One day last week, lil dumplin told me--"We're gonna walk up to the "dome"! Well, with that all settled-we started our journey to the top. We had been there before---like 20 years before! I think it was a half mile up that mountain. Well, we started out and I made it about 50 feet from the startin point before havin to set down and rest a spell. We kept fightin it and about a third of the way up, while settin alongside the trail on a big rock, a group of hikers came by-led by an Amishman. Long walkin stick, the old dude was really pik'n up and putn'm down. He wasn't even breathin hard, spoke as he slid on by and never lost stride. I was breathin so hard I couldn't speak, just nod. I finally made it with promptins from lil dumplin--"You just set there and rest, I'll go ahead and have the look see and meet you here on the way down. I know you're not in real good shape so don't overdo"! I would've CRAWLED up that steep path if need be, just to show her I could. She knew it too! Eventually I did make it and was rather proud of myself for doin so. She's as protective as an old hen and don't want me to kick the bucket. I don't want to either just yet. I'm still a young, good lookin dude with a bunch of black hair! Don't know what all those lies had to do with anything but figgered if politikens can do it then maybe I can get away with it too! Well anyhow, we enjoyed our time at the top and slowly came down and went on over to Cherokee, N.C. to look around. A fudge shop [Heavenly Fudge] is located there and has the best candy in the world--well, as far as I know of anyhow. I did notice while there that many "chiefs" are located by their teepees available for pictures. Made me think of "too many chiefs and not enough indians" say'ns of years ago. Good, friendly people that are really easy to talk to. Most tourists don't bother talkin to'n'm unless it's just business and small talk. I really enjoy talkin to people and "pik'n thar branes". I think one of Almighty God's greatest gifts is the desire to learn from one another. I could set all day and talk to other people and learn about'm. I find EVERYBODY's life fasinating and exciting. A goal I have and want to reach shortly, is to obtain a laptop pc to take along with me. I could write and store to a floppy before forgettin the details. Oh well, I've hinted to lil dumplin but think she's turned a deaf ear to my desires! It's good to be home but am lookin forward to next spring when we can travel somewhere else and intermingle with the locals and kinda get a handle on their lives. Thinkin about the Amish in N.E. Ohio and Pa. Could jest as easily be the Black folks of Ga., Al. I'm most interested in country/farm folks and don't give a whit what color they are. We're all creations of Almighty God and if He don't care what color they are then why should I? All this make me think---Are any Black folks on the forum? Peace to all. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), October 12, 2000

Answers

Hoot, This reminds me....There was a black man who had come to the end of this lifes journey. As he lay in bed dying, his family noticed that he was somewhat uneasy. His son spoke up and asked him waht was bothering him. The man replied, "All of my life I have been black. When I was born I was black. When I was sad I was black. When I was a coward I was black. When I spent time in the sun, I was black. When I was ill, I was black. Now as I lay here dying I am still black. When a white person is born they are pink. When they are sad, they are blus. When they go out in the sun, they are tan. When they are cowards, they are yellow. When they are ill, they are either green or white as a sheet. What I dont understand is the fact that I have been black my whole life and white people called me COLORED.

-- Terri Perry (stuperry@stargate.net), October 12, 2000.

Hey Hoot, I wish I had known you were at Cherokee. I would really have enjoyed talking to you, I was working just across the road from Chief Henry when you were there. Putting the plumbing in that new building thats going up. I've lived around there most of my life and sure do love those old Smoky Mtn's.

-- Don (hihilldon@yahoo.com), October 13, 2000.

Don! I probably saw you. We set on a bench and watched'm building that big dude for a spell. Watched'm puttin down deckin etc. When we came back Sunday pm the roof was blacked out already. Oh, BTW-I was the big good lookin dude settin over in the shade. I tell my little grandaughter [3yrs old] that I'm "purty". She disagrees most agressivley and says "Gampa, you're not purty you're handsome". Well anyhow, would've been most honored to've talked toya. Maybe next time. I'm still tryin to sell woodfired boilers down ther just so I can deliver'm and have another vacation. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), October 13, 2000.

I lived with hoot for 10 years or so and can tell you part of the above story is untrue--the part where he mentions telling lies, right after he brags on himself. He IS a good-looking dude with LOTS of black hair! Way back when, Pap nicknamed him "fur-bearing animal" because his hair was very black, fine, soft, wavy and really, really thick. After all these years, his hair is STILL very black, fine, soft, wavy (he keeps it short to hide wavy (?) and really, really thick. As for the 'young' part, well, maybe that is stretching the truth a mite! I'm almost 8 years older than hoot and consider myself his favorite sister--do I have to mention I'm his ONLY sister?

-- ruth (bobtravous@email.com), October 14, 2000.

Update to this Clingmans Dome post. While Lil Dumplin were at the top tak'n pictures, a nice, kind lady asked if we wanted our picts taken. Lil Dumplin said 'yeah'! She took our pictures with our camera and Lil Dumplin just found'm last evening. Well-now-if'n ya'll are want'n to see jest how purty we'ns are ya'll'll jest hafta email me. I'll reply with an attatchment of our purty faces--well Lil Dumplins purty face. I'm not so purty in the pict. Ya'll'll hafta rememmber how hard I labored walk'n up that steep grade and it shows! BTW the lady tak'n the pict forgot and had her car keys/keychain in front of the camera. Thats ok though---it kevvers sum uv me! Old hoot, the mountain climber! Luke 6:31

-- hoot the mountain man! (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 06, 2001.

Taking pictures? I've hiked up that daggone hill 3 different times only to see nothing at the top but mists!

-- nobrabbit (conlane@prodigy.net), March 06, 2001.