Trip to Bobz and Marilyn Freeman in Asheville

Mother was from Dobson, North Carolina, which is 220 miles from home.  Every summer Mother, Anita, Philip, and I went to stay at Grandmama Freeman's for a week or two.  Daddy drove us down and came to get us as Mother didn't know how to drive back in those days.

Grandmama Freeman and Aunt Mary lived in the big family home.  They started to build it before the Civil WAr but didn't finish it until after the war about 1865.  It was one of those big old houses with the firplaces big rooms - Anita, Philip, and I called it The Mansion.

Mother's brother, Robert Freeman, lived just across the street.  Our 2 first cousins were Bobz and Bill.  They were several years older and we thought - we KNEW - that they were "all that."  

Oh, how we adored them!  There was lots of teasing and tormenting from both sides.  And the poor guys, we hung all over them with cries of, "Pick me  up, pick me up!" 

You can see Bill clowning around.  Philip was really tiny!  This was 1953?

Little Bill, Bobz, and Stashia (my cousin from VA) on their pony.

We were in awe of Bill's Tennessee walking horse named Saxon.

Bobz was famous for his "Monster Walk" and we begged him to do it again and again.  This was when they were visiting us in Virginia a few years back. 

Last summer Maribeth had the idea of us all going to visit Bobz and Marilyn in Ashville.  We did and we thank Maribeth profusely for staying on us and making it happen.

It turned into a mini-family reunion!  This is Marilyn, Bobz, and their baby.

Anita, Phil, Bobz, Marilyn, and Gary visiting in the living room. 

(I had to snap the picture fast because Philip couldn't hold in his stomach any longer!)

Maribeth May and Ellen Krull, my niece.

 Marilyn, Ellen and Anita putting supper together.

The Walker May children, Philip May, Anita May Krull, MaryMay Angelil

 Gary Suter and MaryMay Angelil.  Nice background for a photo.

Yep, he's still "got IT"!!!!!

What a fabulous evening and day, reminiscing, laughing, talking, looking at old photos, and the Southern activity - eating.

Thank you, Maribeth, Marilyn and Bobz.