Braggin’ Rights

You know someone has had a fabulous vacation when they come home with braggin' rights. In the Smoky Mountains region that might include, "saw Dolly at Dollywood," "touched a stingray at Ripley's Aquarium," "hiked to Mt. LeConte," or "saw a bear in Cades Cove."

Usually, braggin' rights are documented with a photo and digital cameras have made the process so much simplier and cheeper. And now, thanks to the social media, such as MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, someone's brag can be heard around the world in just a few moments.

Sometimes, braggin' rights come in the form of the unexpected. (Can someone say Susan Boyle?) Last year while my daughters and I were waiting for a ride out of Elkmont, we met Toni, the park ranger. We were returning home with the braggin rights we came for: synchronus fireflies. However, it was our encounter with Toni and her inspiring story that made that evening an unexpected pleasure. Seth Godin might call it a "purple cow."

Last Saturday, some new friends from the AAA Auto Club joined me and my friend Walter for a short, guided hike behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center. There to greet us was our guide, Toni. She can really "wow" an audience with her humor, her heart and her perspective on nature and life.

Along the hike, a young lady out from nowhere with a book in her hand, caught up to Toni and asked for her autograph. (Gathering braggin' rights I'm sure.) Toni's story is now in a book sold at the park's gift shop.

Along the hike, Toni took us to the smallest waterfall in the park, Cataract Falls. One blogger called it "nothing great." Too bad the writer was not on Toni's hike. Someone missed out on a life lesson from a park ranger with cerebral palsy. She reminded us that waterfalls and people don't have to all be alike to be beautiful and useful.

That day, numerous guests on the hike documented their own braggin' rights: standing next to Toni in front of the smallest waterfall in the park. Two unexpected treasures inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Yonder Holler

Yonder Holler Someone once told me that Rockwood, TN had live bluegrass music every Friday night in a place called Yonder Holler. Last night a friend and I decided to take a 40 minute drive from Knoxville down I-40 to see for ourselves. What we found were music lovers, on and off the stage, enjoying an authentic Friday night on the town.

When we got out of the car, we noticed one of those "welcome to the Academy Awards" search lights in front of a former mercantile building lighting up the Roane County sky. Music playing through a sound system on the side walk was inviting us to enter this aged building.

Inside, we discovered old time pickin' and grinnin' on a stage surrounded by antique radios. Three of the "locals" were literally dancing a circle around the audience seated in chairs of every shape and color. Most of the people were retired, however one young attorney stopped by in his shirt and tie to get his bluegrass "fix."

The owner of the building not only runs the sound, but also walks around with a video camera, projecting close up shots of the players and the audience to on the screens behind the stage.

One of people we sat next to said that one of the fiddle players also made instruments for so pretty well-known musicians. He also pointed out another gentleman in the audience who, he said, had played on the Grand Ole Opry.

All musicians are invited to bring their instruments and participate in one of the many "jam sessions" going on in other rooms throughout the building. That Friday, some of the musicians who normally came to play, must have gone to a ball game. They say that they have as many as eight groups there, and while one group is on stage, others are warming, hoping for invite to perform.

There's no smoking or alcohol allowed, but you can get a piece of homemade pie, hot dog or popcorn to go with your coffee or soda. There is no charge for admission, however a one-time donation is requested each evening.