But of course,

  My mom would be beaming proud and would def point out that her generation did it!  Got Reagan in too.  And I would agree that this election it was so important to join forces and put the good America first.  And it's important to live our values.  And hugely important to be an example for young people.

  To set the course and achieve the goals of re-Americanizing ourselves and honing that legacy that makes us different than most places on earth.

Pee and go

   Once I81 dumps you out of TN there's no mappage showing how to get to NC.  And if you're coming from fast food job, you get reprimanded for going into the women's bathroom not looking something enough, I guess.

  Everything is nice and quiet.  But the field of broke down tractors and lawnmowers kind of tells where we're at.  A gas station couple is quietly closing down a Sunday workday.  Kindly give directions.  More bananas from a grocery and the reassurance that there are still mountains to go before the flatland.  It's a thirty year de ja vous with the good people of America just doing the same USA we've been doing since I was a kid.

   It's like when "everybody" started wearing jeans.  We never really got back to "fashion" after that.  Big divides.

  The campaigning brings ideological politics front and center but for the majority of people most things are just routine.  Most people can't ride a ticket to get out of poverty.  A lot of people don't get to wear a suit and tie.  In everyday situation we don't yell RIGHTS, I WANT MY RIGHTS.  Or, Garbage, y'all are garbage and I'm gonna....

  We have a couple people as presidential candidates and we see them everywhere.  And the idea is to pick a side and go in that direction.  There's no "magic pill" that is going to turn the world into all one thing at this point.  Not even war.

  We do have big divide(s) and a lot of it is really about how we approach the same issues.  Finances do dictate most decision-making.  And each political party does offer particular forms of support for ideas and activities.  Some of it is moral support -- you can do it!  And here's why....

  The more self-reliant, street and trickle down, are actually greatly influenced by overall political tone because of that tone's coloring of environment, but environment--not in disaster mode--isn't a dictator in America.

  The current stagnation seems more like a paltry footbridge over chaos and non-participation or apathy about being a citizen.  But not about being American since we, in many ways, let that be even more lax than just wear jeans.  It became an illusory anything goes.  Of course, that sort of lack of commitment, absence of discipline, waffling about ideologically has put a strain on leftover system (much of which stemmed from programs and have long been past their "shelf dates"), and with an optimistic naw we didn't give up, really, at least not totally, we put the rug of politics over the gigantic imperfection of big divide.

  It's kind of important to have some kind of structure to nation.  The rug is not gonna do it.

  Headlines this past week give us rockets, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and drones stalking and killing people in the streets.  And American elections.

  The question that everyone is asking of leader and people really seems to be

  Is America mightily different?

I choose to care anyway

  It's not about gender for me.  I care about men and women and children doing America as America.

  I think to be too specific-cause defeats the purpose of our nation.

  My vote (if I can get to NC) goes to Trump because the stuff that we are up against needs someone that committed, that stubborn, and that willing and able to fight against the gigantic drone of ah, just leave it like it is.  It's been a wretched four years.

Sometimes I wonder

   what Martha Stewart's cats r thinking too.

  When I wonder about serious stuff, I also ask.

  It's a wonder that we have ICBMs and drones stalking people and news is still giving out location information.  Everyone had to stop doing that in like, the Vietnam War.  But back in the early 1990's I was able to put a similar question to some experts.  Interestingly, the censors and military and vague popular were hung up on numbers!  Yeah, because elections require the use of numerical data, we had to put a hold on a critical block on some other information.  Seriously.

  Of course we were freaking out; we were young people.  Especially as creatives we were afraid censorship would be forever.  And there were official lists of words we couldn't use.  It was a challenge to express ourselves with buzzers clamping down on all our ideas.  We had academic arguments with the living censor people.  And, heart-to-hearts with older than us professionals and loved ones.  Advertising had to be part of the phasing in of temporary restraints in communications.  That made for some "funny" ads.

  We talked through jarring issues like having full faith and confidence in our Armed Forces.  And, even, what ifs and how to carry on without the usual conveniences.  It's always intense when we have to ready for maybe swift action.  But we do so as a nation.  And not just one nation, but a nation with allies.  

  And it's always comforting to know that grown ups are always doing their work, so even while we got to do some less serious stuff, the grown ups had been on it.

  No stress.

Scary

   What I feel is close to hatred for disorder and chaos and other issues it would be easy to blame on one party or another, one gender or another.  Think I'll vote for eating lots of candy today.

  They made fun of people for recycling too!  Sometimes guys make no sense.  They made fun of a woman reporter covering a typhoon or tsunami in Japan and it became a harmless guy rally cry, "The recycling!" They'd say in a girly voice.  Totally missed the point-- that even in a disaster SOME PEOPLE CARE, especially about maintaining progress on making life's problems better.  They're so duh sometimes.

