"ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER" IS A MUSEUM WORTH VISITING

When in ATLANTA earlier this month my nephew and his wife took us to the ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER in Buckhead. Who knew this TREASURE existed?!

When we first drove up, it looked like a very small MUSEUM, but inside it was actually bigger than expected. It sits on 33 acres with beautiful gardens and other historical buildings.

Most museums are too large for me - I actually get a headache in no time from mentally trying to absorb it all. But this one is certainly manageable and very thoughtfully laid out.

We were fortunate enough to see their special EXHIBIT that opened last year - a 132-YEAR-OLD PAINTING that stands 45 FEET TALL and is longer than a FOOTBALL FIELD! They displayed it "in the round" to create "entertainment" in the 1880's, and called it a CYCLORAMA. It's one of only 2 CYCLORAMAS in the United States.  The other one is in GETTYSBURG, PA. 

When you enter the huge foyer of the HISTORY CENTER, you see details of how this CYCLORAMA PAINTING was meticulously restored to the tune of $8 MILLION. 

Here is a miniature reproduction of the painting, depicting the 1864 BATTLE OF ATLANTA.

Because a CYCLORAMA PAINTING is displayed "in the round", it was truly the introduction of the IMAX in the 1880's. 

This one debuted in 1886 in Minneapolis. It was painted by 17 GERMAN ARTISTS and took 5 MONTHS to complete.

A 12 minute film, overlayed on the painting, is available for viewing on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to 60 visitors at a time. It is terrific!

Near the bottom of the painting artists have added figurines and landscape to make this CYCLORAMA a 3-D EXPERIENCE. So carefully crafted, it's challenging to find where the painting ends and the 3-D addition begins.

In 1939, CLARK GABLE played RHETT BUTLER in the GONE WITH THE WIND movie. It's said that when he saw this CYCLORAMA PAINTING, he asked for a reproduction of himself to be added. You can see him in the forefront of the photo below.

In the center-right of this portion of the painting is the ONLY BLACK SOLDIER in the painting.  

Since the MUSEUM is focused on the HISTORY of ATLANTA, there are multiple rooms throughout the building, each with a different focus.

Housing one of the largest collections in the United States of CIVIL WAR ARTIFACTS, they are artfully displayed and explained.

The TREASURES throughout the museum were collected largely by one family who was PASSIONATE about their local HISTORY. In 1989, in anticipation of the building's 1993 opening, MRS. BEVERLY DUBOSE, JR. donated the family's collection to the HISTORY CENTER.

One section of the MUSEUM that I particularly enjoyed focuses on the FOLK ARTS, such as HANDMADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.......

POTTERY-MAKING......

FURNITURE MAKING.......

 

MARGARET MITCHELL wrote only ONE NOVEL - GONE WITH THE WIND - a story set in the SOUTH during the CIVIL WAR. 

It won the NATIONAL BOOK AWARD for MOST DISTINGUISHED NOVEL of 1936 and the PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION in 1937. 

KU KLUX KLAN artifact. Certainly not a pleasant part of our Nation's History or Present Day, but it's still part of our history....... I give the HISTORY CENTER credit for their BOLD decision to put this on display.

The next time I visit ATLANTA, I'd like to drive through the INMAN PARK area, which was originally part of the battlefield in the BATTLE OF ATLANTA in 1864. 

In the 1880's, as part of Atlanta's FIRST PLANNED SUBURB, the neighborhood featured multiple VICTORIAN STYLE MANSIONS. This suburb was originally conceived of and promoted as a segregated community. 

In the 1950's and 1960's it became economically depressed, however, over the past few decades there has been a RENEWAL of this section of ATLANTA.

And a THROW-BACK to the AMERICAN DINER and ATLANTA's famed COCA-COLA, which originally sold for 5 CENTS a glass......

COCA-COLA was created in 1886 by an ATLANTA PHARMACIST - JOHN S. PEMBERTON! 

Perhaps you'll now be INSPIRED to visit the ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER the next time you visit the city. I highly recommend it!!

