I head out as soon as I wake up so I don’t have to wait too long for the doctor. I get in right away and he confirms that it’s probably just allergies and writes me a prescription for drops. Pick those up and head back to the hotel to have breakfast with Lee. Stacey and Betsy get theirs to go and head out with mom to visit Aunt Vivian. I get my suitcase mostly packed up, change and head out to run along the 2.5 mile trail that circles the golf course. It’s a beautiful trail through tall trees and has a great, undulating path.
What I’m done, mom and dad are having lunch in the bar, so I join them for a glass of tea and a chat. Then I shower and jump in the car with Ashley and Ashton. As we park, Hyman is loading Aunt Lorraine into a golf cart and he and I walk up to the garden together. So much family and friends. Elise comes and I burst into tears…I don’t know why I hadn’t thought about her being there. She worked for Grandma for years and years and is sweet as pie. We get her into a chair in the shade and everyone is chatting, snacking and drinking lemonade.
Speeches start and Dan traces grandma’s history in organic farming and the President of Duke also discusses the history of the gardens. It’s really impressive when you consider the other two women who are honored in this way, and the list of classes that will be held in grandma’s garden is already up. Too bad I won’t be around for the one on backyard composting!
Around 4 are tours of the garden, but I elect to go with Hyman (here he is with his two stand-in sisters):
to take Aunt Lorraine back to the hotel so I can really get some good time talking with him. But first, a picture of the whole family (the building behind us is an original tobacco barn):
The we head back, with a quick stop at the Duke bookstore, and then repair to the back porch overlooking the golf course, drink coffee and eat snacks and really catch up. A little after 5 everyone else starts showing up and our circle gets larger and larger. A little after 6 we adjourn to our private room for cocktails before dinner. Everyone is smiling and happy to be together. It’s nice when these occasions occur on a somewhat regular basis. I don’t stay up too late because it’s an early morning tomorrow, but Lee comes back to our room and we chat until I finally have to hit the hay.