Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday School in Plains, Georgia
Jul 1st, 2016, 12:00 PM
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Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday School in Plains, Georgia
My rule generally is sightseeing time must exceed travel time. However, DH had a long time wish, and I decided to make it happen for his birthday.
He thought it would be special and unique to hear former Presendent, Jimmy Carter, teach Sunday School in the Baptist church where he has been a member since 1971. When he became ill last year, we figured our chances were over. When he recovered and renewed a reduced teaching schedule, I knew it was now or never. Turned out he was teaching the day before DH's birthday!
Sat morning, cheap flight to Atlanta, rented a car and drove to Americus, about 15 minutes from Plains. Checked into the old Windsor Hotel. Drove over to Plains to be sure we knew where to be early Sunday. Returned to hotel for dinner.
Windsor Hotel in Americus: this beautiful, old hotel takes you back a century to hoop skirts and presidents arriving by train. The main areas are intact and very special. Huge, open lobby with inside and outside balconies, begging for music and dancing. Some bath renovations are not in keeping with the hotel, but rooms are furnished with period furniture, and are spacious and comfortable. Really special place, and recommend it over all the newer hotels in the area.
Dinner at the hotel Sat night was incredibly good. The old dining room is gorgeous with huge Windows and fireplaces. Perfect service. Elegant, but relaxed and not pretentious. Iced tea so delicious it must be noted. One of my most favorite evenings and dinner in a very long time.
Sunday morning. Up and outside church by 6:50 a.m. to get entry number, go through security, be seated and receive briefing. We were near the front. Mr Carter and Rosalynn arrived at 9:00. Ms. Carter looks very frail, but smiling. With great wit and charm, Mr Carter, now age 91, chatted with the audience for about 10-15 minutes, then taught the lesson. Mr Carter is still so sharp. What a brilliant mind. It is one Bible lesson I will not forget. Afterwards, he and Ms Carter sat together and allowed each family to pose beside or behind them for pictures. If there were little ones, they stood in front and Ms Carter put an arm around them. Very charming and what a keepsake for those children. Yes, DH and I had our photo taken with them. What a birthday gift for DH!
We had lunch afterwards at the only place open that day in Plains. Not good! Satisfied hunger though, and we then spent the afternoon visiting his boyhood home, store, farm, etc. I was so glad I had read, An Hour Before Daylight, before going. It made it easy to visualize the family there.
Plains is only one block of old, small town buildings, school, depot, etc., fear that nothing much will survive there after Mr Carter dies. An hour or so of poking around and we were ready to go back to our lovely hotel. Restaurant was closed Sunday night, so fast food, and to rest.
Monday morning, ended our stay with a lovely breakfast in the beautiful hotel dining room, sad to leave it.
Drove to Macon, Georgia to meet an old friend for lunch at a cooking school. This is worth mentioning for anyone going that way. It is Edgar's Bistro and is part of Helms College, one of the educational institutions sponsored by Goodwill Industries. Excellent food and service. Be warned, a little hard to find as even though GPS said we were there, we were not. It is on a little road off to the side of the highway in the Goodwill and college complex. There is also a wonderful bookstore and coffee shop there.
Back to airport to drop car and head home. Atlanta is a zoo at traffic times, so allow extra time, no matter what your GPS says. Signs are confusing and the airport is not easy to navigate. Atlanta airport is now my least favorite.
The trip was totally worth it! Seeing and hearing Mr Carter speak in person - unforgettable. I wish, wish we had gone a day early to relax and read on the upper balcony of the hotel and have more meals in their dining room. It would be a special place to while away the time with a drink or iced tea in hand.
One wish fulfilled, one birthday celebrated!
He thought it would be special and unique to hear former Presendent, Jimmy Carter, teach Sunday School in the Baptist church where he has been a member since 1971. When he became ill last year, we figured our chances were over. When he recovered and renewed a reduced teaching schedule, I knew it was now or never. Turned out he was teaching the day before DH's birthday!
Sat morning, cheap flight to Atlanta, rented a car and drove to Americus, about 15 minutes from Plains. Checked into the old Windsor Hotel. Drove over to Plains to be sure we knew where to be early Sunday. Returned to hotel for dinner.
