this is what it looks like in Pleasant Hill
This time of year is commonly known in these parts as get-out-of-Portland weather.
My friends were in Mexico a couple of weeks ago.
My boss went to the big island of Hawaii.
My coworker went to Maui.
My other coworker went to San Diego.
It’s gray, cold, and grim out there. So, to keep up with the Joneses, I booked my ticket.
To sunny Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. Haven’t heard of it? I’m not surprised. It is on the Cumberland plateau, two hours east of Nashville. It has one blinking traffic light, an elementary school, and a “grocery store” that’s open from Wednesday to Saturday.
I didn’t want to go somewhere exotic, I wanted to spend time with one of my favorite people on the planet. My Nana is my mom’s mom, and we have a special bond. I love hanging out with her and her little dog Nubbin, and we always have a lot of fun.
I was born in Nashville, and even though I moved before my third birthday to the Pacific Northwest, it feels like Tennessee is a part of me, and it’s really calming and relaxing to go visit.
We spent time driving, doing things that I’d imagine I would do if I were Nana’s age. We ran the errands that suck to do alone. And we had fun!
Pleasant Hill is near the booming metropolis (pun intended) of Crossville, Tennessee, where my mom grew up. They have an amazing (no pun intended) playhouse, and I love going to see plays whenever I go. This time, we saw Steel Magnolias, which is just like the movie, except it only occurs in the beauty shop. Then we met up with family to have lunch and talk about how excited they are to come to visit Portland for the big upcoming wedding on New Year’s Eve.
I call this weekend a conscious spend, but between my mom buying my airplane ticket, and Nana paying for absolutely everything while I was there, I’d call it a frugal win, too! I suppose that makes sense. Go visit family if you don’t want to spend a bunch of money.
There are several things that tickle me about being in Tennessee, and I’d like to share them.
In Tennessee:
- When you turn on your rental car, there will always be gospel music playing. It surprised me the first time, but not the second. I guess there’s a reason there are 19 gospel stations on the radio.
- You must specify that you want your tea unsweetened. And, even if you go to a restaurant that calls itself a “tea room,” you are a weirdo if you ask for hot tea. Even when it’s 34 degrees out. You will feel like a dolt, for sure, but then you will remember that it’s winter, and iced tea is a summer drink.
- You will talk to more strangers than you are expecting. This is the land of southern hospitality, people. So if you don’t feel like being friendly, don’t go out. When you do go out, just be nice and make pleasant conversation.
- Enjoy the churches, the church signs, and the other random religious billboards. One of my favorites, which Nana selectively decides not to see (survival mechanism!) says, “Evolution is real?” and has a quote from Romans.
- Actually, go to church on Sunday. Make sure you tell people who ask why they haven’t seen you before that you are visiting from out of town. They will make you feel exotic. Enjoy this, but remember, you’re really not that exotic.
- You will get constant reminders that you are in a “red” state. Example: if you are driving on the day of the presidential inauguration, and you decide to give up on trying to listen to the coverage, and turn it to a country station, you will hear some sort of joke about how all Obama does is party. You will remember how lucky you are that you live in a place where that sort of thing isn’t just rare, it’s downright unheard of.
- You will appreciate how open-minded people at home are, and that’s reason enough to leave Portland and come back.
That sounds like a great trip. I can understand wanting to get out of the pacific northwest this time of year! I've wanted top go visit family in another province for awhile, this is good motivation.
I already want to get away again! I loathe this time of year. The January blues. They last until March.
I did a six month stint working down in the south many years back. It was a bit jarring seeing how friendly people were and how life just seemed to move a little bit slower so that people could enjoy it a little more. I need to go back down there as those are both great principles to have which I think I need to be reminded about every so often!
Yep, and as long as you don't look too "different" people will really be nice to you. It's unreal how it changes if you're not their definition of normal looking, though.
"You must specify that you want your tea unsweetened. And, even if you go to a restaurant that calls itself a “tea room,” you are a weirdo if you ask for hot tea. Even when it’s 34 degrees out. You will feel like a dolt, for sure, but then you will remember that it’s winter, and iced tea is a summer drink." Lol! I was born in Jackson TN, I moved from there was I was eight and lived in Richmond VA for another eight, this is so true.
Seriously, John, they HEATED iced tea for me. That was their solution.
Sounds like you will have a wonderful time with your Nana :)
yes ma'am! And using the term "nana" feels silly up here, but it completely normal in Tennessee.
There is something really special about places that still know the meaning of the word community. I come from a small town and miss it now that I live in a big city. When I retire, it will definitely be in a small community minded town.
I think that you can find pockets of wonderful in your big city too — you just have to look for them, and be open to community! That's the hardest part.
