Family Reunion 2003

Pigeon Forge, TN

I always get excited when it comes to our annual Family reunions. I miss not being able to see all of my Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. But this particular reunion was somewhat different to say the least. A lot of us had decided to go to Dollywood theme park and enjoy the rides, shows and get in a little shopping while we were there. Most of us split up into groups and we would run into them every now and then but the group that I was with I feel sure that they had wished that they had chosen another group for company. So heres the story that you have all been asking me to tell you about.

When we got to the entrance I knew that I wasnt going to be able to walk all over the park with such a bad back as well as my neck. So my husband decided to rent me one of those little motor powered wheel chairs. I was embarrassed to use it but I knew that I had no other choice if I was going to be able to enjoy myself, so off I went. The thing looked pretty simple to me to drive after all Ive driven about everything there is to drive that has a steering wheel so this should be a breeze. Off we went and I have to admit that I was thankful that I didnt have to walk after all.

They strolled along and I was right behind them just scooting along enjoying all of the pretty flowers and looking at all of the good things to eat. Since I wasnt suppose to ride any of the rides I just had to sit and watch everyone else, of course my mom stayed with me cause she wasnt about to get wet or having her hair messed up. God forbid if anyone down there saw her hair messed up even if it was family. So anyway after the first water ride everyone needed to go to the bathroom and I didnt have the urge to so I sat outside and waited for them. Of course the men went in and straight out but it took awhile in the ladies room (as always) and so I parked my little scooter in a small eating area that was in a circle with brick walls on either side up about 3 feet high, there were pretty white tables and chairs so that you could eat or rest in the shade. I was at one end of the circle but all of the men were at the other, so they told me to come up there and join them, so I put it in forward and straight through the circle I went and sat with my husband. Mom finally made her way out eventually and so everyone was ready to go. So I turned the key flipped a button and gagged it so that I would be able to keep up cause I knew how badly my son and our cousin were wanting to ride more rides. Well little did I know that I had thrown that thing into reverse and OH BOY what a mistake that was, everyone was yelling at me to stop and I was just in pure shock at what I had done and had lost all of my senses as to what I was to do. When I glanced back after hitting something that sounded like a crushed aluminum can, all that I could see was this man whos eyes looked like they were going to pop right out of his head! My family was still yelling but laughing at the same time so I panicked after the site of the man and realizing that I had penned him between a table and the brick wall. I still hadnt let off on the gas I just wanted out of there! My poor little husband had to come over and get me going in the right direction again and apologized to the eye-popping man. I think that he probably tossed his cookies with that crash and if he didnt then he at least had a thinner waist line. After we got out of site where the accident occurred my husband showed me how that thing worked and so off we went again. We really enjoyed watching the rides but mom and I eventually got tired of it so we went on our own way. Mom was worn out and I was still shaking from the eye-popping experience so we decided to see one of the shows. It was Dollys cousins that were performing and not to many people were there yet so we could get some good seats up close. Well mom went on ahead of me between the main aisle and I followed. It wasnt until I saw the huge metal column that was in the aisle and I knew that I was going to have to manage to get past it without making yet another scene. I barely made it through but still I made it. Then mom said that the speakers would probably blow us away where we were sitting and I wanted to be in the sun anyway and she didnt so we moved to the side so she could be shaded and I could enjoy the sunshine. The show was great so much so that I decided to buy one of their CDs. I also had mom take some pictures of me with them (but not in that scooter). They signed my CD and off we went toward the train that we really wanted to ride. We were there when I realized that I had left my camera back at the outdoor theater. Mom told me to go back as fast as I could or someone may snatch it up so off I went dodging crowds and running children, as a matter of fact I thought that I was getting pretty good driving that thing. I finally made it back, shaking a little from all of the traffic that I passed and praying that my camera was still there. Down the center aisle I go looking only at the crew on stage getting ready for their next set. They saw me coming and all of them smiled (probably thinking that I was back for another CD) but then all of the sudden I had forgotten about that dang metal beam in the center of the aisle and ran right square in the middle of it!!! Not just once but several times it was like I was riding in a bumper car, the embarrassment of my new wheels were bad enough but I was determined that I was going to go through just like I did the first time but to no avail, one of the cousins came off the stage and helped me, it was the good looking one to of all people. (Im married but that doesnt make me blind) He got my camera for me and helped me make my way out. So off I went as fast as I could again to get back to mom and to make sure that we didnt miss the next train ride. Luckily I made it and also got to see a funny magic show as we were waiting. The train ride was nice and I was relaxed, after all I couldnt hurt anyone just sitting on a train with my scooter waiting for my return. I told mom that we needed to get some shopping in so we headed out with one thing in mind spend some money. In one shop I found a cute little black bear that was fishing and got it. We made our way from store to store then we came across a leather shop and I told mom that I would really love to find me a nice but simple leather purse so we went in and the store was overflowing with leather goods. Mom went to look for a fanny pack and I went to find a purse. I found it but it was a little to high for me to reach so I held on to one of my handles and stood up to grab the bag that I liked, little did I know but it was the gas handle that I was holding onto but luckily it didn't move much so I was safe. Mom came over and I showed her my purse and she showed me the fanny pack that she liked but wanted my opinion on it. I told her that she should find one that had a bigger pocket rather than all the little pockets and so as she went to turn back to go look again she bumped into a huge round rack hanging full of leather coats and the things came crashing down and coats were laying everywhere!! All that my mom could say was "Oh Lord Oh Lordy" The store owner came over and told her not to worry about it that he would get them back up for her so she went back to look for the fanny pack and I set there trying to make my mind up on what color that I wanted to buy. Well I settled for the camel color and went to make my way to the counter when I bumped into that same rack of leather coats and they went flying everywhere again. I panicked and was trying my best to get out of that store and running over everything that was in my way. Mom had just checked out and I really wanted that purse but wasnt sure that I could stand the humiliation of looking the store owner in the eyes but I did any way and mom whispered to me "Lets get out of here" she had a chuckle in her voice when she said it. So I threw the scooter in reverse full throttle and slammed into a whiskey barrel full of umbrellas needless to say that we left that store in a mess. Once I got straightened out, I went as fast as I could to catch up with my mom, I glanced back at the leather shop and saw the owner trying to straighten the mess up that we left and he didn't look real happy to say the least. I never knew that mom could run but let me tell ya you would have thought that she was running a marathon. I'm still not sure if she was running from the embarrassment or from me afraid of what other catastrophe that I was going to cause. It wasnt long after that, that we caught up with my husband and the rest when it started to rain and everyone started running to get out of the park. The asphalt looked like black ice and I just knew that I was going to flatten several small children or old ladies who should have been in scooters themselves, but I made it out ok with my hubby helping me ever so cautiously (Mom had already told him the story about the leather store so it was to late for me to try and smooth that over) The rain came down in buckets and we were drenched by the time that we could catch a trolley but I was glad that someone else was doing the driving for me.

Oh yeah by the way...... Moms hair, well lets just say that she should have rode as many rides as she wanted to because the rain had done more damage than all of the rides in the park would have.

After hearing my story, take a mental note. If you ever decide to visit the Great Smokeys and go to Dollywood...watch out for those people in scooters, cause you should really have to have a license to drive one.