Meanderings during the past few days

Friday morning, April 4

Over the past week we have averaged over 170 visitors per day; part of that may be due to the Spring Break for Rutherford County schools but staff think it is also related to the lovely spring weather of late.  I don't know how many times we've heard, "I've lived here for over twenty years and never come to the battlefield before" over the week.  Park staff have done a fine job of publicizing the park over the past year and it clearly is making a difference.

One of the tasks that least interests me down here is working the Eastern National Book Store, not because I don't love the books.  It's the computerized cash register system that freaks me out.  But over the past week I "girded up my loins" and took my place over there for much of one day.  Jim, our Ranger supervisor, came up to the visitor center, saw me, over there and pulled out his camera!

Then I got to reflecting about why this task has been such a challenge for me.  To my total amazement the verb that popped into my brain was "preside."  That was all I needed to start a real riff on "presiding."  I am most comfortable presiding in another context - worship,  so why did that that particular word come to mind?  Is there a connection somewhere?  Altars, temples, shopping ... and a brief web search confirmed my meandering thoughts.  I found this article by an unnamed person from the Temple University School of Social Psychology: "Temples of Consumption - Shopping Malls as Secular Cathedrals."  So perhaps my associations weren't totally off-line even if a bit tacky (or wacky).  Granted, the Eastern National Books Store is hardly a mall, but...  Just a series of thoughts while "on the job."

Tomorrow is "Park Day" at Stones River - some 100+ volunteers are expected, and we will be working out at McFadden's Farm, the final stop on the six-stop audio tour.  That farm is where the final January 2, 1863 confrontation took place, ending the Stones River Battle with the Confederate retreat down to Tullahoma, Tennessee.