Asheville

This weekend has been quite possibly the most laid back and relaxed one we’ve had in quite some time. Tank had to travel quite a bit the past weeks and with school starting, it just seems like we’ve not bean able to catch a breather. Today was about R&R and family.

We picked up my Grandmother and Aunt after church and took them to visit Asheville, NC, which is just a few miles from where I grew up, for Korean food and beer. What’s that you say? My Grandmother loves Korean food, having been introduced to it by us. This was my Aunt’s first time, and by the looks of things, it won’t be her last.

I know, I know, “Lisa, your husband IS Korean. Why is this the first time she’s had Korean food?” I can’t answer these questions, but I can say she was nibbling off everyone’s plates and killing the banchan (sides dishes of kimchi, radish, etc.) with rapid-fire movements of her chopsticks.

Afterwards, we headed to Highland Brewery to sample this years Clawhammer Oktoberfest. As always, this Mazen-style lager (toasty, rich, full-bodied) lived up to it’s name. They even had a 20th Anniversary American Saison which was, in a word, sublime. We enjoyed the much cooler weather sitting outside, watching puppies frolic while they trained their humans.

Finally, we meandered home down the old Tryon/Asheville Highway, taking curves much more carefully as my Grandmother, The Kid and Tank were all enjoying a siesta in the backseat of my old trusty sedan. It was amazing to see the changes of once popular tourist areas, still somewhat popular, but looking much more tired and disheveled than normal. After all, this area was the place to film movies at one time: Firestarter, Last of the Mohicans, and, everyone’s favorite, Dirty Dancing.

We told stories of floods past, reminisced over buildings washed away, chair-lifts long forgotten. As we passed the man-made Lake Lure, we discussed it’s nickname and the many reasons we wouldn’t swim in it. Finally, as we headed down Old No. 9 in Polk County to begin the final trek to their home, we discussed real estate development, secret, but not-so-secret, billionaire investments in the area, and changes desperately needed for the people who’ve lived a lifetime in these communities and their stubbornness/pride.

As I headed home, I knew it was a good day. Like Ice Cube “It was a good day” kind of day. I wasn’t stressed. Just happy I’d had the day with my family, even if I did find out my Grandmother loves Celebrity Life Swap and has been watching it for quite some time.