DAY RIDE 4/4/2025
  
 

Dealing With A Heavy Heart

  
 
April 4, 2025
  
   
  On March 24th, we buried my only daughter, Nikki, at the age of 48. A parent never expects to be standing above the casket of their child. It just seems like it violates the natural order of things but life is what life is. At this point I just need to get some wind in my ears and mull things over a bit. SweetTreat will be my companion for the day.
   
  We've had some bad storms that knock down trees in the Holler, but finishing that clean up will just have to wait.  
   
  And I've got stacked up firewood to move to my wood racks, but that will have to wait also.  
 
  The Harpeth River which is near the Holler is really rising as there has been a ton of rain falling in the last few days.  
   
 

I make my way to Eddie's, my place of choice for a breakfast biscuit or two and gas if I need it. Bobby, who is from India, greets me with as smile -

"Ah, the man who is living the life!"

When I stop here, we usually talk about my motorcycle travels and adventures. To him, I am enjoying what time I have here on earth - and I am. He doesn't know the tragedy I just went through with the loss of my daughter and I am not going to trouble him with it. People have their own heartaches and heartbreaks without me unloading mine on them.
   
  I get my usual breakfast and am in luck this morning as there is a croissant that has not been claimed yet. I pick a couple of drinks and some trail mix to have handy for the ride.  
 
  When times like these come, I usually head for my old friend the Natchez Trace. Some call it boring but I call it peaceful. Usually there is very little traffic and the speed limit is slower so I can get lost in my thoughts without too much danger.
 
  I decide I'll run the Trace down to Highway 50, then 50 west for a while.
 
  I pass by the Littlelot cutoff which is a really good road. It will take me to highway 100 and where I'm headed but I decide to continue on Highway 50.
 
  Either way will get me to Centerville which is kind of the direction I am aiming for.  
   
 

Centerville's claim to fame is that it was the home to the Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl, who 'hailed' from a little place just down the road known as 'Grinders Switch'.

Pearl drew much of her comic material from her hometown of Centerville, which she called Grinders Switch. Grinders Switch was a community just outside Centerville that consisted of little more than a railroad switch. Those who knew her recognized that the characters were largely based on actual Centerville residents.

 
   
  I figure I'll head off on Highway 438 - which used to be the old Highway 50 route before it was 'improved'.  
   
  It's a lovely piece of asphaltic pleasure for the motorcyclist with good pavement, lots of changes in elevation and direction.  
   
  It passes through the small village of Coble, once known for its pottery but now just about forgotten.  
   
  The continuous curves help to keep my focus on the ride before me instead of my heavy heart.
   
  I make a stop at the Cane Creek Market as they have lots of interesting local stuff.  
   
  They also have carpenter bee traps made out of cedar and made locally. I have a couple and they work very well so I plan on getting some more while I'm here. Those pesky bees drill perfectly round holes into wood and then crawl inside and begin to destroy the wood. I've had them wreck a stair riser on my deck that I had to replace.  
   
  With that bit of purchasing out of the way I head toward Highway 13. The Buffalo River is also almost out of its banks like the Harpeth.  
   
  Highway 13 will take me back south and intersect with Highway 100 somewhere along the line.  
   
 

I pass by what looks like an active chert pit. For those not familiar with the stuff -

Chert rock is a hard, microcrystalline form of quartz that often appears as gravel and pebbles in stream beds and other areas. It's a common rock type, sometimes used in construction and road surfacing due to its durability and ability to compact.

It is often used for driveway and some country roads as it packs down nicely.

  
 
  I reach Highway 100 and decide I'll take it to return to the Holler today.  
   
  It takes me back through Centerville, so I decide I'll make a little 'run' around the town square.  
   
  Highway 100 is nice, smooth two lane that runs from Nashville to Memphis. It was one of two choices before the interstates if you had to travel between those two cities.  
   
  It also takes me right by the cemetery where we laid our precious daughter to rest. I take a turn off and pass by this little waterfall on the way back to the Holler.  
   
 

It reminds me that life goes on and that life is unpredictable as the way the water drops fall off the rock. But my Kind Heavenly Father also reminds me -

Things are all right in my Father's House
Where sorrows and grief never come in
Where the Son of Righteousness is the light
And His Children dwell in peace within.

Things are all right in my Father's House
Where great joy and great happiness reign
Where sin is no more and hate is no more
And His Children are no more in pain.

Things are all right in my Father's House
Where I have dear folks waiting for me
Those who have gone on sometime before
That my broken heart's longing to see.

Things are all right in my Father's house
Where He stands with His Arms open wide
His Son paid the price on Calvry's Dark Hill
If you will you can come on inside.

  
   
   
 
THE END