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First, I had to search to spot the 鈥渂atman鈥� building. Not that long ago it was the big dog of downtown high rises. I didn鈥檛 even try to find the L&C tower. It is now like the first little buttercup in the spring lost in the tall grass.

Once upon a time, The Life and Casualty building could be seen over 20 miles away from Jenning鈥檚 Knob, the highest point above sea level in Wison County. Not anymore.

Growing up as a boy near Carthage, Tennessee, Nashville seemed so very far away. It was a big deal in our household when someone went 鈥渁ll the way鈥� to Nashville. Riding the escalators at Harvey鈥檚 or taking in a movie at the Tennessean Theater on Church Street was an over-the-top experience. In later years, when I finally secured my driver鈥檚 license, taking a date to the movies at 100 Oaks Mall and stopping at Shoney鈥檚 on Thompson Lane, was a really big deal.

On his return to the farm after World War II my father probably never ventured more than 50 miles from home over a half-dozen

times. Nashville seemed to be as far as he ever wanted to go. And he didn鈥檛 make the trip unless it was necessary.

In his declining years, when my father began to experience dementia, our family made an exhaustive effort to get to the bottom of his issues. Along with memory loss, he began to have difficulty keeping his balance. We visited neurologists and tried physical therapy. Eventually, he was referred to a major Nashville hospital for an MRI. He was not happy there. To make matters worse, he was required to stay overnight.

It was decided I would take the night shift. My mother and my brother, John, would return the next morning and take him home. He and I were in for an eventful night. At that time in the evolution of healthcare, large hospitals were experimenting with a concept called 鈥渢otal nursing care鈥� which, in this case, meant one RN was assigned to 4-5 patients during the night. Our nurse had her hands full. The patient across the hall must have been a real booger as he required most of her attention. When the nurse realized I was there for the night, she thanked me and interrupted the evening as little as possible.

Around 10:00 PM my father and I fell into a routine. Every 10 or 15 minutes, he would roust and say, 鈥渓et鈥檚 get out of here鈥�, and then, attempt to get out of the bed, sometimes, throwing one leg over the bedrail.

I would counter with, 鈥淒ad, remember. Ma and John are coming in the morning to take you home.鈥�

鈥淥k,鈥� he would say as he laid back down.

This went on into the wee hours of the morning until we both had had enough of each other. That鈥檚 when he decided to change his strategy.

First, he sized me up. I could see the wheels turning in his mind. Then, he started the negotiation.

He pointed to the cabinet at the foot of his bed.

鈥淢y clothes are in that cabinet right over there,鈥� he said. There was cunning in his eyes.

鈥淚f you will bring me my clothes, I鈥檒l put 鈥檈m on and we can slip right out of here, and 鈥渢hey鈥� will never know it!鈥�

鈥淲hy, we could go all the way to Nashville, and 鈥渢hey鈥� wouldn鈥檛 know a thing!鈥� he said slyly.

I didn鈥檛 have the heart to tell him we were in Nashville.

But in his mind Nashville was still a faraway place where we could never be found out.