My dad got angry at me today cause I don't blog enough. Well here you go dad...

We started our beautiful Saturday by sleeping in and going to Harper's Ferry, WV for a day trip. Everyone but Hannah and I had been there before so we had a mixed level of experience in our group. I immediately enjoyed the scenery as soon as we got close to Harper's Ferry. The drive takes you down the Potomac River, eventually giving you a majestic view of Harper's Ferry from a bridge crossing the river. Ah, what a beautiful place! The trees are turning into the golds, reds and oranges of fall and it was simply stunning. I'm convinced a stream runs through my soul as I've always loved a flowing, free body of water. Not necessarily the ocean, but lakes, streams and rivers make me feel so refreshed and full of life. I think it has to do with the life giving properties of such streams and rivers to the wildlife that inhabit the rural parts of our planet.

The town is essentially on a hill, not much parking available as we discovered. A quick drive revealed all the parking full down near the water so we had to drive back up to a visitor center to take a bus ride down to the town center. Upon arrival, I was instantly fascinated with the 'preserved in time' look of the place. Shops on the streets were full of merchandise that you would have seen during pre-Civil War times and offered a material glimpse into what one could expect life to resemble in those times.

The historical aspects of Harper's Ferry got my nerd juices flowing. The barn in which John
Brown and his men were surrounded was still standing. It's always a humbling experience to visit monumental historical sights for me. John Brown's raid helped spark the entirety of the Civil War, along with the abolitionist movement and the changing of our country as a whole. John Brown was a visionary who understood equality values way before other people around him. His visionary approach to life mirrored a future America that hadn't been created yet. Truly remarkable. I purchased a biography of John Brown and his impact on American history, I'm excited to crack it open.

After walking a bit of the Appalachian trail and taking in the beautiful scenery, we walked up the road and got some food to tide us over until dinner. Sweet tea and nachos were on the board for me, while everyone else enjoyed different kinds of ice cream. We then climbed the hill and made it to the Catholic church in the town. Small, but very quaint, it had fantastic views of the river valley. Climbing a bit farther we discovered Jefferson's Rock. It was said that Jefferson himself would come to this rock and exclaim that the views he witnessed there were the best he's ever seen in the world. Worthy praise from an international traveler such as Thomas Jefferson.

I truly enjoyed myself at Harper's Ferry along with my family. I took a quick look into the bookstore and purchased some historical pieces to read further about John Brown and Lewis and Clark's adventures. I'm a bit of a history nerd and must watch myself when I find a historical section of literature.

We road the trolley back up to our car and headed to.....Mealey's Restaurant!!! This deserves much exclamation due to Mealey's being closed for several years. It was a Hamilton family tradition to visit Mealey's for a nice family Christmas dinner. To learn that Mealey's had closed caused tragic heartbreak as Mealey's held a special place in our hearts. But wait! Our drive to Harper's Ferry revealed that Mealey's had reopened in the quaint town of New Market and was open for business. Shocked, skeptical yet very excited we decided to visit for dinner. The decor had changed from an old 'Sir Walter Raleigh' feel as described by my mother, to a more modern restaurant look: more spacious with minimalist furnishings and decoration. The food was decent, the apple butter for the roles and the scallops stole the spotlight from my meatloaf and Hannah's salmon. It was a strange feeling being back in a place that was so beloved by our younger selves. We were able to now look back on the good times of the old restaurant and reflect on how it compared to the new and updated version. We all conceded that the old Mealey's was better than the newer Mealey's but still enjoyed being in the same location. Secretly, I had always had the idea to propose to my future wife in Mealey's, the atmosphere and sophistication being a perfect location, I thought, for a magical event such as a proposal. Sadly, that atmosphere no longer resides in Mealey's. I don't dwell too much on these thoughts, as a proposal will come with my future wife in mind and could really happen anywhere. The future is such an exciting thing to consider.

Our family dinners are always a great time and Mealey's was no exception. We laughed, we dined and when it seems like we can not get any closer, we some how manage to deepen our relationships with each other. My family is a beautiful gift and I must always remember to never take them for granted.


Tim