Abingdon, VA. Historic Abingdon I find to already be an interesting place to visit. When I lived close by I got my exercise by going "up and down" the steep veterans' park in town, and loving the hot fudge cake at nearby Shoney's. But this venerable town, serving an important function during the Civil War, brings citizens near and far together for its annual Highlands Fest.
The Highlands Festival brings artists, writers, and the curious to the town managing the state theater of Virginia, The Barter Theatre. My spouse Frank and I stopped there on the second day of our weekend visit. I couldn't believe my college friend Kenny was behind the counter at the gift shop. He commented how he liked being in management at this unique theater (where people would bring cabbages and other produce to feed struggling actors during the Great Depression), and that we could volunteer as ushers, even if we lived far away.
The Barter sits on Main Street, where the regional Shriner's group drove some 1920s open cars during the parade that is part of the festival. This we watched from the arts and crafts fairgrounds that are to the left of the historic Martha Washington Inn and Spa. The inn has been a women's college and hospital, and boasts ghosts AND wonderful fine dining (and dessert carts!). But I needed to see the great variety of art, which included old Christmas post cards showing cherubic children I was very tempted to buy. And the food tent with a nutella and banana based wrap was original (but a little too mushy).
There was a play and '60s beach band near the town's farmers' market area, but we chose to relax at the family owned Alpine Motel, very reasonably priced. That afternoon I listened to various writers talk about method (selling and writing) at the Higher (kind of a theme in this mountainous town that is part of Appalachia) Education Center, even getting a few tips from Adriana Trigiani. Trigiani has made herself known with her book made into a movie, Big Stone Gap, and discussed her love of directing. She also suggested you could "dream up" a story. Well, it's not THAT simple. At another writers' conference I went to an author said if you wrote down a question for your story next to your bed and thought of it as you went to sleep, you'd wake up the next day with your answer. I don't know if that's true, but, hey, why not give it a try.
The various memories I have of Abingdon will have me coming back again. It's where history and art come alive.
