Sun 29 July – 9754 Steps
David sarted off with a(nother) short cycle and after we packed up, we went to the Cracker barrel for brunch.
Crackerbarrel is one of our favorites. We have been to 3 and have not been disappointed. They have a winning formula. The décor is nostalgic, with wooden rockers (for sale) on the porch. Then you walk through the gift shop, which is arranged in themes. One for the state/town you are in, Halloween, seaside, etc. Then there is loads of ‘old fashioned’ candy. They have souvenirs, books even audio books. The clothes are all seem to be made in China, but look good. In the back corner is the entrance to the restaurant, you give your name and browse through the shop while you wait for your table. It is very busy. You get a huge meal of good food for comparatively little. I have taken a ‘to-go’ box after each meal. I love it because I also get a moral boost. Every time I have been, I have been thin by comparison to the majority of the customers and staff. I guess I won’t be if we keep going to eat there.
We drove through to Louisville, Kentucky and crossed the Ohio river into Indiana where we were camping. The campground there is closest to the concert venue even though it is in a different state. They did not get good reviews, which were accurate, we were packed like sardines in a tin, but it was only 1 night.
Later, we went into town and spent an hour at the Mohammed Ali Centre. It is an awesome museum and I learnt so much about him, his attitude to woman and whites in his early years (not great); conversion to Islam; his refusal to go to Vietnam and his subsequent ban from boxing and his comeback. They also have a wonderful interactive display of a village in Zanzibar set up to teach people more about Muslim life. Unfortunately, they close at 5 and we had to leave. We could easily have spent more time there.
We walked to the KFC Yum arena, stopping for drinks and a bite on the way. I had chicken wings. I am quite certain they have crossed chickens with turkeys here, because those wings must have come off a very large bird. They were yummy.
As for the concert, it was epic. Cyndi Lauper opened. I admit, when she came on, it was a bit of a shock. She looked old, with a messy, grey bedhead and a little stoned. I was worried she was going to fall over. But she warmed up and took charge of the stage. She was able to shake her body, get up and down on to the speakers and chairs when she came down into the audience and her voice is still amazing. She brought tears to my eyes. (Ok, I know that is not hard) I was lucky to have an aisle seat, so could dance away. I loved it and the years just melted away.
Then the ever young Sir Rod Stewart came on. His warmth and sense of fun fills the stage. He had us eating out of the palm of his hands. He did a good mix of his songs, both rock and acoustic. Also had quite a few costume changes, it was very hot. More tears and dancing. Incredible performance.
Chuckle of the day: So many churches in the area and some adult entertainment as you leave town.
What I learnt: Retirement is something many yearn for, but it did not always exist. If you were alive you worked. In 1881 Otto von Bismarck, of Prussia, presented the radical idea of government-run financial support for older members of society. In other words, retirement. Manadotory age for retirement is the real issue. Some people do their best work after 60, but then should they step aside for the younger generation? Apparently not if you are a president.
For someone like David, if you can afford to, it is essential to leave the stress behind before it kills you. For Rod Stewart (and Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, etc), imagine if they were told you are 65, you must now retire! I can’t imagine these guys are performing because they need the money. Rather because they still can and they still enjoy it. I believe it keeps them young. So 2 of my beliefs I have reaffirmed:
First prize is to make a living doing the thing you love, then you can slow down as you get older, not stop.
Second, if you do retire, don’t stop completely. Find something that you enjoy doing that gives you purpose other than relaxing. It will keep you young.
Kim's journey 