Branson

Branson, MO is not just a vacation destination for old people as I once thought. We decided to go on a weekend trip and it was between Memphis and Branson. Branson won out. We went to a show, shopped at the outlet malls, went to Table Rock Lake, and went on a zipline.

This is the awesome old-man chair in our hotel room.

(as a side note, I have an irrational fear of heights. I mean, I have done a lot of things to try to overcome this like the sky-coaster at Lagoon and repelling/rock climbing, but in the end, even diving boards freak me out. It is not the climb that gets me, it is the fall. I remember growing up my friend Kathryn had a zip line in her backyard and I could never do it. I was the only one that didn't cliff jump at Lake Powell on our senior girls trip among other things.)

Well, I saw the ad for the zip line and knew Chris would love it so I suggested it. We went to sign up for it and they told me that after the zip line you have to jump 100 feet off the tower to get back onto the ground. It was the only way down. I watched some people do it and decided I can do that...remember above note...what was I thinking! There was like 8 people in our group and we ended up going last.

Needless to say, the nerves were racing through me and I wanted to vomit by the time I got hooked to the zip line. Then I got to the point of no return and had to jump off a tower. Ugly blubbering face showed up (thank goodness for sunglasses) and three guy workers spent about five minutes telling me I could do it. One said to me, "Mam, you can take one step." I told him, "no I can't, I really can't". Finally I took the step and the ugliest noise I have ever heard exited my body. I had told Chris that I thought I would say in the end, "that was scary but fun." Well, instead I think I said, "I hated that".

On a happy note, Chris loved it and he let out a pretty girly scream on the jump down. That somehow made it worth it.

Don't let the smile fool you- this was before I knew what I was getting myself into!




Homemade panoramic view of Table Rock Lake...it was better in person


We decided to eat at some of the local joints....branch out because we usually stick with what we know. Let's just say that Billy Bobs DairyLand does not rival Nielson's in Utah (and the fact that they did not advertise that they don't take credit cards, the adjoining gas station does not give cash back, and the ATM machine there took 4 attempts before it would give us our money didn't help them), and that the Rib Crib is a sad excuse for BBQ (and their sausages are nothing like a Brahtwurst).

On the drive home Chris saw a sign for the world's largest rocking chair and decided to stop off and see it. I am pretty sure he was as excited to see the chair as he was to go on the zipline! It is quite remarkable though, don't you think?