You, Me, and the Dog: Stories From the Mobile Mojo Dojo Casa House: June, 2024 -- 3 Days in Nashville

I fit in here

Back in the pre-internet, pre-iPhone, pre-everybody’s a filmmaker, pre-everything’s gotta be a sequel or we’re too afraid to make it, 1990s, there were all sorts of quirky, sorta independent films with clever names and off-beat characters that made it into almost mainstream. “3 Days in Nashville” could have been right up there with “Eight Heads in a Duffle Bag” or “Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead”. But it wasn’t. But it should’ve. Or maybe not.

We enjoyed our stay, despite the now ubiquitous challenging drive into the campground and skipping out on the Grand Ole' Opry. US Army Corp of Engineering campgrounds are awesome. We weren’t waterfront, but it was spacious and quiet and an easy walk to a nice beach. Axel approved.

It was also extremely conveniently located for everything Nashville including music, hot-chicken, and a must-see car museum. The Lane Motor Museum’s collection of vehicles included conversions from airplanes, tiny 30 hp pickup trucks, a massively huge amphibious landing craft, Japanese drift machines, and dozens of motorcycles. They claim a European leaning so I was hoping to see a Lotus or three. They’ve 5 in their collection but only one was on display. It’s okay though, it was one I never thought I’d seen in real life.

Renee is not a car person but enjoyed our visit describing several of the vehicles, especially an early Mazda, as “cute.” Being able to live without being rushed has allowed us to enjoy many places we’d have skipped over previously because they “weren’t our thing” – there are so many stories. It’s not just a fish, it’s trout. It doesn’t just have scales, look at the detail, the color and patterns. Right?

Speaking of not our thing, we also went to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. We walked through the gift shop, found the nostalgia compelling, and so decided to not be cheap. We bought the relatively pricey tickets and went to see the exhibits. What an amazing place, artfully documenting the life and times of performers, the intersections and cross-influences of blues, folk, and rock with country, and the remarkably cooperative and nurturing professional musician community in Nashville.

From the set of Hee-Haw to Dwight Yoakum’s pants to the Bandit’s Firebird, there was something familiar around every turn. At least until we got to the last part. Other than Darius Rucker, I don’t know any of these new kids.

Back on the town, we strolled through Bon Jovi’s place, ate at The Assembly of Food (which was WOW), and listened to a lot of really good live music as we walked the streets and shopped for emergency sunglasses and an Alani Nu. I even stopped in at the Bridgestone building to grab snaps of their Indycar static display and oversized tire mobile (the kind that hangs from the ceiling).

We ended up going downtown 2 days, parking at the stadium and walking across the bridge both times. It’s hilly, but enjoyable in a county fair midway sort of way. It seemed a bit overwhelming at first, but like so many of the places we’ve “lived” the past couple of months, we’re carrying away a comfortable familiarity and look forward to coming back.