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[roseren]

Today my brother and dad and I spent the day at Mammoth Cave, which I learned is 365 miles so far (they are still discovering more of it), making it the largest cave in the world. If you have never been, I HIGHLY recommended checking it out sometime in your life. It was definetly worth the 8 hours of driving time for me. We took a short hike by

Comments

[drewclid]

Yay! Maybe you'll be able to drive ME somewhere next year!

[dierdra]

Hey, maybe you can finally pay me back for hauling you and Erin around for the last two years, eh Kitsune?

[roseren]

Eventually. Don't get your hopes up, kids. I am not taking the test yet.

[dierdra]

awwww -=pouts=- Luck anyway!

Mammoth Cave

[ineffiblenee]

One of my close family friends, Davis McCombs, was a tour guide at Mammoth Cave for a year before he was hired to teach. (He had his undergrad from Havard, Masters from UVA, Ph D from Standford and was Yale's poet of the year in 1998, but still couldn't get a full time job at Mammoth Cave, or anywhere else near where we live. But, as this is an unrelated rant, I shall end the digression here. ) Davis wrote a book of poetry about the Mammoth Cave called Ultama Thule - if you enjoyed the cave tour, you should check it out. BTW, did the tell you the horrible way the tuberculosis hopitial was closed? If they didn't and you would like to know, post on my live journal and I will tell you what I have heard about it.
Glad you enjoyed the cave tour, ciao, Lane

Re: Mammoth Cave

[roseren]

That sounds wonderful. I'll have to check out his poetry sometime. I did not go into the tuberculosis hospital section, so I did not get to hear that story. Please tell me about it!

Re: Mammoth Cave

[ineffiblenee]

I am repeting this from memory, so the dates may be inccorect, but the general story is true. In the roughly the 1820s there was a huge outbreak of tuberculosis in the area. Local physicians had tried employed every remedy they have heard might work to cure their ailing patients, but to no avail. Needless to say, the physicans, as well as the patient's families were desperate. About this time, reports were being circulated in medical circles that keeping patients in a cool, damp climate would have miraculous restorative effects upon the patients health. At this point in time physicians had really limited access to things like peer reviewed journals with double-blind tests to support or repute theories about disease. Especially in this part of the country. As a desperate last ditch effort to cure those afflicted with tuberculosis, with the permission of the proprietors of the cave (do not know if the cave was owned by the government then or not), and the co-operation of the municipal officials, medical community and the families of the

[dierdra]

First and foremost: I LOVE YOUR ICON. Secondly, I am JEALOUS. Mammoth Cave sounds excellent!
My day looked more like this:
Wake up at 8, 8.30, 9.30, 10, 10.14, 10.45, 11.30
Voice lessons @ 1.30. Had to leave early enough to make sure I could get up the 3 flights of stairs on my crutches.
Shopping for knee brace and funness with sister @ 3.
I kept getting better from there. The high point came around 10 when I finally got to spend time alone with Tony.
Tomorrow consists of an 8 hour car ride with a hyper 5 yr old. Great.
Have a good week doll, and good luck tomorrow!

[numair]

Sounds like both a fabulous and educational experience -- and they don't get much better than that! I think I've got pictures of when we ventured there somewhere in this household...I know I have plenty of Ruby Falls down here, but the falls (contrary to popular belief) are human controller. Doesn't mean the history and rock formations aren't still great, though ^_^ If you ever get down around TN, go check it out, although I doubt you'll get 'round this area.