  Heck yeah I voted for Nikki Haley in the primary!  Duh wears me out. 

  It's okay, we're going to get Taiwan and U.S. chips going forward.  Better chips.

Getting dark now, watch out for trick or treaters!

Mas mejor chips.  I might even invest in that if the Spanish-speaking people where I'm doing laundry don't put me in their garbage can.  Thanks

  Ah, just candy wrappers and food truck taco empty plates in the garbage can!  I love Knoxville.

  Happy Halloween

 

   In a down home sitting area of the Hartford, Tennessee Welcome Area I had the chance to sit and tarry-a-bit in a rocking chair beneath the regal-looking and very muscled World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse ~ Justified Honors.  The horse's name sort of goes with the legacy of the state of Tennessee.  It certainly seems to as I'm absorbed into some history displaying the noble role Tennessee braved in the Civil War.

  The display or installation has a profound portrait of men on battlefield.  The work of art shows The Battle of Fort Sanders (courtesy of the East Tennessee Historical Society) and in the reproduction of a painting Old Glory looms large over the fort under attack.

  The display tells of Tennessee as a strategic location crucial to both the Union and the Confederates due to the state's "location, river routes and rail paths, industries and farmlands".  The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area together with the Department of Tourist Development and the Department of Transpirtation has a partnership program called the Tennessee Civil War Trails.  This is part of a five-state trails system that helps people explore the "places associated with America's greatest challenge from 1861-1865".

  There are over 1000 sites "that tell the epic and heartfelt stories of civilians and soldiers, both black amd white, who experienced triumph and tragedy".  There are several sites in the Hartford, TN region.  And the Welcome Center (one of 19 in Tennessee) tells us about the Longstreet Campaign of 1863.  Confederate General Robert E. Lee sent his corps commander General James Longstreet to try and capture Knoxville ~ "a vital railroad junction that had fallen in early September to a Union force under the command of General Ambrose Burnside.

  "Fighting between the armies continued throughout the winter of 1863-1864 until Longstreet returned to Virginia, leaving the North in control of the Knoxville area for the remainder of the war."

  Almost 1500 engagements took place across Tennessee and, "The war years brought misery to almost every Tennessean," the display tells us.  "Yet, out of the ashes of war, Tenneseans, black and white, built a new society where slavery was abolished and citizenship redefined."

  The numbers are staggering:

  66,000 Confederates and 58,000 Federal soldiers were killed or wounded on Tennessee battlefields.

  "The division that made Tennessee a reflection of the rift between North and South also made it a testing ground of political reform after the war.  The state's many Unionists took power during Reconstruction and proceeded to abolish slavery, ratify the Reconstruction amendments to the Constitution and return Tennessee to the Union earlier than any other ex-Confederate state."

  "The sacrifices of African-American troops for the Union side strengthened the former slave's claim to a full share in postwar society.  These first steps toward emancipation and citizenship were the most hopeful legacy of the Civil War in Tennessee.  At war's end, 275,000 Tennesseans formerly enslaved were free."

  The information about the history of the U.S. including actual, physical war on homesoil amongst neighbors and families and citizens stands in stark contrast to contemporary Tennessee.  Like the glowing electric fire in the hearth here and the beautifully cared-for Welcome Center, today's Tennessee focuses more on ways people can experience the heartiness of an enduring spirit.

  From its Native American places to its other historical and peopled places; it's many trails through a diversity of commerce and craft, to its interconnectedness with real nature, Tennessee's portrait is so much more complex than even its complicated war time iterations.  

  Dozens of brochures invite to attractions ~ each its own mountain of interesting, and, proof that this state has weathered social transition and challenge to thrive locally-made and industrial-sized.  While the brochures boast of mainstays of fun and adventure each place of Tennessee, America also has its heroes and villians, humor and sorrows.

  The timberhewn Welcome Center with its wood furniture, handpainted scenery art and well-cared for vending and bathroom facilities presents that side of tourism that's about care and hospitality.  It's apt that here the wooden state-shaped "Tennessee" sign above an information desk is trimmed in gold.  Authentically valuable, Tennessee, as part of an America that is still rooted in tradition AND adaptable to such a diversity of people and purpose.  The mountains in this part of the state make for a pleasant preservation of space between states and population centers but the distances are fjorded by people well-versed in both formal and casual socializing.

  On this visit I talk with two men doing security and maintenance of the Welcome Center.  They confirm, as I've seen firsthand, that there is a lot of damage caused by Hurricane Helene.  It's posing real challenges to transportation between North Carolina and Tennessee.  Mr. Mike Washam relays news of at least four spots along I-40 that truly make the interstate impassable.  A four-lane area reduced to one lane of barely stable asphalt due to flooding, for example, is in need of repair.  The amounts of disaster relief money are up in the millions though, so there is a hopeful patience.  "And," Jesse McGaha points out, "Dolly Parton donated two million" for the fix up!  That puts monies for TN in the 32 million dollar ballpark, and NC is looking to use $100 million on disaster relief.

