Every Labor Day weekend, Atlanta is overrun. The invasion includes superheroes, fairies, stormtroopers, a periodic table, marching bands, an entire SWAT team of ghostbusters— not to mention the more obscure characters, such as Gand-Alf (a mashup of Gandalf and the puppet Alf).
For those of you who don’t know, DragonCon in Atlanta is a whole thing.
I’m not quite nerdy enough to attend such a Convention, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the parade.
This year I brought along my trusty Minolta XG-1 and a roll of 35mm b/w film.
“Should we run a 5k in 3 weeks with no training whatsoever?”
“Absolutely,” I said.
We had just found out about the Dolly Dash in Ringgold, GA and it was a must. It’s been well over a year since we’ve run a race, but that didn’t stop us. We figured we could tumble out of bed, stumble to the starting line…
There were lots of local vendors, such as the tent selling these pineapple drinks, and plenty of food trucks. Not to mention two stages, a farmer’s market, discounts in all the downtown shops for runners…
The Grind is located in downtown Ringgold (inside dWELLING), and the barista turned our post-race coffees pink in celebration of Dolly.
A thrift store benefitting foster kids had a community paint-by-numbers in progress. Everywhere you looked was a local business or club that got involved to celebrate Dolly.
Final Review:
Do we recommend this race? 100%!
It was super fun and a great crowd. Lots of people ran in Dolly costumes or tutus. Our personal theme was “Dolly for President 2024” and we got tons of comments and compliments on our outfits.
Things to know:
Plan to park at Ringgold High School (it’s only a short walk to downtown where the race begins)
This year there was both a 10k and a 5k option (we did the 5k and felt perfectly ok with that, especially with our lack of recent training!)
We recommend the Grind inside dWELLING for an iced latte after your race
Plan to spend some time after the race enjoying the entertainment (the musical acts were fantastic!)
Wear a Tutu — or at MINIMUM a Dolly Parton T-shirt. Perhaps a wig (if you’re heat tolerant) or a cowgirl hat with fringe. While there are a few very serious runners at the event, this is a fun run. Have fun with it!
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” — Dolly Parton
The annual family paddle fell on a Sunday in July this year- the one day we could all manage it. The exact time of year matters less than the event itself. Cool water, melting sunscreen, the short rush of class 1 rapids, a stop at the “beach” for a float and some sugared sour candy. The tune of “hooked on a feeling” fading in and out as it drifts nearer and then further over the water from a glitchy waterproof speaker tossed in a dry bag. Somehow this paddle became part of our identify, a family tradition that is as sacred as a holiday.
the Patriarch and MatriarchKayaking highlight video, 2022Carol Anne and Kendall ❤️Olivia’s first year on the River Twinkies! We gave a cigar to the guy who took our photo.
Thinking questions: What traditions are worth intentionally cultivating? How do shared events shape our family identity?
Unbidden Grace 