6th Anniversary Trip: Cumberland Falls State Park Resort, Honeybee, KY - August 5-8, 2022

(*Editing still in progress.)

So Mark and I continued our tour of Kentucky State Park Lodges in August, and my apologies - I'm a little delayed in posting these pics (!) - but I had a lot going on, at the time, to include getting bitten by what the doctor(s) have determined by a brown recluse spider at that time!  ((I'll post a picture of it below.)

I didn't even know I was bitten at first, as I was likely bitten in my sleep. (The spider was likely in my bedding, crawling up my leg, biting my upper inner thigh near my groin - ewwww!  Let that be a lesson to you, always check your bedding if staying in the woods or mountains of the Southeast ;)

In fact, I didn't even notice the bite until a few hours later.  I did wake up feeling super run down, wondered if I had COVID for a minute, but went on about my day anyway.  

Two hours later, on the short hike back from the falls, I became short of breath, my heart started racing, I began sweating profusely, and I became nauseous.  I thought I was just dehydrated, came back, took a shower, and found this huge red, sore bump in my inner thigh.  

The next day, it began streaking (cellulitis), so I used my laptop for a virtual doc visit and picked up some antibiotics in town.

The next day, I had a low-grade fever of right about 100, but didn't want to entirely ruin our anniversary, so we went to nearby Laurel Lake for Mark (who misses his Michigan lakes.  I took a quick dip, but mostly lay in the sun, while Mark stayed in it like he lived in it lol. )

By the 4th day, it was clear the antibiotics weren't working, my fever was 101, and it was now purple with two very clear punctate wounds, - which I had incised and drained back in Lexington, went on antibiotics.  I still have a purple area there, in fact, which the doctor said I'll likely always have - fun!

Thus, what few pics I took, I'll finally post here!

(We hope to go back perhaps in the Spring to get better pics and do the place justice :)

Now - the first thing to know, Cumberland Falls is also known as "The Little Niagara Falls," and the only place in the Western Hemisphere that you can see a "moonbow"  (more on that below)  :)

The second thing you need to know is that Dupont Lodge is the oldest of the Kentucky State Park Lodges, having been built by the CCC in 1932 (rebuilt after a fire in 1941).

IMO, though still beautiful, it could use just a tad of renovation without changing the structure - i.e., sandblasting the stone, sealing the windows, and it's super musty.

It's super sad, actually - not sure why it seems they spend the least money on the oldest, most historic of the Kentucky lodges, but it's obvious they do - then again, we went one week after the Eastern Kentucky floods and much money was going to house people at the two Kentucky State Parks in that region, as well as Kentucky State Parks are recently on a strict budget due to COVID budget issues, so that could be part of the reason. 

Regardless, I'm happy anywhere, and Kentucky lodges are super cheap - like $80 to $120-a-night cheap, even in the summer, with cabins starting at $130 to $225.  (We stayed in a little duplex cabin to the side of the lodge for $112 a night.)

Back view of Dupont Lodge and Patio ... 

Dupont Lodge Patio/Cumberland River Overlook ... 

Lodge Lobby ...

We found this little guy outside our duplex cabin - it's a blue-tailed, five-striped skink!  (I'd never heard of or seen one, but apparently, they're very common here.)

About a half-mile hike from the lodge is Cumberland Falls Bridge ... 

... and another 500 feet to Cumberland Falls Gift Shop ...

.. then just a small trail down through the limestone to the falls ... 

The falls were in full force, as you may recall, I mentioned earlier that this was one week after the Eastern Kentucky floods.

And here were some brave souls who at first attempted to get close, then changed their minds lol. 

The stairs back up ... 

FYI, the stairs back up were when I really started to feel the effects of the spider bite, and sat down a bit, thinking I was just dehydrated - nope!

A little plaque dedicated to the "moonbow " ... 

More information about the Cumberland Falls Moonbow can be found HERE, but the short version is, the moonbow is created within the mist of the falls, but only on clear days for one or two nights at the beginning and the end of a full moon :)

Cumberland Falls Moonbow (not my photo).

And here's another colorful pic of sorts, though not as pleasant - the aforementioned presume brown recluse spider bite on Day #4!

Pretty, right?!?

Yeah, not so much.  All good now though!

Happy Fall! :)

 

A naturally fall-colored Sheltie (Brookie), sleeping in her favorite spot -  amongst the pumpkins and gourds in her usual spot by the fireplace :)

Happy Fall! :)

Buddha, Benevolence, and Boundaries :)

* Edited - I have added the word "Buddha" to my title since first writing it last night, as well as added a photo - for why, see below.

_______________________________

Well, since I have finally made the connection between my "old" family and my "new" family (after DNA revelations) as of Friday,  it's now up to both sides to decide how much contact they want with each other.

Thus, I think I'm now going to step back a bit and get out of their way :)

However, 5 things I think we all could do better on -  myself included?  

1)   Let's give others the same benefit of the doubt we'd like for ourselves. 

As I mentioned before, there is no guidebook for this one; in fact, it's a pretty rare situation.  Emotions  are high, and there are going to be hiccups sometimes as a result - so let's give others the same benefit of the doubt we'd like for ourselves? :) 

2)    What can be exciting for one person might be overwhelming for someone else -  so it might be in everyone's interest to slow down.    

