Day one

Burlington to Atlanta to Montgomery (plus a craft idea for long trips)

Greetings from Montgomery, Frog Troublers! Bea and I are on a civil rights and racial justice tour through parts of Georgia and Alabama with members of the First Presbyterian Church of Burlington, NC. We’re planning to post tonight, Wednesday, and Thursday—a different schedule than usual. We’ll also post mostly at night, after each day of learning and reflection.

We started today quite early, waking up and rushing around when, as Harriet pointed out, it was still nighttime. Richard and Harriet drove us to Burtlington to meet up with our tour group, and no one cried! Harriet did ask when we’d be back, and seemed satisfied with our answer, though she also asked, a few times, “What is Friday?”

Our bus departed at eight AM, with twenty-seven passengers (plus the excellent bus driver, Robert). It was Bea’s first time on a charter bus, and my first charter bus trip in quite a few years. I love how you get to know your neighbors, then make your nest by getting out your books and your snacks and your headphones. Reading while riding in a car is a no-go for me, but I can read for short stretches on a bus.

On this trip, we also came up with a fun keepsake-making activity that we wanted to tell you about. We’re calling it our stitch journal trip tapestry. As we ride along, we’re taking turns embroidering different things we see or experience. We started with “Burlington” and a picture of the charter bus (inexpertly stitched by me), then Bea added a sun—because we started on a sunny day. After we left Atlanta we worked together on a small rendition of Dr. King’s birthplace, and Bea is also adding a tree, because there were a lot of trees in Atlanta.

To keep a journal like ours, all you need is:

An embroidery hoop & some cotton fabric

Some embroidery floss

Some needles, and maybe a seam ripper

Patience!

Looking back on our work, I think it might make sense to sketch in your drawing with a pencil. We didn’t do that because we learned to embroider by watching Mamie, who does everything (magnificently) freehand. But in general, just stitching outlines and simple chain stitching makes it possible to add something in a short amount of time.

Other thoughts about trip tapestries:

Take turns adding the images. If someone in your family isn’t comfortable with sewing, let them draw the design, while someone else stitches.

Use the “dotted snowman” principle: enjoy the imperfections (the dotted snowman is a favorite Boggs family ornament, made by Sky when he was three).

Add funny or quirky memories too—small things that are particular to your trip. Maybe something you ate? Or a person’s name?

We’re excited to be on this journey together, and to have the chance to learn from our fellow travelers and the tour guides we can’t wait to meet. Tomorrow we’re off to Selma, about a one-hour drive from here, then back to Montgomery.

Also, here’s what Bea has to say about Atlanta:

It has lots of greenery, beautiful architecture, and very good playgrounds. I know that sounds weird, but there’s a great playground right outside the Dr. King Visitor Center, and you need to get some exercise if you’ve been on a long bus ride. You can also do cartwheels and run around the grassy area.

Inside, you shouldn’t run, obviously. There are two museums—the Dr. King Visitor Center and The King Center, plus Ebenezer Baptist Church, where you can hear his recorded sermons. You can learn about Dr. King’s life, all of the marches he led and speeches he gave. At the King Center you can also learn about his wife, Coretta Scott King, who also did so much to help people, and also about Mohandas Gandhi and how he inspired Dr. King’s belief in nonviolence.  

Another thing you can do if you’re on a bus trip and you’re the only kid is offer to count the people. This is an important job, so you don’t leave anyone behind!

We’ll be back tomorrow, with more from our trip. Let us know if there’s anything you’d like us to find out, photograph, or that you recommend!