Blue Ridge, Blues & BBQ

Shannan and I went out early in the season to pick apples. This year we visited Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge. We decided to make the most of the road trip to North Georgia by staying the night Saturday and getting out to the orchard first thing Sunday morning. We didn't have a dinner plan for Saturday; however we did have a list of many restaurants in town. Good fortune befell us. Upon arrival we learned the Blues and Barbecue Festival was taking place downtown. Our choice was made.

We thoroughly enjoyed the festival including a turn through a local art gallery and listening to great music. Our biggest dilemma came in deciding on which BBQ station to patronize. In the end, we divided and conquered. We each went to a different place. Both vendors provided exquisite food. We had pulled pork, sausage and brisket along with traditional sides of mac and cheese, brunswick stew, cornbread and baked beans.

Some years ago we visited a traveling food exhibit sponsored by the Smithsonian in Indian Springs, GA. One of the panels noted that sharing recipes affirms the bonds of friendship and family. A year or so later while touring the Agrirama in Tifton, GA I enjoyed a small section about BBQ in the south. Several quotes suggested that barbeque is one of the unique food items which crosses racial lines, and in fact brings people together.

Roasting meat does not happen in nature. It's a practice that sets humans apart from the animal kingdom, and it's intricately linked to human communities across time and place. I plan to explore this topic more as the first theme in forthcoming podcasts, Bread, Beer and BBQ: The Sustenance of Societies.

Read. Eat. Run.

Tom

The unplanned plan

I couldn’t make up my mind if I wanted to exercise or to go for a run. So, I walked Shannan out to her car and it didn't start. In order for us both to get to work on time, we had to leave right away. So, the decision was made, not to exercise at the moment. Of course we had fully packed day planned, with an evening outing as well. To add to the dilemma, I was teaching on two campuses. I knew immediately I would have to skip lunch and exercise midday.

On the way between the campuses I stopped off in a park to get in a run. As mentioned before, I have a “go bag” always packed in my car. It has everything I need to fit in an exercise session. The park was small. I explored its fields and trails before I ventured out on the street for a bit. The weather was lovely and I took an opportunity to run in a new place. So even as a rushed unplanned experience, it turned out grand. Our busy day and fun evening went smoothly, including purchasing and installing a new battery for Shannan’s car.

Roll with the punches. Run.

Tom