WHAT'S IN BRADFORD, PA???!!!

Some of the best adventures in life are unplanned or from just a casual conversation. Picture this...(said in the voice of Sophia). It was Christmas Day - 2021. There I sat in the dinning room at my father-in-law Jerold's house. He and my husband were discussing the gift we'd given him. A simple Case pocket knife. My husband, Bruce, was telling how Case Knives are one of the few knives still manufactured in the U.S.A. and how a lot of knives are now produced in...well that place where everything in the world seems to be produced now days. This led to where Case is located and that they are owned by Zippo- yeah the cigarette lighter. Low and behold the home for Zippo-Case AND their flagship store is in Bradford, PA. Whoa there Myrtle hold onto your Girdle- they have a MUSEUM! OMG!!! That was the siren's call that pulled the two men in my life toward their song demanding a visit. Can we all say - ROADTRIP!

Yep. In my infinite wisdom I suggested, "why don't y'all plan a trip up there and visit." I thought this would be a great opportunity for some well needed father/son time and a distraction for my father-in-law. All of us were adjusting to the recent passing of my mother-in-law due to Alzheimers. Such a cruel disease.

Really, how far could Bradford, PA be from Monroe, GA. This thought logic coming from a person who is geographically challenged. I'm thinking a three day weekend trip. Yeah, stop laughing I hear you.

Then the suggestion of a family trip was made. The three of us on the road together. My husband's enticement...The Shenandoah Valley and my love affair with Thomas Jefferson. The two of us have often discussed over the years of driving through the Shenandoah Valley. That was the bait. What set the hook for me was, "you can visit Thomas Jefferson's vacation home -Popular Forest." Sign me up! I call backseat! The man knew my infidelity and that I could not resist anything TJ.

Calendars were consulted and length of the trip discussed. It was decided. We'd take ten days and go at the end of April. My job on the trip you might ponder. Sit on the backseat, enjoy the scenery, and advise when I needed to potty or be fed. I have to admit it was entertaining from the backseat to listen to the navigational strategies between my husband and his dad. My father-in-law hates the interstate. His theory is it is boring and to see real scenery you have to travel highways and experience the small towns. And, to be honest it is a sound theory when you are wanting to see parts of the country you've never experienced.

So, it was decided we'd take the interstate to Danville, VA and say goodbye to it for the remainder of the trip. Yep, that meant seeing the country side and every small town from Danville, VA to Bradford, PA. Here's a news flash...there's not a lot of places to potty and most of the small towns made my hometown of Washington, Georgia look metropolitan. Day three found us arriving at our destination- Bradford, PA. We were one night's sleep from getting to visit the museum.

Normally, I give my husband grief about museums. This was an exception. I too wanted to see the history of this piece of Americana and the museum did not disappoint. Since the birth of both Case and Zippo there is not a part of our American history or pop culture these two products have not been present. The museum does a great job of depicting this with displays, letters, and carvings.

Last Fall, I decided to start carrying pocket knives in the giftshop and a lot of it had to do with the nostalgia that is often attached to giving or receiving a knife. This trip reinforced that feeling and our knife section is expanding to carry Case and Zippo products. Because everyone should carry a piece of Americana in their pockets.