i will always love you

i just didn't know.
i didn't know that a place like this existed anywhere besides my wildest dreams.
it's like a blending of vegas (sans slots and gambling), disney (sans mouse), old school ferris wheel/carnival land mixed with a smidge of highway winery tours, a smattering of suburbia (TGIFridays, bubba gump shrimp, outback), a throw back to nostalgic hotel/hotels (the Family Inn--i didn't know they even existed anymore--check out that logo!), a free standing log ride, christmas/winter Lights on steroids, and, of course, Dolly. oh, and gift shops (yeah, some of you are going to be getting real treats!).

it's going to take all the restraint i have to attend the conference on stewardship and not go to dollywood.

mom's come up for the night. we're at the conference/retreat center that makes a shoney's inn look high class. but it's okay. and i have an old person's bathroom chair in the bathroom in case i feel like sitting down while i shower, so you can all breathe a sigh of relief, knowing i'm safe in the shower.

here's the weird thing: it's a ghost town. the season doesn't start for another month. i arrived much later than i had planned (major traffic and weather on the drive down). so at 10 PM, i was the only person on the street. and the restaurants had all closed. i'll be curious to see what it's like tomorrow. but even in its ghost town state, it's still ablaze with flashing lights--snowflakes, doves, dancing angels--and promises of personalized mugs featuring dolly and her assets, dinner shows with country music impersonators, and the hope of finding salvation along side the road.