They're Baaaaaack!

Tourist season is underway in the Smoky Mountains.   Not in full swing yet, but they are definitely back.  For those of you who live in a tourist area, you can relate.  Now this is not a griping post--just the facts and written with humor.  With the exception of the holidays, you run along your merry little way Nov.- March.  Then you start noticing it, mostly on weekends.  They start creeping in on you when you're not even looking, and before you know it, they have you surrounded.  By the time July hits, plan to stay at home. 
   My 2 favorite bumper stickers are
"I'm local, and I'm LATE."    And, "If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?"
   Now don't get me wrong.  I know my place.  If it weren't for those 10 million people trying to crowd into our little county, stopping traffic, running you over, smogging up the air, and standing in the middle of the aisle at WalMart, our income would be drastically reduced, if we could live here at all.  Those tourists are what keep the economy here strong.  Without them, there would not be as many people moving in here, and therefore the housing market would not be strong, and my contractor husband would not have business. 
   But, I have to confess, it is difficult to appreciate that when you are trying to shop and Dad and the kids (the tourist ones) are standing in the middle of the grocery isle talking on their walkie talkies to Mom, who is wandering around the deli section, and they're trying to decide if they need 12 or 14 bags of chips.  Multiply that by about 50 families or more, just in the grocery section, and shopping becomes a tedious affair.  Not to mention the families that make you wonder why on earth they go on vacation together.  They're all screaming and fighting with each other in the middle of the store.  Then, of course, you have to get it all into your car, then sit through 4 cycles of the red light because they have ignored the signs and blocked the intersection. 
    If you happen to be traveling the same direction they are, watch out.  You must remember that tourists always have the right-of-way, no matter where they are, and no matter how many lanes of traffic they have to fly across without looking.  By golly, they want to go play putt-putt there, and they can't be bothered with going to the next turn around and coming back. 
    You also have the ones who know they are providing your income and expect to be catered to the extreme because of it.  Sometime I'll share the "funnies" of owning a chalet business. 
    The bright side is that we have met some really nice people along the way, we live in a beautiful area where we can enjoy rivers, waterfalls, hiking, and views, and we have lots of fun amusements that we can go to if we want.  And, my husband has a job.   It certainly gives you lot of practice at becoming more patient, being merciful, and gracious.  And, I also have to remember that come August or whatever month, *I* will be the tourist in someone else's hometown, clogging up their grocery isle.  Living in a tourist town makes me very aware of my presence as a tourist, and this family will try to be one of those who leaves a pleasant impression of tourists wherever they visit.