  The Hartford Welcome Center may see some changes in the future too, though not storm-related, there are electrical system updates and accessibility issues to be addressed.  But Jesse is proud to show me a unique feature of the Welcome Center...."It's the only one with a porch!" The rocking chairs are tucked inside so the porch can be pressure-washed.

  It's almost the start of November and up near the Martha Sundquist State Forest many of the leaves over the road are dropping hard now.  The forest road through there is temporarily closed so the TN Dept of Agriculture can repair wood bridges.  But on a clear night the starry sky and the sound of the stream there make for a perfect moment out of this year's political excitement.

  In some ways the weather and persisting clean up and repair have people doubling down on tending the homefires no matter what happens in national politics.  Word from the Welcome Center is that the major repairs will take into late next year (2025).

  The Soundtrack of America ~ Made In Tennessee movement or campaign or rally-around has made great effort to supercharge the Welcome Center with tourism and vacation ideas covering all of Tennessee.  With the Smokies and other area mountain spots involved so deeply in recovering from Hurricane Helene while getting ready for winter, it may be a good bet to plan immediate get-away time elsewhere in T'see.  All through the mountains and valleys of this region work is being done to save this land we love.  The overall tone is letting summer go, seasonal change, and we'll be here.

  Hot coffee and sausage on a biscuit at the locally owned Downtown Hartford Amoco.  The sun lights up the tops of nearby mountains revealing a patchwork of reds and browns and pine greens.  The gas station has handpainted team mascots in the windows.  Go Cosby Eagles!  Go Grassy Ravens!  And the assurance they've got The BEST pizza in town!

  On down the river road there is still a lot of debris from the storm and, sadly, peoples' soaked and ruined housewares.  The sounds of work trucks set a steady pace to morning.

  Behind the Ober Zipline and near the Moonshine Distillery the river is a tangled knot of tree and building parts.  River makes an oxbow there, a sort of "U"shape that gets waterlogged.  It's home to some rafting outfits which over the summer were quite bustling.  Some of the local eateries are badly damaged.  All along the river trees and people goods are cramming the banks.  Under a low bridge whole trees are jammed in and piled a dozen or so feet tall.  Then for several miles the landscape and peoples' homes bear the scars of raging river.  Fields of corn are battered and run over by the now-receded, mostly--but for the ponding and boggish sunken spots--flooding.  Home after home has water-debris-smashed wreckage.  In some spots vehicles were carried and smushed into poles and other structure.

  At points on the river road there is rock ledge that must've forced the flooding away from it and widened the path of destruction.  Vegetation is still hanging, dragged by the current, in some spots, fifteen feet above the riverbed.

  Over to Cosby I went hoping to get in one more night of camping before saying goodbye to summer.  To no avail.  Like most else anywhere near the Smokies, the storm eclipsed a lingering with nature as the seasons change this year.  Crickets, slow and not too loud in a not-too-hot sunshine was the parting kiss.

  All over the byways that aren't I40 the people traffic is a mix of regular day and repair.  Close-to but not directly impacted by storm is also a buzz of seasonal change and people like myself cut out of getting to North Carolina.  Trucks--asked not to travel those routes--barreling and turning around, turning around.  

  To my knowledge I81 is really the only legitimate way to go.  For me, it's compounding stress and hardship about voting this year.  The quiet but solid message from the mountains is can't go this way.  We're flummuxed.  Even miles and miles of pushing onward brings sudden Road Closed into the twists and turns of travel.  Whether it's storm-related or private property matters there is a maddening barricade between our states right now.  Probably closing normally welcoming places of the forest will alleviate the snarl.

  The shops and artisan places in Gatlinburg are welcoming leaf peepers and mountain haunt seekers!  And all through the area between Gatlinburg and Sevierville autumn hangs on regular like holiday decs.  So does a calm and steady show of support for Trump.  The signage, some handmade and vibrant red, white, and blue has definitely increased since earlier this year.  But there is an understated campaign feel.  Goes with storm-driven, let's get back to the business of being us.

  For sure the changes per Helene are forcing the hand on camping and tourism, but as people compelled to visit we're going with the flow as much as possible.

  Back in the city, Knoxville.  Our part of town is also feeling decided.  There's a welcomed relaxation of a hard-driving campaign season.  I feel proud of all of us for not being as ugly as we have been in some years.  Seems like way more determination in a mighty tide-turning...if not for assured outcome, at least in speaking out against sinking in a mysterious and lurking "socialism".  We're holding down the fort ~ the Stars and Stripes front and center.