i've been thinking about this post for a couple of weeks now.
being from augusta, ga has many perks.
one being, the augusta national, home of the greatest golf tournament,
The Masters.
i'm not a 'fan' of golf, BUT, when the masters comes around i am always glued to the t.v. or have had the pleasure of going a handful of times.
i love seeing the beautiful flowers and the immaculate course.
my dad grew up on a lovely street that backed up to one of the nationals entrance gates.
heath drive.
thats the name of the street.
my grandparents had almost an acre & a half of land
my grandaddy had a very prosperous garden
he was so faithful and produced the BEST veggies i've ever tasted.
every spring break, or masters week, as we all called it.
we parked cars.
my aunt started this when she was 5...
i think it was something like...$.25 p/car
over the years other ppl started catching on and parking cars on heath drive too.
it became a big deal and something we looked forward to each year.
my aunt and uncle had a system down.
we met many great ppl that would park with us year after year.
it was great...we had all the family down there and lots of memories were made.
the last time we were able to park cars was in 2006.
it was sad.
an 'era' if you will had ended.
the augusta national started purchasing properties along berkmans road and heath drive.
my grandparents home was purchased that november.
they lived there 58 years and raised 3 children at this home.
i remember riding down heath drive the first time seeing them tearing it down.
heartbreaking.
just a few days later...it was rubble.
let me just tell you...that is hard to see.
it was hard to picture where everything was.
now...
it's a field of grass!!
i found this article the augusta chronicle did featuring my family!!!
for some people being in augusta this time of year is awful...they don't like all the craziness, the traffic, the congestion...etc.
but, for a lot of ppl...me included -- we love it!
i love the hype that the masters brings, i love all the extra ppl, i love seeing the ppl up and down washington road.
i. love. it.
now...don't get me wrong i don't love sitting in the traffic.
but, you can pretty much gauge the crazy, crazy times on washington road.
i'm the type of person...i like to be in the middle of it all.
this year there is a lot of hype b/c of tiger woods
and
the paparazzi are in full force in augusta...
i made a joke to my hubby the other day that if i was in town...i'd try to get there attention while in my minivan...and they would put my picture in a magazine...with the caption...
{crazy southern minivan mom}
ha.ha.ha.
the actual tournament starts today and i will be glued to the coverage.
and
quite sure i will tear up when i hear the masters theme song...
so many good memories :o)
here are some pictures of the national:
click here to listen to
