It has been a motherfucker of a week. I’m a day behind on writing articles, botched a podcast recording on Tuesday, and am having to turn the water off and on as we need it in the house ’cause there’s a leak somewhere out in the yard. I also smoked a cigar Tuesday night that made me super sick. So, forgive me if I take a quick break from writing Pulitzer-worthy journalism to just rant about how much I love Gatlinburg. If you’ve been a longtime reader of SoBros Network, then you already know what a huge fan I am of the Smoky Mountains. I was scrolling through my Twitter feed yesterday when I came across this tweet that just absolutely floored me. I thought “I can’t get to this Racey McMath film study right now. I kinda just want to write about what a shitty week I’m having and how awesome Gatlinburg looked back in the day.“
Gatlinburg Tn 1977 was such a vibe!! pic.twitter.com/vQtB5eeetJ
— Knoxville Like John (@KnoxvilleLike) August 9, 2022
Y’know, I’d initially say the only downside to this is that there’d probably be a lot more Confederate flags around the mountains back then, but judging on the last time my wife and I went on a solo trip up there, it’s hard to imagine there could possibly be anymore, so maybe I’d dodge that bullet.
Anyway, this is the kind of stuff that we need a time machine for. Is it weird to say that this looks like a simpler Gatlinburg? A Gatlinburg that is touristy, sure…but maybe not so commercial? It’s just motor lodges, old people, and ice cream shops. Ffs, look how shiny and new Ober Gatlinburg looks! *sigh* simpler times indeed. There’s no diet moonshine distilleries around. Stuff probably didn’t cost an arm and a leg back then. I have nothing to base that on, actually. I’m just being weirdly nostalgic. I must be in a weird emotional state.
A few weeks ago, E asked me about where I’d travel in time or something, and the thought of going back in time Gatlinburg in the 70s didn’t even cross my mind. And yet, here I am wishing desperately for a time machine. Sometimes, it’s the simple things. Maybe I can get this week back on track now. It’s only Thursday!
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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