Home is always home! I still have good memories of growing up in New York although different from yours. I have lived over 40 years in California and still refer to New York as home. We visit relatives every year and realize the weather sill is not great, but there is more than weather there. It sort of keeps you grounded.
I like that phrase — there is more than weather there — so very well said.
I love Portland, it is one of the most interesting cities I've been to- it's on the map as a major city yet downtown during "rush hour" was totally sparse and uncrowded. haha. That being said, I've always wanted to go to TN- I'd been planning to run the Nashville RnR half marathon this year but it falls on a weekend I'm already running something else (runner problems) haha!
I love that you schedule your vacations around runs! You are so inspiring. I can't wait to show you all my favorite spots here — I'm sure you missed at least some of them the last time you were here!
I wish I lived in the Pacific Northwest sometimes! I live in Indiana and it sounds a lot like Tennessee. For all of the reasons you listed, I feel out of place.
Come visit, any time! But, if you bring your whole family, you'll have to get a hotel. Unless you want to get everyone in my lil one-bedroom apartment!
We moved from the city to a small town to get more of the friendliness you described. Several cities are within driving distance, so I can get that whenever I want. I've found I appreciate the city more now that I don't live there. I really never DID anything when I lived in the city, although it was at my doorstep!
That's next on my list: DO things, don't sit at home all the time!
sounds like you had a lovely time, but the best part of travel is coming home isn't it?
Yes, indeed. I like my home.
My friend posted a pic similar to the "Evolution is Real?" board when she accepted a position in Georgia… a position in the hard sciences. Sounds like a fun time with Nana!
HA excellent! I love the south. :)
Pleasent Hill looks amazing, I would gladly get lost in a place like that!
You'd have to be a special kind of something to get lost there! :)
Love your observations on what tickles you about visiting Tennessee! I'm West Coast Canadian so I'm sure I would feel pretty exotic in Tennessee as well :)
You'd be like a celebrity. ;)
Been to Crossville. The Cumberland Gap is a very neat area.
Hard to believe you've been to Crossville! Wild. Once, I was there and didn't tell some of the extended family I was coming, and I ran into them at Kroger. They said, "of all the people we run into at the grocery store, we did NOT expect you!"
It doesn't sound all that different from Michigan. LOL! I'm glad you booked a trip to see your Nana. As someone who doesn't have grandparents around anymore, it's priceless time!
You know — it's not that different from the midwest — they just talk differently! :)
What great insights into Tennessee. That's hilarious about iced tea. I can see how that's true from my trips through the South. That's great you get to spend time with your grandmother!
So, so, funny — heated up iced tea rather than iced brewed tea. DIFFERENT WORLDS.
I lived in Kentucky and Tennessee until I was 25, so I understand all of those Southern rituals. I still can't drink hot tea to save my life. I think it's a secret gene they give you at birth. You forgot the fact that you can buy fried chicken in any gas station, and if you are unsure of what to say, just say, "Well, bless your heart!". I never fit in the south, and am happier where I am, but I do appreciate some of the customs that remind me of where I grew up.
Oh, true! "Bless your heart" can be a thinly veiled insult, though, so I'm glad I didn't hear it this trip!
Have a great time! I haven't been to the south much, but hopefully I'll make it over there in the next few years. The closest I've been is South Carolina.
Similar! I like how different it is. It helps me like Portland more.
i was born in Tennessee, Kathleen, and do think that it has a certain charm that is missing in other places.. You speak the truth about conversations with strangers.. It is really refreshing.
-j-
No way! I knew we were friends. I love the easy conversation. The \”please warm up the iced tea\” was very silly though.
I wish I could go back and rename my dog, nubbin! hope you have fun in the south ;)
I had a blast in the south! I love it there. Your next dog can be Nubbin! :)
I went to Nashville recentlyand I really enjoyed Tennessee. I hoepe that you had a great time when you where in Tennessee.
Loved it! I love Nashville, too, what a fun nightlife!
I am not American, but I spent 12 years in the South before moving to the other Portland (Maine). I sure miss the random kindness of strangers, the incredible blossoms in spring, the front porch swings, and the food – even thinking of sweet tea on a hot summer day makes me a bit nostalgic. And yes, the political landscape has been reversed. I used to be in a red state where folks have mostly red viewpoints and who consider themselves to be the openminded ones. Now I am in a blue state where folks have mostly blue viewpoints and who consider themselves the only ones openminded. It's remarkable how similar it feels when it comes to the "us versus them" political identity, just in reverse. Personally I wish there were more purple in this country instead of the divisive red and blue ID-labels ;-)
Keep dreaming, friend! :) What an interesting contrast — I've never been to Maine — I hear it's lovely.
[...] Conscious Spend: Visiting Nana in Tennessee at Frugal Portland. I really, really love sweet iced tea! [...]