‘You’re OK,’ and more notes from the road

18 Smoky Mountain News

Opinion ‘You’re OK,’ and more notes from the road

She was 70, or so she said, but looked 15 years younger. She was alone and sipping wine and eating “chips” in the pub at the Ceilidh Inn in Ullapool, Scotland. She was a child of the 60s who spoke of how crazy London had been at that time. Eventually, she had sold her house in the city and relocated to wilds of Scotland. For decades she has been scratching out a living as a painter.

We’re in the far north, my wife Lori and I, road tripping around Scotland’s coast, traveling from the west coast and the Highlands, north to the Orkney Islands, and back down the east coast to Edinburgh. We’re about halfway through as I write this.

Lori and I love road tripping, making plans for where we’ll stay nights and planning a few highlights, but then taking the experience as it comes to us, changing plans on the fly and going out of our way to see things after talking to other travelers.

Our new friend in the village of Ullapool, Joanne, has obviously had a few glasses of wine. As Lori excuses herself to hit the loo, Joanne leans in and looks me in the eye: “You did good, Scott. You’re wife is gorgeous, I mean, you’re OK, but she’s really something.”

Traveling is awesome. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the one-liners and the characters you run into. Sipping a beer on the waterside quay, also in Ullapool, we get into a conversation with two couples who are talking about the joys of post-COVID traveling and joking about how their home values — according to those emails from Zillow — are rising by preposterous amounts. A few minutes of back and forth about our travels and then the inevitable “where’s home” question pops up. Turns out they are from Highlands, less 30 miles as the crow flies from where we live in Waynesville.

Crazy, right? This big old world sometimes is so small. Those four were off to the Outer Hebrides to do a walking tour.

The unexpected is par for the course on a trip like this. As

we looked over our shoulder while driving out of Durness — in northwest corner of Scotland — we spot the most pristine white sand beach we’ve seen since getting to Scotland. We do a U-turn — no small feat on these tiny, narrow roads — and get out and splash around for a half hour and have a picnic. The water was frigid, but there was one surfer and several people in the water.

As we return to the car and get back on the road, a hundred yards down the road we spot a tiny sign, maybe one foot by three feet, on the side of the road — “John Lennon Memorial.” What? Once again, an unplanned detour. But I’m a huge John Lennon fan, so I’m not about to pass this up.

As it turns out, Lennon’s family vacationed here while he was growing up. A cousin who spent time with Lennon as a youth lived in Durness for a decade and ended up erecting a small garden with several standing stones — like the ancient ruins found around northern Scotland — with excerpts from the song “In My Life” from the “Rubber Soul” album:

Scott McLeod

Editor

John Lennon Memorial.

There are places I remember All my life though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain

The cousin claims the song was partly inspired by Lennon’s time spent in Durness. A Northern Lights Music Festival was held in the tiny town in 2007. The little garden in this remote Scottish town of about 350 claims to be the only Lennon memorial outside of England.

As we continue on our travels, the Lennon-McCartney tune is keeping us company. With that song in the background, we laugh as we rollick down the road and remember Joanne’s comment. I’m just “OK,” and I’m good with that. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)

Let’s strive to become great

To the Editor:

Been thinkin’ lately ‘bout M.A.G.A. What an acronym! It sounds strong. Unfortunately, there is a built-in weakness. It is this: great is an opinion only. It cannot be measured or agreed upon. When was it great? How was it great? Was there widespread greatness or only pockets here and there? Is there a chance that America has never been great?

Yet, Donald Trump has exploited many Americans and deceived them into believing he could restore America to greatness when for many that simply hasn’t been so. His red cap became a symbol of something that may only be imaginary — a by-gone era that will never return because it never was here in the first place. Much like “Gone with the Wind” as written by Margaret Mitchell. Back when Blacks and women couldn’t vote. When only property owners could. When some people were enslaved. Who wants to go back to those times?

Now, don’t tell me I’m being less than patriotic. I served four years in the Navy. Members of my family have used copyright as well as patent laws to improve our lot in life. I have read/studied most of the Constitution. I have read the Bible extensively. I have voted for Republicans and Democrats. I am a native of Jackson County, N.C. And, I happen to believe Johnny Cash knew some people had been held back when he sang “Man in Black.” Listen for yourself. In addition to that his musical friend, Waylon Jennings, sang: “… I can’t say I’m proud of all of the things that I’ve done. But, I can say I’ve never intentionally hurt anyone.” How many can honestly say that? Can that be said about America?

I admire those two musical legends. I also admire Jesus Christ. We have to get better at caring for others. If we don’t, we can never reach the level of greatness. We are told that by every major religion as well as most philosophies.

Let’s strive to become great, though. Jesus, Waylon and Johnny will guide us. Dave Waldrop Webster

LETTERS

Religion doesn’t belong in schools

To the Editor:

As Sylva prepares for its school board runoff election July 26, many signs sporting crosses by one of the candidates have popped up around the local landscape. The candidate whose signs bear this symbol previously campaigned as a “conservative mom.” While the U.S. certainly allows for anyone to have their own political and religious views, this candidate’s rhetoric presents serious issues for a school board position, since school boards are supposed to be nonpartisan entities and there is a separation between church and religious belief from public schools.

If one wants religious oversight of education, there are many options, including homeschooling and private schools. However, public schools should not be places of religious indoctrination. Perhaps this candidate should seek to be a board member of one of the local private schools rather than bring her “conservative, Christian mom” views to a position that would affect children other than her own. Jessica Cory Sylva