exact balcony on which Dr. King was shot. Across the road from the Lorraine, you can look out the window from which that shot was fired and see evidence and information from the investigation. It was a great experience, and if you find yourself if Memphis, you should most definitely go.

And that was my Friday, folks.

Love,
Allison