JOAN

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT FROM "60 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MY 60's"

A list of "60 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MY 60's" came to life when I was 59 because I was horrified at the thought that I was going to be 60 YEARS OLD!!! I had to do something POSITIVE to take away the "sting" and to turn my negative thinking to POSITIVE THINKING.

The list has changed a bit over the past 8 years as new goals surfaced and others lost their significance. Do the math - I'm supposed to accomplish 6 goals each year over 10 years in order to stay on track. Of course, each year the numbers vary, but after 2019 I'm only up to #37!! I turned 68 last week so, I have some real catching up to do.....  YIKES!!!   

In 2018 I enjoyed completing 7 of them.  

In 2019 I powered through 7 more.  

And in 2020 I have 6 scheduled so far. Very EXCITING AND ENERGIZING!

However, it appears that I might have to RE-TITLE this list to:

"67 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MY 60's AND 70's"

Last year I accomplished the following SEVEN!!:

1.  Take my niece, LESLIE'S FAMILY on a trip to Europe to see PARIS

2.  Take a tour of GETTYSBURG, PA BATTLEFIELDS

3.  Stay in MONTALCINO, ITALY

4.  Tour the inside of the DUOMO in FLORENCE, ITALY

5.  Visit the town of VINCI, ITALY where LEONARDO spent his childhood

6.  Visit ANDREA BOCELLI's hometown, LAJATICO, ITALY

7.  Visit KENTUCKY and experience the KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL

I want to share ONE EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE that evolved from my list. 

For a long time, I have wanted to see ANDREA BOCELLI SING LIVE. I did that last week ON MY 68th BIRTHDAY while in Atlanta!!! Here are a few memories from the show.......

And 2 very short VIDEOS I took....... (click the ARROW to play)

An extraordinary piece of this story happened while in ITALY last year. My friend JOYCE and I left FLORENCE to spend a few nights in MONTALCINO. I planned for us to stop for lunch on the way - in ANDREA BOCELLI's family restaurant in his hometown, LAJATICO.  

  

When we sat down in the restaurant, next to us was a beautiful, white-haired woman. I asked her "Is this the BOCELLI FAMILY restaurant?" She nodded her head and pointed to herself and said, "I'M HIS MOTHER." 

With her permission, a photo of Andrea's mother.

I was so moved by this good fortune that tears started rolling down my face (and I RARELY CRY!). She proceeded to tell us that ANDREA had been in the restaurant the night before, but he was headed to PUGLIA for a performance that evening. She also told us that ALL of the family is talented and SINGS.  

We leisurely enjoyed a delicious lunch with BOCELLI WINE (naturally).

 

It wasn't long into our lunch when our waitress came over to tell us that ANDREA's brother, ALBERTO, who runs the BOCELLI WINERY, was on his way into the restaurant and she would ask him to pose for a photo with us. OMG!!

 Alberto and Andrea Bocelli's photo on the wall.

Me with Alberto Bocelli. The far-right photo is Alberto and Andrea as young men.

Progressive photos of Andrea Bocelli's mother, father, Andrea and brother, Alberto.

ALBERTO was very proud to show off his tall, handsome son to us, who was also in the restaurant, dining with his friends.

After lunch, still HIGH from our chance meeting with ANDREA BOCELLI's FAMILY, JOYCE and I drove by the AMPHITHEATER that ANDREA built for his concerts in LAJATICO. The stage is in the background where the STATUE stands. Can you imagine?!!

Needless to say, seeing ANDREA BOCELLI singing LIVE on stage (on MY BIRTHDAY no less) only 5 MONTHS after visiting his hometown and meeting his MOTHER, BROTHER and NEPHEW was a real HIGHLIGHT in my life. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been PROACTIVE by creating my "wish-list" - 

"60 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MY 60's"

I DO realize that I am incredibly BLESSED!!!

JOAN

INSPIRED TO SHARE A "RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS"

A few days ago I wrote about RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS - my personal EXPERIENCES and STRONG BELIEF that the UNIVERSE is ABUNDANT with GOODNESS.

