5.19.2006

The Drive In

I'm a Tennesseean through and through, born and bred. I have a lot of pride in my homeland, in what I like to call God's country. What makes Tennessee "Tennessee"? It's the land, and the mountains, the slower pace and hospitality, but most of all, it's the people. Granted, there is a lot of variety in our people; we've got a little bit of everybody really, but we've also got some people you may only see right here in God's country-these are the people I like the most. I'm a people watcher, and I like watching Tennesseeans in their element. I've found that two of the best places to see the good folks of the Volunteer State are at the Flea Market and the Drive in Theatre. I've been to the flea market several times, (I mean where else are you going to find a set of bull horns for the truck at a decent price.) but it's been a long time since I've been to a Tennessee drive in. Beth and I went to one in Hawaii, but shoots bra, that's a whole different experience all together. Well, tonight, after cruising not only the Reel to Reel and the Carmike, but the Bonnie Kate too, we found ourselves waiting for State Line Drive In to open up their gates. The movie was RV, and it was good, but the entertainment was found in the preshow - the people.

You know your at a Tennessee drive in by the UT orange seen in almost every direction you look. You know your at an Elizabethton, Tennessee drive in by the Jason Witten jerseys on the kids. Witten is a home town hero who plays for the Cowboys. Tonight we had some impressive specimen of the Tennessee culture. Parked in front of us was an awesome guy. Stone washed jeans, orange and white UT wind jacket, matching baseball cap, and topped off by a mustache and a mullet. As impressive as he already is, it gets better. This was no first time drive in movie goer, he was a pro. While the cigarette hung from his mouth, he kept his hands busy washing his windshield inside and out. That's right, he broke out the windex and papertowels, and he spent no less the twenty minutes and half a roll of papertowels making sure his movie experience was not flawed by a blemished windshield. Awesome. Sad thing is, just before we pulled in, I was thinking it would be really nice if our windshield was clean. So, I asked him if I could borrow some glass cleaner. I'm just joking, I didn't even use the spray and wipers.

Anyway, it was a good night, and if you haven't been to a drive in movie in awhile, you should go. It'll probably be a very local experience no matter where you're at.

-well alright-

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will have to let my little sis read that "drive in" story so she knows what to look foward to. She is going to Montreat in the fall. You know what that means- I'm going to have to leave my Mountains to visit your Mountains

Chuck Shields

lisa said...

You passed on the Bonnie Kate? Is that a dollar theater now?

Thanks for sharing your board (or Beth's board) with Libby yesterday. I think she is now your biggest fan, hmmm...I don't know could be a toss up between her and Luke, I let them fight it out. ;)

f1rststory said...

very cool, man...very cool. And yes, I'm talking about mullet-man...

Kel said...

Hahahaha, I love mullets. And it tells you so much about the person that would have one, hahaa, that's awesome!
I've not been to the drive-in. Although it always looked "appealing", I've yet to have that experience. What did it cost to get it?

Johnny T said...

$5 bucks a person and you have to get there well before dark and wait in lint before they open up the gates. Once you get in, it'll be another 45 minutes to and hour before they start the show, but there is a playground to pass the time.

Wendy said...

I don't think that I have been to a drive in theater since I was a little girl. I will have to give my kids that experience.