“The Mountains”

“The Mountains” is not just a special place, it’s a special weekend full of friends who are practically family, that I have been going to off and on for as long as I can remember. 

“The Mountains” experience is a group of my parent’s college friends – that’s really quite a large group overall – that get together twice a year at a house which is referred to as a “cabin,” but has five bedrooms (one with a walk-in closet large enough for a full size mattress to fit inside for someone to sleep on, a patio, a large screened-in porch, a huge living room/den/etc. area, a big dining area and kitchen.  It’s in the mountains of North Georgia – Tate Mountain, to be specific – a tiny community around a lake in Pickens County that holds a special place in all of our hearts.  I got an especially big kick out of how it was described in "Peachtree Road” by Anne Rivers Siddons. 

It holds many fond memories for me as it was always special for “the kids” to get to come to mountain weekend.  Any time I came as a kid, my best friend, Katie, always came too, since her dad and mom were part of the gang that went to college together and made the trek twice a year.  We would walk the trail around the lake, explore the whole area on the mountain because it was so safe, watch scary movies like “The Watcher in the Woods,” visit the weird, tiny old gymnasium just below the lake, take nighttime walks around the lake and through the cemetery with our parents, swim (if it was the May trip and the weather cooperated), play cards, games and  hang out with some of the most fun and interesting group of adults we knew. 

Our parents started the tradition in college ad have loyally gone up to visit with each other and catch up twice a year.  Since my college days and beyond, I seem to be accepted as an invited adult and I’m allowed to visit when I can.  Michael has had the privilege of going with me many times, as well.  So I was very excited to take Libby for her first trip to the mountains this weekend – even if it was just for the day. 

She seemed to love her walk and enjoy meeting everyone.   I know that it will never be the same to her as it is for me, but I’m glad that she’ll get to experience it maybe at least a few times. 

I am so impressed with the gang’s commitment.  I’m proud of my high school gang and that we still keep in touch pretty well – partially through our parents – but we still don’t manage anything like this.  If any readers from this gang have any ideas other than the occasional wedding event, please share them!