 

Plus it takes time to get to know each other, trust especially takes time - and we do have time :)

 

3)  If we set boundaries and expect people to respect them, as well as that they respect our privacy, then we should do them same for them. 

 

For example, if someone says, "I need time to absorb this" or "I need a breather," that's a boundary - let's respect that and not push past it.

Everyone processes things differently and at different speeds and that should be allowed, plus we all have other responsibilities to attend to than this. 

 

4)  Though it's true that the wishes and feelings of the two people most affected by this are paramount, the wishes and feelings of both of those people are equally important - or at least they should be. 

 

Similarly, neither person grew up in a vacuum - they have other people around them who are also affected by this -  and their feelings are valid, too.  

 

5)  Just as the hospital error made 79 years ago isn't the fault of either family, it's also not anyone's job to "fix" this situation or "rescue" anyone from distress caused by it.   

In fact, all of us pulling together couldn't actually fix it - that would take a time machine lol.

 

All we can do is accept it, give as much support as we can that's not to our own detriment or to our other responsibilities, find ways to heal, and move forward. 

That doesn't mean we ignore the past or pretend it didn't happen,  because acknowledging the past, feeling it, and talking about it are how we learn, as well as an important part of the healing process - but we can't fix it, only heal from it, which takes time. 

 

As Buddha said (whom I don't worship, of course, I am a Christian, but I also think pearls of wisdom can be gleaned from all faiths) ...

In other words, let's not waste time and make suffering worse by speculating on all whys, who's and hows - that only allows the toxins more time to embed themselves deeper   - "First, take the poisoned arrow out and heal"  

Much love to all  xo

PS Update: Clarification of Miscommunication ...

 

I did not understand that the response my mother/family gave to Marian, told to me yesterday, was actually from July, not currently, until just now.  

The aforementioned "new" family member has since agreed to wait for a current response from my mom before attempting to contact her. 

There is no guidebook for how to properly handle a new DNA revelation, plus miscommunication happens easily in text/emails - regardless, everyone is sincerely trying to help and doing the best we can  :)

_______________________

UPDATE:  I was informed today that Marian informed my mom of the full DNA picture today.

Thus, I'll be hiding under my bed in a hard hat for the next couple of weeks, since it was my DNA test that uncovered it.

Just kidding - mostly -  I'm told she actually took the news quite well, I'm quite proud of her :)

(And yet I'll have the hard hat nearby just in case lol).

Marian was the best person for that job, delivering the news in the most gentle of ways.

Thanks to all, team effort!

Plato's Cave Allegory? So I Tried One Last Time Today ...

 

To reach out to my family through Marian about my DNA results.   

I told our new family members that I'd try one last time, but I didn't want to push them.

Family, if you're reading, and you have any doubts, there is a way to prove this you know  -  you can take a DNA test yourselves through Ancestry.com to see who you match with and who you don't. 

You can't argue with genetic assays, scientific evidence.

All I can say is, you don't know what your missing -  our newly discovered family is wonderful, truly a blessing - and they'd really love to talk with you :)

One is a retired family physician, another is a published author, others are IT consultants - these are not frauds or kooks, they're highly intelligent people.

I was thinking about this situation today and it reminded me of Plato's Cave Allegory.

Though now unchained, some prefer to stay in the cave, stay in darkness, blindness, and false reality because it's familiar - the devil they know is better than the one they don't.   

Others take the risk, emerge out of the cave into the light and truth.

I'm not a cave-dweller -  I like truth and light -  even if it hurts my eyes at first.  Perhaps this is the difference between us.

*Sigh* 

But fine, suit yourselves, I won't ask again - stay in darkness, clinging to a false reality, if it makes you happy, but I doubt it does. 

It makes me super sad that you will miss out this experience, which has been truly a blessing, but I won't try again :(

___________________

PS - I do need to add that the family has graciously accepted and respected your final decision not to know more, with the exception of just one family member. 

If this person contacts you anyway, please know that I  encouraged this person to accept your "no" boundary today as a final decision on the matter, that you do not wish to know more.

RIP, Loretta Lynn ... and Thank You ...

 

... for giving a voice to the too-often forgotten "coal people" of Appalachia (from which I descend, on my father's side) - especially the women - all the "coal miners' daughters" (and granddaughters) :)

She was an icon, here, in Kentucky, having been born and raised in Johnson County in Eastern Kentucky. 

She passed peacefully in her sleep, at age 90.

American Invincibility Complex, Part 2 - Exhibits B and C ...

Jim Cantore almost getting taken out by a tree branch (two posts below) was Exhibit A.  In his case, I have no idea what his politics are, it's just the general invincibility attitude - but we definitely know with these guys.

Exhibits B and C - American Invincibility Complex Strikes Again!

??? 

What the ???

Yeah, good luck with that - because it clearly works to stop hurricanes lol.

And let me get this straight, "F Biden" Guy -  are you blaming Biden for the hurricane too or-?

"Damn that Satanic warlock, Biden, conjuring up and steering them hurricanes, B'God!"

(Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo - BOING!) 

No, Dear - presidents, and humans in general, are not powerful enough to control hurricanes. 

However, I DO think we should've named the hurricane "The Donald" instead of Ian -  not only because of the devastation it left in its wake, but because it somehow managed to get the Jan 6 congressional hearings postponed ;)