A very good friend of mine, LISA told me that MY BLOG POST had INSPIRED HER TO PARTICIPATE.  She said she's not sure she would have "acted in the same way" had she not just read my BLOG and it was still on her mind.  YES!!

LISA was standing in line to pay at the grocery store. An older woman in front of her was having a difficult time in many ways. She was searching in her purse for an extra $10 to pay her bill. As a result of pulling things out of her purse, receipts and little scraps of paper were falling on the floor and each time she had to stoop to pick them up. Her items were toppling and she was getting quite frazzled and distraught. The people in line were being patient and the store clerk was also VERY PATIENT and KIND.

LISA said, "The next thing I knew, I reached into my wallet, pulled out a $10 BILL and handed it to the clerk. Seeing that this poor woman was OUT OF SORTS and needing some help, I really didn't think about it, I just reacted." 

She said that it was TRULY A NATURAL REACTION, however, she's not sure she would have done it so quickly, had she not just read my BLOG. Naturally, she did it because "IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO" - but it WAS a GENEROUS ACT OF KINDNESS. She felt good about it afterward (a GIFT to herself, right?) and I'm sure the woman (and also the people in line behind her) were appreciative and relieved.

My heart is SO FULL, knowing that what I was INSPIRED TO WRITE had a POSITIVE IMPACT on the UNIVERSE, even if in the smallest way. 

KINDNESS - it IS so NATURAL. I hope we ALL feel more and more inclined to SHARE KINDNESS wherever we go, whenever we can - it's contagious, you know? And don't forget that "THE GOOD YOU DO COMES BACK TO YOU".

THANK YOU LISA for PARTICIPATING and also for sharing YOUR experience with me (a GIFT to me)!

JOAN

THE UNIVERSE ABUNDANTLY OFFERS RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Here is a summary of my morning, which proved to me (once again) that - THE UNIVERSE ABUNDANTLY OFFERS RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!!

KINDNESS #1 - (without even realizing it was an ACT OF KINDNESS)

I got word last night that a FLORIDA friend of mine (56) died unexpectedly. Although it had been years since I had spoken with his daughter, I was texting with her this morning and offered the name of the ATTORNEY we used there to handle the details of MY PARENTS' ESTATE. She and her mom were feeling absolutely overwhelmed with all of the required paperwork. They are going to give him a call.

KINDNESS #2

I'll be visiting my NEPHEW and his WIFE in a few months and AMERICAN AIRLINES just emailed me that the return flight time was changed. The new time is too early, so I knew they would offer me another time (if available) for FREE. At the same time, I asked them if I could change my departure date for FREE (hoping for the extra time to visit several AUBURN sorority sisters who live nearby). I honestly anticipated a fee for this change, since it was MY choice, not something the airline imposed. BUT, as my Dad used to say, "YOU NEVER KNOW 'TILL YOU TRY....."  So I asked, and they DID make the date change for FREE!!

KINDNESS #3

Seeing ANDREA BOCELLI perform LIVE has been on my "60 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MY 60's" for quite a while and if it's gonna happen, one has to take the steps to MAKE it happen, right? I found out that he is performing on my BIRTHDAY! But the tickets online were outrageous in price AND added a $148 processing fee! I called the venue directly, got the NICEST guy on the phone and he explained that the seats I was looking at were reserved by the performer and would be much higher in price. BUT, he recommended another great seat that was available for HALF THE COST. I gladly accepted the offer and booked the seat! 

• This all reminded me again about how tremendously lucky I was to meet ANDREA BOCELLI'S MOTHER in their family restaurant in LAJATICO, ITALY (his home town) just a few months ago! 

THE UNIVERSE DOES ABUNDANTLY PROVIDE WHEN YOU INVITE IT TO!!

After all of these wonderful things happening this morning, I was already feeling quite fortunate.......  THE GOODNESS CONTINUED!

I had to return something to AMAZON and it's free if you drop it off at KOHLS, so CLOVER!!! and I then hopped in the car. When I was handed the receipt, there was also a 25% OFF COUPON for anything in KOHLS. I picked up something I needed and got in line.

