I drove to our family’s favorite picnic spot along the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday.

This is called Julian Price Picnic grounds. Just up the road is Price Lake and Julian Price Campground. My family spent many happy days at these places.

The Dudley side of the family picnicked in this spot often. Someone always went early to save it.

We loved it because of the stones across the creek and the gravel beach in the curve where the water got deeper.

I sorted through decades of photos to find these of past picnics. Many of these people are gone now. I will say to those of you who have not lost somebody close yet, you never stop loving them. You just have to find different ways to express that love after they are gone…Like writing and talking about them.

These photos made me smile. All these children are grown up now. We have such sweet memories of them playing in the water on those hot summer days.

As I sat there alone, I was not lonely. My heart felt grateful again. What a great family I have had and still have.

Love you Dudleys!

FLOW