trip report

Wednesday; 0545. Would have left at 0530 as planned, but loving hubby spent a few minutes making sure the windshields and mirrors were free of road grime. Lots of deer on the road in the East Texas cloudy misty dawn, rounded a curve near Hideaway and saw three of them. Guess that’s what they do for entertainment, stand on the shoulder and watch the cars go by. Didn’t see any on the way home, but probably due only to the time difference.

An hour or so out of Dallas, heard a beeping sound. No lights on the dash, but it's a new car and all, just couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Then, eureka, realized the cooler in the front passenger seat was probably heavy enough to require a seat belt, so dropped my speed back considerably from our 75 limit and pulled the seat belt across it. No beep. GOOD! Until a couple of minutes later the beep was back. I’m thinking, well, maybe one of the back doors didn’t latch completely after I loaded the car. But at a quick glance it didn’t appear that was the problem, so continued to try to identify the source. It was only when I ran out of broadcast range for Jody Dean, I was able to determine the sound was coming from my cell phone. DUH!! Brother had sent me a good morning text, and the little phone was valiantly trying to get my attention. Acknowledged the message, and voila! No more beep.

Louisiana welcome center offers free (heavy on the chicory) coffee, but the State has some by-george corduroy roads; woulda spilled more than I could drink. Took a pass on that.

 

Saw the planes flying at Talullah, but no onions at Vidalia.

 

 

The Mississippi Welcome Center perched on the hill above Old Man River was exactly that. Love the huge American flag flying high and proud above the railroad bridge.

 

It's a miracle! No road construction all the way from Dallas to Birmingham except for a half mile on the MS bridge, and again just west of Tuscaloosa. But as far as I’m concerned, the Alabama roads should ALL be under construction, this winter has been really hard on them, and the potholes are not just potholes, they’re bear traps.

Ginger welcomed me into a home warm with love and the most amazing original art on all the walls. She should open a gallery. I cannot thank her enough for not only her hospitality, and an awesome Wi-Fi, but also for some of the best (non chicory) coffee I've ever tasted.

The Memorial Service was incredibly moving. Not just because Renee was my niece, but because everyone there knew her smiles. The lady from the Power Company, who grabbed my hand during the prayer, said she’d never seen Renee when she wasn’t smiling, not even at the very end. Ginger overheard one of the attendees say, “She’s family; ain’t no blood, but she’s family.” That was probably the most endearing tribute anyone could ever pay.

Family and friends gathered at Bill and Kaiki’s house for nourishment. Pictures taken, great nephews loved on and laughed with, hugs all around and especially from Dear Sweet BonBon, and said farewell.

 

Storms that night must have gone all around us, but other than a stiff breeze, we weren’t touched. Lots of water on the road, and heard the Easy Listening station D J talk about several places with downed trees and power lines, but none in Ginger's neighborhood. Thank you, God, for traveling mercies.

Friday; 0430; a 5/8 moon shining down. The Eagles are right, "There are stars in the Southern Sky." Namely, this time of year, Venus. So big and bright I thought it was a plane until I determined a plane doesn’t have lights like that. Comforting on my left shoulder until well past dawn. And with the rosy fingers came the lovely sight of dew on newly-planted magnolias on the easement. And before I forget, the eastern Mississippi Welcome Center has some awesome employees. The rest room attendant and I spent a couple of minutes talking about pre-packaged oatmeal; we decided it gets a thumbs up. (Yes, I WILL talk to just about anybody. ha!) Sitting in the car for a few minutes catching up on text messages, heard a knock on my window; looked up and there stood the night security guard. Once I found the control to lower it (again, that new car thing), that sweet, sweet man said, “I just made a fresh pot of coffee. I’ll get you a cup if you’d like.” I thanked him but declined the offer; no, I wouldn’t take something from somebody I don’t know under any condition; but more, I don’t drink coffee when I travel because it makes me stop too often. For you guys who can’t identify, trust me, it’s an age thing.

And then continued on the roller coaster I’ve come to identify with I-20 through middle Mississippi, and on to the next State. Just before I got to the LA line, saw a billboard advertising a champagne brunch at one of the casinos. The waffles with fresh fruit looked quite appetizing, but the fried chicken (yep, fried chicken) also pictured, well, not so much.

I cried all the way from Meridian to Monroe. Don’t ask me why. I guess it was simply time.

Took pics of the signs for Garrett Road, westbound and eastbound. Love that grandson!

 

 

The Welcome Center in Texas was exactly that. Lovely building; the great sign on the door and the statue in the courtyard both warranted an extra minute to snap two more pics.

