Remembering: My 9/11 experience

American flags fly every 9/11 in front of our house.

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The tragic events of 9/11 were life-changing for millions, and I was no exception. Life became more urgent after the events of that day, and the years since have been spent helping those who would protect this country. Even now, fourteen years later, I am easily overcome with emotion.

When the White House was evacuated on that fateful day, my sister, a member of President George W. Bush’s communications team, was among those working for the president who removed their shoes and ran for their lives as United Flight 93 approached the nation’s capital.

My husband and I were vacationing in Colonial Williamsburg with our two teenage children and had just arrived in the colonial area, freshly-purchased annual passes in hand, when a Colonial interpreter told us of the World Trade Center attacks. I immediately stepped aside to call my mom in Richmond to see if she had heard from my sister in D.C. Amazingly, perhaps because her Austin cell phone was still routing through Texas, my sister was able to call and reassure our mom that she was okay even as tens of thousands of others encountered jammed phone lines.

Beach to see 9″ of snow, Bearing Drift? We have sleds if you need them!

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The weather forecasters are saying the Hampton Roads area could see upwards of 9 inches of snow overnight. Hey, Bearing Drift guys … we have sleds if you need them!

Or maybe you want help with a snowman? 

If you need to beat a path out of NorfolkChesapeakeHamptonVirginiaBeachWilliamsburg … head west to the Valley, young men and ladies. Our forecast is for a paltry 1-3″ of snow.

Incoming snow? Enjoy!

The 12 Days of Christmas … Day 10: Busch Gardens Christmas Town, Williamsburg

By Lynn R. Mitchell

If you love Christmas … if you love lights … if you love the music, then Christmas Town is your destination where every inch of real estate is a nod to the season. From the millions of twinkling white and multi-colored holiday lights to the choreographed gigantic “O Tannenbaum” Christmas tree that flashes to the music of the season, to Santa and elves and floor shows reminiscent of the days of Andy Williams, Christmas Town is absolutely breath-taking.

‘Dining with the Daltons’ and ‘Virginia Hospitality’ still favorites at my house

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Call me old school all you want but I like a hard copy recipe when cooking in the kitchen. While perusing my cookbook selection, I pulled two well-used ones from the shelf, leafing through the pages for recipes as my eyes scanned for just the right one, then closing the books to find the dog-eared pages and opening to those. At some point I mentally acknowledged these two cookbooks were Virginia through and through, as am I.

 

“Dining with the Daltons” was published by Mrs. John Dalton — Eddy — while her husband was Virginia Governor from 1978-82, is personally inscribed by her, and includes a collection of her favorite recipes. In it you can find Mrs. Dalton’s Virginia Apple Cake. There’s even a recipe from Mamie Vest for “Mamie’s Walnut Pumpkin Pie” with the added note from Mrs. Dalton, “Mamie Vest has won prizes with her recipes. She has worked on most of John’s campaigns.” I didn’t know Mrs. Vest in those days when I was fresh out of high school and working in Richmond but these days she and I are Facebook friends which proves it certainly is a small world. Both recipes are very seasonal for this time of year in Virginia — pumpkins and apples.