Music, music and more music

It has been a whirlwind couple of days, and with the exception of being in Memphis, having little to no cell reception.

We went to The Stage in downtown Nashville on Friday. We watched Chris Curtis while we ate lunch. We also walked around downtown and went to visit a vintage record store with Ma's family name.

Then off to Uncle Jim and Ava's. Ma hasn't seen them since the 80's and the family reunion was very touching. They talked about everything from family stories (man did I learn a lot) to what is happening now in their lives and with their children and grandchildren.

On Saturday, we hung out at Elvis' (with a couple hundred others). Graceland was a bit smaller than I thought it was, but the oppulance was just what I was expecting. The awards and performance outfits that lined the former raquetball court were breath taking. We spent about 3.5 hours touring the grounds, listening to the tour, music and the personal stories shared by Lisa Marie (through audio).

We then headed to Holly Springs (based on the recommendation from Kate, who we met in Nashvillle). There are more than a dozen antebellum homes that were spared distruction as this was where several high ranking confederate officers had their homes during the civil war. This was a tour we were able to do from the car and allowed me to cross Mississippi off my list!

We then headed back to Memphis to listen to more live music and they have their own version of Bourbon Street called Beale Street, where there is blues, pop, and rock pouring out into the street, along with the partiers--and we were right in the middle of it all

Legendary Sun Records was on the agenda for today. Upstairs is a museum with photos of the recording artists who made their mark at Sun including Elvis (who was only on contract there for 17 months and whose contract was sold for $35,000 to RCA), the Howling Wolf, BB King and many other blues legends, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. When the studio was reopened in the 80's popular artists of today came back to record in the one room studio and you can even record your own record if you want. They record artists in the evening and give tours during the day. I actually stood where Elvis did.

Our ride to Branson took us through the Ozarks and it is truly beautiful country. The day was a little warm (upwards of 90), but the views were spectacular! Around every turn, and there were a lot of them, there were views of farms and the mountains surrounding them. Try as I might, the pictures just don't do it justice.

We landed in Branson around 9 and have settled in for the evening. I am getting used to having no cell service, but it is getting a bit frustrating.