We left on our vacation on September 26, 1983 to tra- vel through Arkansas, Tennes- see, Georgia and Alabama. The old 73 chevy & 67 Airstream trailer made the 2,500 mile trip quite well- with but a few breakdowns.

With all that anxiety and fear we started on our trip. The first day brought us to Arkansas and some of the best camping spots I have ever seen. Seems like the State Parks were just abandoned except for Maxine and I. One of the first discoveries was Larry's back sure doesn't like the jolting it got in the car but thank goodness for some medi- cation that seen us through. The next day it was on to Tennessee. We were wanting to see a Plantation (Belle Meade) there, but time got away from and we did not make it until the next day.

The

Belle Meade Planta-

tion was a very nice place to visit, we went through each part of it and I could not help but think how nice it must have been to be a woman back in the 1800's with servants to help you with anything. We seen some of the original gowns worn and where the girls sleep.

I was unaware that chil- dren were not allowed into the dining room until they had "learned their manners", eating in a separate dining area. From looking at the small gowns worn by the women of that era it also meant an awful lot of restriction from a very tight corset. I was also amazed to learn that all lace of that era was hand made with a tating needle, a very slow and tedious process.

After our tour of the plan- tation it was off to another

"LEISA'S"

Southern Vacation

place in Tennessee, the Sam Davis house. He was a con- federate who was hung be- cause he would not tell where he got the information he was caught with. Sam decided to die rather than betray his friends and country. This was a great place, not as big as Belle Meade but still large. I could just close my eyes and see all the girls on the porch playing and women in ball gowns dancing to music from a very small orchestra. We even saw the dress "Sam" was christened in, he was so cute in that picture.

That night we stayed in another park and when the sun was up we were off again

to

enter Georgia. We toured another plantation here and even went through some of the nor- mal tourist attractions. We also toured several battlefields (Larry was struck by how the men of that day knew no more than they did in VietNam, what a waste.)

The next three days were spent with relatives in Georgia. These have to be the most friendly, hospitable, and honest people anywhere. All we met seem to be happy and have a great sense of humor. They practice living life just one day at a time.

While visiting, my eye for bargains caught a "lost baggage"

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LEISA-OK-1372-C

store. For those of you who have traveled the great public trans- portation systems of the world and often wondered what hap- pens to your lost suitcases and packages, I am here to tell you I know where they go- Lafayette, Georgia. I was able to spend about $35.00 and end up with new shoes, 3 new dresses, and 2 bathing suits. I was amazed at what all they had at a fraction of the cost (including a wedding dress; which I did not buy.)

As we left the area Leisa sur- faced and upon stopping at a park she was changed and out on the road with Maxine as two trailer-pulling sisters. Our first stop, a welcome center on the Alabama border. Since pulling a trailer is not the kind of thing for a dress, a pair of jeans and blouse with low heels had to do. Since only one wig was brought Leisa had to be a brunette the entire trip, While at the center Leisa broused around the liter- ature and was hip to hip with many other women who I do not believe even suspected. Outside Maxine took a few photos and a Ranger who came walking directly towards us from the in- formation center made Leisa's heart race, but it seems he only went to his truck then back inside.

After an all day drive as Leisa we stopped at a state park