Laura and I have been internet friends for years and years, since 2003. Actually, I thought it was a few years longer, but that's when she joined our loopy group. We've met in person before, when she was living in Colorado, and our family mini-vacationed in Glenwood Springs in 2004. Laura and her girls drove in and we went out for ice cream together.
Look at that! Laura's oldest is married, two of our girls are sophomores in college, and her youngest is in missionary school in Florida. Only Trevor is still being homeschooled, and he's taller than all of us!
Wow.
Fast forward to this week. Laura joined her husband on a business trip into Charlotte.
I've only been to Charlotte once, a couple of years ago with Holly. It's a three hour drive, and there's a scary 6 mile section with steep grade that is terribly susceptible to heavy fog. The colors were gorgeous, an indication of the elevation. There was some fog but nothing too scary.
It was an easy drive right to her hotel downtown. I should've gotten a picture of downtown; it has a few skyscrapers that are quite unique; just lovely.
Based on the weather (rain predicted), we made what seemed like an odd choice for a destination: The Billy Graham Library. I don't know too much about Billy, but I grew up in the age of the televangelist: Jim Bakker, Hour of Power, etc. Not exactly models . . . Laura was a bit skeptical too, but it was ranked the #1 tourist destination in Charlotte by Trip Advisor, it was close to her hotel, and it was free.
The grounds are gorgeous. The "library" (really a tour/museum) is housed here. We didn't really comment on the building, but once we were inside, there was mention of coming in "at the foot of the cross," which we thought was quite clever and lovely. It made me see the entrance through entirely different eyes.
After being warmly greeted and stopping at the information desk, we began the tour with others who had arrived at about the same time. There were more than a dozen rooms to move through, some with videos to watch, others with displays and memorabilia.
You went through pretty much at your own pace, but you also stayed pretty much with your group, as some of the rooms had you stop to watch a larger video. It sounds a bit odd and forced, but it worked, and we felt neither rushed nor slowed.
It was quite well done. The focus was not on Billy Graham but rather on how God used a man to spread His Word and to bring Him glory. It was a tour through Billy's life, his childhood, his marriage and family life, his international travels, his presence in the media on talk shows, etc.
The end of the tour, with a mural by Thomas Kincade. Odd now, but also oddly appropriate . . .
Laura and I tried our hand at more than a few selfies, failing miserably. Hilarious!! There is definitely a learning curve which I don't think either of us will ever master.
Bathrooms. It was my first stop in the building, not surprisingly. These were the biggest bathroom stalls I have ever seen, and first one (and last?) where I've ever taken a picture! Look at this, no squeezing between the door and the wall here!
The sinks were even awesome. Who wouldn't want one of these somewhere in their house? Basement? Dog wash? Baby --heck TODDLER-- bath?!
(Wiped off the smeared lens.)
As we were conscientious of the time, we opted to stay there for lunch. Lovely eating area, sweet servers in the food line, good food, and we spread out in a large booth and chatted for an hour and a half--
--before remembering we still wanted to visit the bookstore and Billy's childhood home, which was also on the grounds.
We again attempted a few selfies, then waited for someone young enough to walk by who could take a picture with a cell phone. (Hahaha!!)
I easily could have stayed for another four hours. It was SO much fun, and I had a really, really great time.
I dropped Laura off back at her hotel and headed for home. I unexpectedly hit some of that scary fog at the pass. I did slow waaaay down, and the visibility was quite low. As we were going uphill though, it was far less dangerous than driving in the fog going downhill. (Every few years, there is a horrible pileup with fatalities on the downhill side.) I just drove with my flashers on, making sure I could see far enough ahead. As I came over the top of the hill--SUNSHINE and blue sky, the first I'd seen all day!
It was an absolutely gorgeous drive home, and I wish Robert had been with me to appreciate the foliage (and take pictures). Breathtaking.
A super fun day, so glad we were able to do this a second time, and hopefully it won't be ten more years before we do it again!
