From Roanoke to Sevierville, Tennessee.
Before I left Roanoke this morning I took a tour in the daylight, and took a few shots. It’s a nice looking small city with a lot of nice features.
Then, leaving Roanoke and Virginia behind, I travelled about 250 miles south, to Sevierville, Tennessee, for obvious reasons. The journey down was uninteresting as I took Interstate 81 all the way, because more local roads would have added 2 hours to the journey, and I wanted to get here so I’d have some time to look around.
Bev was here with Kaye, Marguerite, and Sam in 1997, also for obvious reasons. Here’s a photo of Bev and Kaye taken by Marg in front of the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center, taken by Marguerite. I looked everywhere for that sign, and finally found that it has been replaced with a new one, although in the same location. I mean, it has been 27 years. It was time for a new sign.
Sevierville, “Gateway to the Smokies,” is a really lovely small town. Actually, it isn’t that small, and covers a lot of territory, with Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg just down the road, as well as the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It’s well kept and is nice looking – despite the strip quality of the road leading into it, and out toward Pigeon Forge, with endless theme parks and tourist attractions… the largest and most famous of which is Dollywood, which opened in 1986. Sevierville is the home of Dolly Parton, who grew up here. Here’s her statue in downtown Sevierville.
The downtown area is small, but pretty, and well maintained. As you can see, clean as a whistle. Even my motel was a notch or two over the others I’ve stayed at so far.
I released some more of Bev’s ashes here in Sevierville, not only because Bev was here but because Sevierville is her namesake. Now part of Bev really is here in Sevierville. I released some of Bev’s ashes in Sevierville City Park, a lovely park and well maintained, like the city. It has lovely grounds with a pool and small waterpark, as well as tennis and pickleball courts that people were using, despite temperatures in the low 90’s.
After spending time driving and walking around the city, I took a drive out to the National Park, and as I approached it, around Pigeon Forge I could see the magnificent Smoky Mountains looming in the distance. Lovely to live in a town surrounded by such dramatic magnificence. I drove for a short while through part of the park, but not too much as the day was coming to an end. Beautiful.
Bev was everywhere for me in Sevierville. Just seeing her name everywhere. It was a lovely time for me.
Then back to the motel (which really was pretty decent this time), and writing up this blog. So far, the journey is off to a good start and going well, and it feels pretty good to be doing this. I do feel I’m on a bit of a pilgrimage after all.
Tomorrow, I’m heading to Jerry and Melissa in Versailles (called “versale” in sophisticated Kentuckian), and looking forward to that, about 4 hours north west of here.
I’ve been thinking a lot about our relationship, Bev and me, and the love we shared for so long, even before we became an actual couple, in December 1979. We were housemates before that, since 1973, but great friends. Our friendship and the love we shared as friends was the foundation for our relationship as life partners, which is what we were.
Before she and Marguerite moved from Westbury, NY, to San Francisco, Bev wrote and illustrated a wonderful story for me called, “Is It Fission or Fusion,” signed by Beverly Ann Marie Sevier Rich (we had been married for over 6 years by then, a selfless act on Bev’s part that allowed me to stay in the U.S.). Following the story (which is wonderful and funny, just like Bev), Bev wrote a hand written note, which I re-read last night.
It said, “My dear Phil. I hope that whenever you look at this you will remember how much I love you and you will smile.” She described “being able to easily express my love for you and receiving such warmth and love from you,” and concluded by writing, “I take so much of you in my heart with me when I leave that I know when I touch upon it, it will make me feel happy and strong.” Those were really prophetic words, that lasted our lifetimes. I did remember how much Bev loved me and I did smile when I re-read the story, and Bev’s words touched me very deeply (more tears). Bev meant when she left for San Francisco, but I hope when Bev did leave for the very last time, just five months ago, our love did help her to feel happy and strong.
It was in that hand written note that Bev reminded me of the quote I mentioned at the start of this blog: “Going on means going far. Going far means returning.” That’s what this journey is about: going far and going back, returning and re-visiting, experiencing Bev and our lives together through our history.
When we lived together as housemates for the first time in 1973, just a few months after we moved into 409 Fulton Avenue in Hempstead, we were bantering back and forth in fun across the bannisters on the second floor landing of the big old gothic Victorian house, and Bev famously (in my mind, at least) said, “you’re not going to get the better of me, Phil Rich.” More prophetic words. Who knew we’d be together all our lives, or that I did get the better of Bev, in that I got the very best that Bev had to give, changing me and helping me become the person I am. What a partnership and love we had, lasting over 50 years.
Okay, enough. It’s 12:30 am and time for bed. Kentucky, and Jerry and Melissa tomorrow (actually today).