The N.C.

We are on our way to Germany.  We have 21 days till we get on the plane.  We decided to take leave at my Moms place because we had to drop off the Focus and Ollie here as well as take the Xterra to the port in Norfolk.  I am pretty sad about leaving Ollie but he really does love it here so that helps.  And there is just no possible way we can afford to take him.  He will be here waiting for us when we get back though.  My Mom and Michael are going to spoil him rotten.  The farm life suits his 93lb frame as well, he hardly looks monster sized here.

We've been here for a few days now so it's time to begin our adventures.  We have decided to try to do one fun thing a day.  It may not seem like great fun but here in rural North Carolina we don't have a ton of options.  Not a ton of free options, rather.

Tonight we were doin' some ghost hunting.  We decided to check out the Whirligigs at night.  Even though I know the reality, it's so much more fun to get swept up in the Urban Legend of it all, even if just for a little while.  I have been to the Whirligigs at least 5 times over the years, probably more.  But never at night.

We told the spooky stories until we got there and even drove by the family graveyard and other land the family owns and told those stories too (illegally shot "carpet baggers" buried in the field, etc).  The stories about the whirligigs go something like this:

Long ago (year undetermined, likely the 70's) a girl had gone to prom and had done a little acid (or drank) at the dance.  On the way home she lost control of her car while reaching onto the floor and picking up her dropped handbag.  She ended up wrapping her car around a tree and died instantly.  Her father was completely distraught and began putting reflectors up all over the area so that no other person would meet the same fate.  He had gone mad and began building many reflective surfaces, an entire park.  He left the destroyed car there at the tree to remind people of his daughters end and if you go now, you will meet the girl at night.  Your car will get scratched and you will hear the screams.  You may lose power to your camera or even your car.   (Google Acid Park, you will find many many other blogs of first hand experiences as well as some actual articles).

We took pictures of all of the reflectors.  At night with just the flash on my camera it really lit things up.  At some point I will post daytime pictures as well.  We also took a picture of the car and tree.  If you believe in orbs, there are some good ones.

The *real story that I know is that Mr. Vollis Simpson is the creator of these whirligigs.  He is an old old old man (91) and he has been doing this for years.  The first time I came to NC when I was 8 I saw them.  Whirligigs are basically ornate windmills, more or less.  His children are all still alive.  These things are art, pure and simple.  They have been featured places like the Atlanta Olympics, Bergdorf Goodman's, and several museums.  I met Mr. Simpson when I was about...15.  He was good friends with my Great Grandma and she took me out to meet him and his old scary dog.  We talked about animals and his awesome talent (he doesn't really see it that way).  If you Google Vollis Simpson Whirligigs there is  a ton of info, my fave article is http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/arts/design/06vollis.html cause when a Lucama NC boy makes it in the New York Times it's big news.  My family has lived in Lucama for generations.  Portions still live there and it's where the family plot is as well, not far from Mr. Simpsons.

But despite knowing the truth we all still managed to get very spooked very quickly.  I got some cool pictures and Taylor has yet another fun NC memory.

Nothing terribly exciting but it's better than doin' nothing on the farm!!