I can say I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 days. I was one of the volunteers at the library on Monday but could not stay away Saturday and had to go to Gilley Hill Sunday. It truly turned out to be a great weekend. I had a "lunch date" with Joe Sissom on Sat.at Joe's, with about 12 others coming along also. Some distant Gilley relations showed up that I have been corresponding with for the past year and had never met personally. I was able to borrow my son's laptop and load my Family Tree Maker in it and away I went. Then Sunday we had "dinner on the ground" at 12 PM followed up by gospel groups singing in the church that stands in front of the cemetery. Lots of people went in to listen to that and lots wondered around the graves or sat on the benches and visited with family members. You could see different groups of families sitting in their lawn chairs near their family graves just enjoying being together. No doubt some they hadn't seen in a while. This was a great place for family to come together. Then back to the library on Monday with a very good turn out. I found it hard to shut down long enough to go eat...but we bunched together in cars and headed for Joe's! Some of the most wonderful and caring people live in this county as do in yours. Yes we are a step back in time but it is a step back I relish. I love the hills, vallies, ridges, flat land and Short Mountain (where a lot of us ride our horses). Working in a funeral home I meet lots of people who have moved in here from other states and I can't resist asking what brought them here. A lot of times they say this beautiful country. This has been a very rewarding weekend. Wish you could have all been here. Linda Gilley King ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cecelia" <cheinric@suddenlink.net> To: <tncannon@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [TNCANNON] Cannon reunion Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 17:07:40 -0600 >Thanks for the write up, for those of us who couldn't be >there. Sounds like a great trip and gathering, despite >some travel difficulties. Anyone else have a write up to >share? I wouldn't be able to go anyway, but this might be a >hard time for people with kids winding up the school year, >to travel. There is graduation and all that going on, >too. Teachers finishing up the school year-that sort of >thing. Some people might be able to travel more after >the school year is over. It wouldn't affect those close >by, probably, but it might make a difference to those who >have to travel a long way. Just a thought I had. >I grew up in a town that is known for being in a time warp! > 8>)) the cemetery is like a park, complete with benches >and sculptures. I always wondered if the places my grand >and great-grandparents lived were like where I grew up. >Cecelia > > > > >> All of y'all got home y'day before we did --- an >> anticipated 11 hr drive became 14: blowout, lugnut caps >> broken (not even the hiway patrolman that helped us had >> seen this), freeway closed becasue of wreck, hard >>rain..... >> Gilley Hill, perhaps all of Cannon Co., is in a time >> warp. How long has it been since you have seen a store >> w/ a screen door? Joe's has one. My Sissom cousins from >> GA, 1st timers: "Joe I thot you were exaggerating just to >> get us to come, but you downplayed it." Another >comment: "This is not like a cemetery. It has benches." >> "I've never seen a cemetery like this. It is a real >> celebration." And how about the family that insists on >> mounding the graves, something very new to me, and >> upsetting to some members of the the same family. I am >told that this comes out of the Church of Christ via >> scripture, "Don't let the grass grow on my grave." I >> have written a very devout C of C member/cousin for her >>comment. >> The sharing sessions had fewer people than I had hoped, >> more than I expected, some from TX, IN, GA, AR, SC, NC. >> The noise level at times approached that of an airport. >> 12 nano seconds after I arrived, being met by Danny >> Nichols (who was invaluable in putting things together >for the meeting), we found we had common Fuston ancestors >> --- as does the librarian's husband! I didn't get any >> Byford help, but did get insights on Bashams. >> >> My cousin Jerry, born & raised in Cannon, never involved >> in research, visited w/ us Mon. and had lunch at Joe's. >> Before he left, he told me, "Joe, I'm beginning to see >> why you like this. All of these people are so interested >> in what is, and what was, here, where they came from. >They have asked me so many questions. I hope they all come >> back and I'll take them anywhere." FYI, on my 1st trip >> to Cannon some years ago, I wanted to go to the Espy cave >> (goes by many names) which was the site of may family >> gatherings) and Jerry took me, having to scramble up & >>down one of the steep ridges to do it. >> Now if only Woodbury had a motel!!! >> >> I hope those of you who weren't there are realizing that >> those of us who were are trying to make your mouth water. >> Yes, I found new cousins, but most of all, I found some >> new FRIENDS. This was more about friends than genealogy, >I guess. Jeanine & I will be back next year. Thanks to >> all of you who contributed to a marvelous experience. >> >> Joe >> > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >TNCANNON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >message

> It truly > turned out to be a great weekend. I had a "lunch date" with > Joe Sissom on Sat.at Joe's, Linda, I am sooo glad you FEATURED our date!!! I enjoyed it so much I'll do it again next year! Joe