Windsor Hotel in Americus: this beautiful, old hotel takes you back a century to hoop skirts and presidents arriving by train. The main areas are intact and very special. Huge, open lobby with inside and outside balconies, begging for music and dancing. Some bath renovations are not in keeping with the hotel, but rooms are furnished with period furniture, and are spacious and comfortable. Really special place, and recommend it over all the newer hotels in the area.
Dinner at the hotel Sat night was incredibly good. The old dining room is gorgeous with huge Windows and fireplaces. Perfect service. Elegant, but relaxed and not pretentious. Iced tea so delicious it must be noted. One of my most favorite evenings and dinner in a very long time.
Sunday morning. Up and outside church by 6:50 a.m. to get entry number, go through security, be seated and receive briefing. We were near the front. Mr Carter and Rosalynn arrived at 9:00. Ms. Carter looks very frail, but smiling. With great wit and charm, Mr Carter, now age 91, chatted with the audience for about 10-15 minutes, then taught the lesson. Mr Carter is still so sharp. What a brilliant mind. It is one Bible lesson I will not forget. Afterwards, he and Ms Carter sat together and allowed each family to pose beside or behind them for pictures. If there were little ones, they stood in front and Ms Carter put an arm around them. Very charming and what a keepsake for those children. Yes, DH and I had our photo taken with them. What a birthday gift for DH!
We had lunch afterwards at the only place open that day in Plains. Not good! Satisfied hunger though, and we then spent the afternoon visiting his boyhood home, store, farm, etc. I was so glad I had read, An Hour Before Daylight, before going. It made it easy to visualize the family there.
Plains is only one block of old, small town buildings, school, depot, etc., fear that nothing much will survive there after Mr Carter dies. An hour or so of poking around and we were ready to go back to our lovely hotel. Restaurant was closed Sunday night, so fast food, and to rest.
Monday morning, ended our stay with a lovely breakfast in the beautiful hotel dining room, sad to leave it.
Drove to Macon, Georgia to meet an old friend for lunch at a cooking school. This is worth mentioning for anyone going that way. It is Edgar's Bistro and is part of Helms College, one of the educational institutions sponsored by Goodwill Industries. Excellent food and service. Be warned, a little hard to find as even though GPS said we were there, we were not. It is on a little road off to the side of the highway in the Goodwill and college complex. There is also a wonderful bookstore and coffee shop there.
Back to airport to drop car and head home. Atlanta is a zoo at traffic times, so allow extra time, no matter what your GPS says. Signs are confusing and the airport is not easy to navigate. Atlanta airport is now my least favorite.
The trip was totally worth it! Seeing and hearing Mr Carter speak in person - unforgettable. I wish, wish we had gone a day early to relax and read on the upper balcony of the hotel and have more meals in their dining room. It would be a special place to while away the time with a drink or iced tea in hand.
One wish fulfilled, one birthday celebrated!
Jul 1st, 2016, 03:10 PM
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Probably 35 years ago now, when Habitat for Humanity was fairly new, President Carter came to Charlotte to help with a house our church was building. I have a wonderful picture of him, in the tent where folks could get some tea and rest, sitting in a chair. The notable thing about the picture is that the knees of his blue jeans are completely worn through.
He is a great man.
He is a great man.
Jul 1st, 2016, 03:49 PM
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Gretchen, I have never posted a picture on Fodors, but will try, as Basingstoke2 asked. I would love to see the one you have. Yes, he is a great man. I believe he has always tried to do the right thing and done his duty, as best he could and as he saw it, to family, friends, country, etc.
His lesson that Sunday challenged each person to thoughtfully ask themselves "What kind of person do I want to be?" There was more, of course, about seeking to be of service, etc. He spoke quietly, simply and directly with sincerity. It was quite moving.
I also worked on a habitat house once, great experience. DH has started contributing to the Carter Foundation.
His lesson that Sunday challenged each person to thoughtfully ask themselves "What kind of person do I want to be?" There was more, of course, about seeking to be of service, etc. He spoke quietly, simply and directly with sincerity. It was quite moving.
I also worked on a habitat house once, great experience. DH has started contributing to the Carter Foundation.
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