RETURNING THE KINDNESS......

The YOUNG GIRL (in her 20's?) in front of me, was going to purchase 2 tops. As I looked at her looking at them, I remembered back when I was her age and how EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR counted in my meager budget. Without really thinking that I'd be "returning a kindness", I simply asked her if she had a 25% OFF COUPON.  She said, "No...." - I said, "Here, take mine!" IT FELT GREAT. 

KINDNESS #4

When I was checking out, the cashier asked me if I had any coupons.  I said "No, I gave mine to the girl before me." She said, "Here, I'll give you the discount anyway."

WHAT A MORNING!!

"THE GOOD YOU DO COMES BACK TO YOU" - This is the quote that I put in my high school yearbook and it repeats in my mind regularly. I just looked up the origin of it and have copied what I found below, if you have the time/interest to read it.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS - shall we each try to make this a daily theme?

JOAN

Good And Evil

Every morning a woman baked Chapati, an Indian flatbread, for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She would always place the extra Chapati on the windowsill, for whosoever needed to eat it.

She noticed a hunchback came every day and took the extra Chapati. Instead of expressing gratitude, he would muttered the following words as he went on his way: "The evil you do remains with you. The good you do, comes back to you!"

This went on day after day after day. The woman felt very irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself. "Every day this hunchback utters this jingle! What does he mean? "

One day, exasperated, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunchback," she said.

And what did she do? She added poison to the Chapati she prepared for him!

As she was about to place it on the windowsill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said. Immediately, she threw his Chapati into the fire, prepared another one and put it on the sill.

As usual, the hunchback came, picked up the Chapati and muttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you. The good you do, comes back to you!"

The hunchback proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman.

Every day, as the woman placed the Chapati on the windowsill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months she had no news of him and she always prayed for his safe return.

That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak.

Looking at his mother he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so famished that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunchback passed by. I begged him for a morsel of food and he was kind enough to give me a whole Chapati."

"When he gave it to me, he said, 'This is what I eat every day. Today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!'"

As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale. She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned Chapati that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son and he would have lost his life!

It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you. The good you do, comes back to you!"

Moral of the story: Do good and don't ever stop doing good, even if it's not appreciated at that time.

https://motivateus.com/stories/good-and-evil.htm

TEXTING WHILE OVERSEAS

I'm back from ITALY and had a WONDERFUL time!!  We traveled to places I had never been - CALABRIA (the toe of the boot almost touching Sicily), ISCHIA (an island off of Naples) and MONTALCINO (a hill town in Tuscany).

TEXTING WHILE OVERSEAS!!

I learned something about TEXTING while overseas that I thought important to share with my U.S. friends who have VERIZON.

I have their "go-to International Plan" which charges me $10/day the minute I use my phone internationally. You may have a different plan, so the following my not apply to you.... 

• Verizon says it's important to always TURN OFF CELLULAR DATA and CELLULAR ROAMING before you leave the United States, so you won't be charged for incoming information when you land - until you are able to access WIFI there. 

• I found out AFTER I GOT HOME that SENDING a TEXT will trigger the $10/day fee. Even if you have an iPhone and are texting iPhone to iPhone, the minute you SEND A TEXT, you will be charged for cell phone usage. I had my DATA and DATA VOICE AND TEXT ROAMING turned OFF and thought that I was safe while texting when on WIFI, but that is NOT the case. Any TEXT sent, still goes thru the VERIZON system and you'll be charged for it. If you have the same plan that I have, you can RECEIVE TEXTS for FREE but when you SEND one, your $10/day fee will be applied.

• Also, if someone CALLS you (even if you don't answer it), that triggers the $10/day fee.

THUS, the need for the app WHATSAPP. All texting is FREE thru that app because the text goes thru the INTERNET via WIFI.

Ok, I get it now.  

And a POSITIVE plug for VERIZON - they refunded the $10/day charge for the 3 days that I texted (once/day) thinking it was free over WIFI. Thank you VERIZON!

Ok, back to the trip........ I'll post something soon about ITALY!

JOAN