Icewind's Ramblings

Helen Georgia originally was primarily a logging town and community that fell on hard times in the mid to late 1960’s.  I think it was almost bankrupt when the town resurrected itself as a replica of a Bavarian Alpine town.  Not in Germany or Bavaria but in the Appalachian mountains in Georgia instead of the Alps. The city changed their zoning and building codes in 1969 so everything was designed and transformed into that classic south German style which is present in every building within the town of Helen.  Even the couple of national franchisees locations of Wendy’s and Huddle House share the Alpine theme. A town corporation was formed, land bought to maintain the desired alpine atmosphere and shortly it seemed the tourists were flocking to the area. I have a friend who I had not seen since my twenty year high school reunion invite me up to say hello and also see the area once again after so many years.  Much has changed but many of the old country stores and...

It has been over twenty years since I left Atlanta and so much has changed during that time.  The Atlanta that I knew growing up can hardly be found anymore.  Much of the buildings that were icons of the sixties and seventies are now gone, replaced by some bland and faceless building or space. A few icons remain, The Varsity on North Avenue Polaris restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and the Peachtree Plaza hotel, but many are no longer all over town.  Some of the more familiar that I grew up with living originally in downtown Atlanta in area near Georgia Tech and North Avenue called Techwood are gone now.  Much of this area was demolished and rebuilt during the building phases for the Olympic Village prior to the 1996 Summer Olympics.  We lived just down the street from what are now Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Aquarium. Icon buildings along the then four lane freeway were the Noland and the Wilson Jones building with the fa...

Saying goodbye to everyone who gathered in our “friends playing with friends” group was hard for everyone and the buzz about next year’s gathering in Seattle was already starting. I was able to take a tour in the ATV with Ian around the farm before leaving Monday morning.  We drove through several fields seeing the various groups of cattle grazing.  The interesting thing was what you saw from Ian and Amy’s farmhouse was only a very small part of the farm.  It went past several hills, across a road and had multiple houses for family members, ponds, and different types of things growing. It was great seeing all the things happening on a working farm. I’m leaving Kentucky for a drive to Virginia to see my oldest daughter and her family.  It has been way too long since I have seen them so it was a day of anticipation and a great feeling going into the Appalachia Mountains once again. The mountains in other parts of the country have a stark contrast with sharp edges,...