 

Somewhere around Mesquite I realized I’d totally lost track of what day it was. And then, finally, home. Twelve hours out, eleven hours back. Still can't figure how that worked out.

OK, by now you're probably wondering about my choice of stops. Because I normally have to travel alone, I will not leave my car when I stop for gas (mid-State) and so depend on welcome centers for rest room breaks, where security guards are always on duty. God bless them, every one.

The car was filled with the sounds of Dixieland Jazz and Harry Connick, Jr., through the bayous and rice fields of the Pelican State; old fashioned country love songs in MissMeSomeSippy; music from my high school years in AL; and Marshall Tucker and Mason Dixon and Linda Ronstadt's Canciones de my Padre in TX. Jesus gives me joy, I simply have to recognize it for what it is.

I'm glad to be home. But I wouldn't trade the trip for all the world. Anytime I can reconnect with family is a God-sent favor. No matter the reason.

Finally, I can never say thank you enough to all the friends and sisters who prayed for my family and me this past three weeks. Specifically, Ginger, Sheila, Elizabeth, Annell, Bobby, Terry, Cindy, Geneva, Kat, Karen, Judi, two Connies, Stephanie, Virginia, Sally, Sandy, Sandra, Denise, Hayes; I felt the presence of your love the entire time. ¡Dios te bendiga!

taking care of bidness

This morning, in the few minutes we had together before he left for work, Jim said, “You know, if, God forbid, something happens to you, I wouldn’t have a clue who to notify. You have all the stuff on me, but you don’t have a personal emergency contact sheet. Would you put one together for me?”

No, I DO NOT anticipate he’s going to need it anytime soon, but it does raise the issue of women who take care of everyone else except themselves. While I flew all over the country with a job in a previous life (haha) there was always a list on my computer desktop that he could pull up, just in case.

The crash of the old system last year not only left me without precious pictures and music saved over the course of several years, but also without the files I had so painstakingly put together containing my wants and wishes for my home-going celebration, a digital copy of my will, and a list of phone numbers for people I thought might want to know of my passing.

And so today I have created a file with an updated list, containing not only phone numbers but also email addresses of the people dearest to my heart. And, additionally, and probably just as importantly, the passwords for my phone, my computer, my email, my facebook account, my blog, and the bank. I did NOT store it on the computer. One crash was enough to teach me the value of hardcopy.

And then I printed it. Signed and dated it. And put it in the lockbox. Right next to my will.

Female friends, just saying.

white(out) knights

We are indeed a family of writers. Could not resist sharing below from one of us who does not do it often enough. Thank you, Darling Jan.

I work 7 minutes from my house.  Tuesday it took me 4 hours to get home.  Had to leave my car about halfway and walk.  Husband’s 79 year old mother and 85 year old aunt had met up with me and we walked together.  Sweet hubby was at home---he had worked nights and was sleeping.  He drove as far as he could and then walked to meet us.  I guess we only had to walk about a mile or so---but in the driving snow, when you are not dressed appropriately, any distance is a challenge.  Mom stayed with us until the roads cleared.  Youngest son was trapped downtown at UAB.  He spent Tuesday and Wednesday night as a “refugee” in the campus rec center with all the other stranded students and faculty.  We were just VERY grateful that he was indoors.  Many, many people spent close to 24 hours in their vehicles gridlocked on the roads.  I had made him put a “care package” in his car the week before.  It consisted of some pop tarts, peanut butter crackers, bottled water, toboggan and face mask and a blanket.  All the eye rolling he did was quickly forgotten once he realized he was stranded.  The blanket came in pretty handy.  J (Maybe he will realize that Mom really does know best.)

Believe me.  We will all have a severe weather kit in our cars as soon as I can assemble them.  They will have inflatable pillows or air mattresses, blankets, non- perishable food items and some sort of contraption to ensure that bathroom issues will not complicate things further.   We will also have gloves, extra socks and water proof boots for long distance walking. 

Several of my coworkers have small children that spent the night at their schools.  God bless the educators that kept, loved on, and entertained them. 

I left my car parked in a local nursing home lot.  The staff there was extraordinary, offering food and drinks, access to a land line phone and any other items that were needed. 

Wonderful snow angels emerged through it all and helped their fellow man in any way they could.  Any time I now question the very basic humanity of most people, I only have to remember the snow---and all those wonderful folks that opened their homes, businesses and hearts to all of us.    (I especially thank the good ole boys on their 4-wheelers and trucks with chains who appeared like white-out knights on "horses" to the rescue.)  

Take care and know that I love you.