Bren and I had a wonderful day together, just driving along the Natchez Trace in north Alabama, last Friday. She remembered a rock wall, built by one man over the course of almost 40 years. We came upon a Park Service worker and he told us which exit to take, which, ironically, was at the crossroads where we turned to go to the old farm in Alabama! We found the memory wall, and Mr. Tom Hendrix, author of If The Legends Fade, who told us story after story of his great great grandmother and his memorial wall to her. She was a Yuchi Native American, a tribe I had never heard of. Her story is one of commitment, endurance, love and home, as is his. Brenda seated in the prayer circle. All these stones have been laid by Mr. Hendrix, plus many more tons of native rock...
This section of the wall was specially laid and the stones all appear to have eyes - and they are guarding this portion. This is in the wall which represents Te-lah-nay's walk back to NE Alabama from Oklahoma. You immediately know they are "eyes." The Yuchi language and English translations is beautiful. Her name means Woman with the Dancing Eyes.
Click here for a map and information about the Trail of Tears through Cross County, Crowley's Ridge, and Arkansas.
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Edwina and I met another cousin who has done a lot of in-depth research and used timelines for our great grandfather McCagg, and other ancestors. Her grandfather is my and Edwina's great uncle, our grandfather's brother. Very confusing. Some of it is beginning to make sense, though. We took a drive with Lynda (our cousin) around Rose Trail just over in Alabama to Riverton, which I think I mentioned before. There were actually no Thornes buried there, but it was a pretty drive anyway. Later at Lynda's house (the "old home place" of her Thorne branch) she made prints of pictures for us. (Edwina, me, Lynda, L-R)
The rose at Oldham has been whacked down; I'll have to return in the spring when it blooms again, if it takes hold and comes back. Maybe I didn't go back far enough, but it was grassy, spooky and snaky looking further back and nothing looked like a rose bush.
Mama Nick and Aunt Ginny are well. Ginny made potato soup Saturday and I ate lunch with her. Greg Woodruff brought lunch plates to them both that David had bought at a fundraiser for a local lady who has cancer. Greg loves research, genealogy, history, and had great stories to tell about the old hotels in Iuka and Mineral Springs Park, which won the best mineral water in the World's Fair of 1904. An Akers ancestor (Paul's side) was the mayor and he submitted the water for the competition! Guess politics runs in the family...
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David and Sandra went to Waterloo, Alabama, for the Trail of Tears ceremony, which was also very well attended by motorcyclists. David and Sandra went by boat... Mr. Hendrix said that last weekend there was a Powwow at Tuscumbia's Spring Park with many Native American storytellers, handwork, dances on display and to help carry on their traditions. I'd like to go next year and have put in on my calendar.
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Mike and Marsha are having a good ol' time down in the Carribean! They left NOLA Saturday morning on their cruise.
This morning I went to the doctor to see about these weird lights - migraines. I've had several episodes in the last 10 days or so. So - a CT scan just to be sure, and a prescription to prevent them. It's the same thing I took last year to help me sleep when I was stressed out with a broken ankle, job stress, training, and learning a new job. But if they help... So be it.
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Paul may have a conflict during the week we're supposed to travel to Sher's. We'll know tomorrow... We're not getting twisted knickers over it, though...
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