Juliebird Visits Tennessee

We were thrilled and honored recently to have our friend and fellow ACJA member, Julie Durand of San Jose, California, pay us a visit in our home. My husband, Johnny, and I met her at the Nashville airport on Tuesday, April 25. Even though we had seen pictures of each other, had talked on the phone and chatted with each other online, we had never met in person. As we were standing waiting for her to enter the main part of the terminal, we watched as everyone passed by us, and Johnny and I secretly wondered what if we wouldn't recognize each other and if she might walk right by us as the other passengers had done. Of course, that did not happen. As soon as she was in our sight, I pointed her out to Johnny, and at about the same time, she saw us and started waving. All three of us hugged each other as dear friends who hadn't seen each other in years...and that was the way it felt!

On the way to our home from the airport, we thought we should introduce her to classic Southern cuisine right away. Where else to get the feel and flavor of the South but Cracker Barrel. Julie had never been in a Cracker Barrel, and when she asked us what was good on the menu, all I could say was "everything"! She made an excellent choice by ordering the Chicken and Dumplings.

After we arrived at our home later that night and placed her luggage in the guest room, one of the first things she wanted to see was our jars. Of course, she had to see in person her namesake jar. For those of you who are not familiar with our collection, my husband collects chicken cookie jars...not just any chicken cookie jars, but "unique" chicken cookie jars. He also gives some of them the names of the friends we have made on the cookie jar chat. Julie's namesake jar is a Lefton.

Since Julie had only been to Tennessee once before (last May to Nashville to the Cookie Jar Show), I wanted to show her as much of the area as time allowed. We did quite a bit of driving around...or what is more commonly called "the tourist thing". Together, we toured places I had known about but never visited. We did very little shopping, but when we did, we discovered we had stores in common...they just had different names. Julie also enjoyed the people who worked in the businesses in the area, especially since she discovered they really do say "Y'all Come Back". Not only did we show her the countryside, we also showed her the numerous chicken farms we have in the area. She got a "bird's eye view", so to speak, of the different operations involved in raising chickens. I felt that was quite appropriate for her second day in Tennessee since she had eaten chicken the night before! We also introduced her to more local delicacies, such as catfish and hushpuppies and real Tennessee barbecue. She loved the tranquility of the countryside as compared to the city life to which she is accustomed. Her morning cup of coffee seemed to take on new meaning as she stood on the back porch of our home and just listened to the birds singing instead of the noise of traffic. Late in the evening, as part of our usual routine, Julie watched the catfish in the pond come up to the surface to eat as I tossed their food in the water, and she also made friends with the donkeys. Of course, we knew they would love her and she them.

Friday night was her last evening in our home; we were saddened to think the visit was coming to a close so quickly. As a special commemoration of her visit to our home, Julie honored us by autographing her namesake jar. She made the name of the jar official by signing it "Juliebird - 4/28/00".

Our visit was not just about cookie jars. As we talked the days away and talked far into the nights, we discovered more in common than cookie jars. We discovered we had "life" in common. Although we are separated physically in distance by over 2,500 miles, we are as close to each other as next door neighbors. We have the same situations in daily life as everyone else. But, more than that, we have something in common so precious, so valuable, that it can only be described in one word.....friendship.

As time neared for her flight back to California on Saturday, we didn't want to say goodbye. Our visit had been so short. Yet, we packed into those days what seemed like a lifetime of friendship. We stood in the airport waiting and talking. It was time for her to board her plane; we all hugged again. Thanks, Julie, for coming into our lives and into our home.