Friday October 24 2008 by Leland.

Thursdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm the Racoon Valley Escapees has a Blue Grass Jam Session.  A group of local folks along with anyone from the park who think they have music in them gather in the office and make music. 

This was our last evening here in the Knoxville area and I decided to check it out.  What a great time I had.  There was a guy with a mandolin, a guy who played banjo and guitar, a gal who played guitar, a bass and a mouth harp (he couldn’t play for squat.) and so on.  They played a combination of blue grass classics, gospel blue grass, pop and other music.  It was cool.

This woman played “The Unicorn song.” along with a couple of Tammy Winette type songs.  Good voice.

The young gal with the white shirt and red pants in this photo was one of God’s Angels on earth.  She was having a birthday and turned 21.  Laurie is what we call retarded.  One guy next to me said “it’s a shame.”  I told him I disagreed.  She loved the music and when a good rousing song like “Rocky Top.” started up she was up dancing.  Now her physical impairments made her dance just a shuffle/stomp but she hooted and danced as the music moved her.  She was happy, she didn’t care what she looked like or what people might think of her.  She is, to me an example of what I should be more like.  God Bless you Laurie.

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Friday October 24 2008 by Leland.

Wednesday was Zoo Day for us.   I knew this was a city zoo when I saw this critter staked outside for display!  :)  Just kidding. 

We saw the big animals and the small as we went through.  I loved the Butterflies, as you might guess.

We used the timer button to get one of the rare “both of us” photos so thought we’d use it as we turned our backs on the Zebras.

Folks walking by were nice enough to stop and let us get the shot.  Nice people everywhere.

The Montana Bear Connection?  We found this exhibit (PC word for cage) empty with this sign.  What a coincidence!  This bear has moved to Billings Montana.  Someone should go out and see how he is and tell him hello for us.

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