The W-ahr (continued)

The Belle of the Bends home was absolutely beautiful. The massive foyer had doors on each end in the typical style of most homes built at that time. There were basically three rooms on each floor that were huge with big tall windows and doors. Of course since they were taxed on the amount of windows at the time it was built, most of the windows also function as doors. DH pointed out how this indicated that despite how incredibly wealthy the original owners were, they would go to extreme lengths to avoid taxation.

We stayed in the Josphine room. This room was named for Ms. Josephine Pratt, who sold the home to innkeepers Dan and Mary. The Dining room where we took breakfast was also incredible. Mary has at least three sets of fine china and she actually gets to use it. She also obviously watches food network and HGTV because both the food and furnishings were very tastefully done. Staying at this B&B was like staying with old friends, and with the exception of the train circling your room at least 5 times each night (with that 6 year old engineer) the home was perfect. Sipping coffee each morning on the back porch swing that overlooks the river was a rare treat to be savored.

I have covered all of this leading up to two funny stories that Dan and Mary shared with us about the culture shock they experienced after moving to the Deep South. Dan was sharing how when they first moved to town about three years ago (from Denver where everything is very electronic), they decided to go to the local Church's Chicken for lunch one day. After ordering Dan proceeded to hand over is debit card to the cashier, who promptly asks him "Wha Dis?" Dan points out that it is his debit card as she turns to the manager and calls out across the restaurant "DO WE TEK DEES?" Now I was laughing too hard at Dan's Northern Kentucky/Colorado accent doing a perfect imitation of the cashier's statements to find out whether they actually took the card. They did say that Church's was now one of their favorite places to eat, so I guess they got their differences worked out.

Mary's story involved the complete opposite end of society. While she was enjoying a brunch one morning with what she called "the trustfund Vicksburg ladies," Mary kept overhearing these ladies refer to the W-ahr. Almost every other sentence was about the W-ahr. Finally her confusion got the best of her, and she asked one of them "Are you talking about the war in Irag or the Civil War?" She said she heard spoons hit the china all over the room and a collective gasp. (I of course recognized her faux paux immediately and began to grin.) One of the elder's then informed her "It is NOT the Civeel W-ahr, it is the W-ahr of Nah-thun Aggreshun." So Mary says to all of them "Well I guess all those school texts and history books are wrong because I have always been taught about the Civil War. Here again her imitation was perfect. She now realizes that was when she blew her chance to fit in around there, but doesn't really regret that she maintains her carpet-bagger status.

There is lots more to tell (Blitz related) but I wanted to share our experience fully. Again, I have to go to work, so check back for more. God Bless!