My 13 Favorite Moments of 2024: Family Fun and Personal Fulfillment
Our first full year as Gatlinburg residents was filled with positive moments I will remember for years to come… hopefully. I don’t take anything for granted anymore, so every day I try to live life to its full potential. As with anyone, that can be easier said than done. But I am truly lucky, and yes, also blessed. That means something different to swaths of individuals, but to me, I feel it’s a good mix of the unknown and what we’ve done to take ownership of our decisions. Before I get too deep, I want to look back at 2024 and give you all my favorite moments that I will truly cherish.
***These 2024 moments are all in chronological order. There’s no way I was going task myself with ranking them. They are all memorable, and I actually think they represent accurately the life we want to lead here in Gatlinburg. I’m surprised at how many meant so much to me. I hope you all enjoy the read! It is by far my longest one this year!***
1. My Birthday Dinner in January
My 47th birthday was the first one ever spent in Gatlinburg. I wanted it to be special. So… why not try a place that has been a staple of Gatlinburg excellence for as long as I’ve been alive. Of course, I’m talking about The Peddler. As I wrote in my review after visiting, it was the best experience we’ve ever had at a restaurant here. The steaks, salad bar, service, and dessert were impeccable. It was a family affair, and we all walked the mile journey back to our apartment talking about it most of the way back. Sure, I’ve had memorable birthdays in the past, but none really have the same effect as this one will have.
2. Watching it Snow in Gatlinburg
I can only recall one occasion on our many visits where it snowed, so you can imagine my excitement putting on snow pants and my old work boots to walk downtown to capture the moment. I’m not a photographer, but I will always fondly look back at the ones I took. It’s pretty easy to pretend to be a good picture-taker when you live here, and I did a lot of make-believe even if it was real life. I can’t recall many moments in 20 years when I felt lucky to be alive, and now, we’re living in what I used to think was a dream world. There is just something about a Smoky Mountain snowfall that inspires you and puts things in its proper perspective.