Page 30 - Barbecue News Magazine August 2020
P. 30

bbq roadtrip
ROADTRIP
WITH MY
GRANDSON
  Dana “big papa” Hillis
BBQ From Florida
lighthousepointe@ hotmail.com
Every year, my family has our family reunion during the summer at my cousin's place in McMinnville, Tennessee. Each year we hold it, my cousin Anthony makes some im- provements to the Mayfield resort, making it even better than before. We may have to spread the tables out a little further this year, and masks will be available to whoever feels comfortable wearing one, but one thing remains the same; the food we prepare. This year it will be covered and served. We will do our best to be out in the fresh air and be as safe as possible. Corona is not going to put a stop to our 6th Annual Dinner on the Ground. We have made it known if anyone doesn't feel safe, we will deliver food for anyone not doing well or just playing it safe.
This year we are cooking gator, brisket, pork loins, chicken wings, old fashioned meatloaf, and a few surprises for everyone! Most of the relatives that come to the re- union bring their favorite side dish. The spread of food is fantastic, and God is given thanks for letting us all have an- other year.
Anthony decided he wanted to build a cookhouse to put all our cookers in, so if mother nature decided to show up,
it would not slow us down. I had a little time on my hands, so I decided to load up my grandson, Kael, and made a road trip. I called and asked if he would like to go with me, and he said, "He thought some things could be moved around so he'd be free to go." (keep in mind he is only 7). We packed up our necessities and headed north. Kael said he had never been away from his family and was excited to go with me. I told him he would love this place; he was going to meet family he did not know he had. He brought his Ipad for pictures, and man did he take some pictures. He took pictures of highways and trees. When we went through At- lanta, he took pictures of big buildings and mountains and sunsets and trees. The sunset coming into Chattanooga was incredible, and he sent tons of photos to his mom, dad, and brothers.
His dad gave him some money to spend, but he said he was going up to the farm to work so he would make plenty of money. His dad also told me the boy could eat (which I have witnessed), and every time we stopped, Kael ate the biggest cheeseburgers I could buy. I told his dad the next time I take him, I would be bringing a lot more cheese- burger money!
 BarbecueNews.com - 30
AUGUST 2020
The new cook shed in McMinnville




















































































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