Nashville was finally showing on the road signs!!!! Wait…that meant Ysabela and I would be on our own. Hmmmm.
Joseph pulled the rig into a truck stop, and we had one last discussion about my directions. (Road warrior Pam was sleeping.) He said he’d call us when he turned off to offload, and I would continue driving. By this time, naturally, I was getting tired and my back was hurting. My neck was tight, and I swear I had a cramp in my palm from gripping the wheel.
I thanked him for all the help he and Pam had given us. I felt a bit sad at being on my own again, but home was a lot closer than before!
Ysabela and I went back to playing Banana! and Punch Bug! to amuse ourselves. (I’m sure I won the banana game.) I started singing with the radio to stay alert. We drove and drove (and drove) until I felt it would be dangerous to keep driving. At Cookeville (TN), I gave in and got us a room. I figured I could breeze on home after I got five or six hours of sleep. After all, I had been driving for a whole 24 hours. Enough already! I had been driving like it was my job! The trip was taking longer than I had anticipated and I was feeling
Some of you may have noticed silence on my part since late last week. I will explain.
Do you ever get the feeling things happen for a reason? Yeah, me too. This weekend is one perfect example. I thought I had my clock set for 10:15 (p. m.) Friday so we could get ready to leave home by 11. My plan was to drive all night and get us to Virginia by late Saturday night. So much for my plan. The alarm went off at 10 instead, so I got up, showered and we left 15 minutes early. No big deal, right? Wrong. It was part of the master plan.
At the beginning of the trip, I had on my game face and was ready to drive. I felt like
My Uncle Roger has been a trucker for years, so if I need driving directions, he’s my go-to person. He always gets us where we need to be. Earlier in the week he had faxed me directions with approximate distances and other details. I managed to make it to Lincoln before the second step of my plan went awry. Uncle Roger is very precise, but this time, an exit number was off, and I ended up on what I thought was the right road, but I had to make sure. (I can get lost in a paper bag!)
We narrowly missed a collision when a truck passed me on the right side. I was struggling to move into the left lane to pass a tractor trailer. It was just getting dark, and I was taking my time. The driver behind me must have been in a hurry because after nearly hitting us, the truck immediately swerved in front of me to pass the rig. The important part is that we did NOT get hit. When near misses happen, I always wonder if someone was praying for me in that very moment.
After the near miss, the rig and I ended up side by side at a red light. Wanting to reassure myself of my route, I had Ysabela roll her window down and wave to get the driver’s attention so I could ask if we were in the right place. Imagine my surprise when a LADY rolled down the window to give us an answer. AWESOME! She was coincidentally (?) heading the same way we were, and she was kind enough to let us follow her until we hit the next road we needed.
The three of us stopped for a potty break. Pam and I had a chat and exchanged travel info while Ysabela chose a snack. I discovered Pam was driving while her husband, Joseph, was sleeping until it was his turn. She also warned me that she had a mandatory 30-minute rest coming up. I asked if it was OK if we hung out and waited since she was heading to Nashville. The part that worried me most was getting around St. Louis.
By this part of the 21-hour (we thought) journey, Ysabela had entertained me by singing her favorite songs. With headphones in. While I was trying to listen to the radio. And watch road signs. After the entertainment was over, she concentrated on beating me at “Banana!” and “Punch Bug!” She took a few naps in between all the fun. While she slept, I kept count of all the yellow (banana) vehicles I saw as well as the VW bugs. (I jokingly told her I had won the banana game 500 to 25 since she slept for a few hours.)
We drove a couple hundred more miles, found a truck stop and had a great meal. Pam made me laugh a lot! The conversation between Pam and the waitress went something like this:
Waitress: What can I get for you?
Pam: (on a fact-finding mission before making a choice) Do you have pepper Jack cheese?
Waitress: No, sorry.
Pam: Do you have Pico de Gallo?
Waitress: (confused look) No, sorry.
Pam: (sigh) OK, I’ll have……(something I can’t remember)
Waitress: Would you like toast, biscuits or English muffins with that?
Pam: Do you have any scones?
Waitress: (wincing) No.
Joseph woke up to find his lovely wife and two strangers in a booth awaiting sustenance. He seemed like a very even-tempered fellow, and Pam quickly explained why Ysabela and I were tagging along. I commented that I wasn’t spending as much on gas as I had expected, and Joseph reminded me of something I should have remembered—drafting! (Don’t panic—I wasn’t glued to the bumper!) I checked my gauges, and my gas mileage was better than on any other trip I have taken.
By now, we had swapped cell numbers and email addresses. If I got lost, I could call them for help. A few hundred miles later during yet another rest stop, Joseph and Pam offered us an alternative to our original directions that would alleviate some of my stress. I could follow them to Nashville, they would offload and I could catch I-40 over to I-81 and onward.
I am a very suspicious person by nature, but this awesome couple was put in my path for a reason. (If we had left home as scheduled, we never would have met them.) I am SO glad Pam and Joseph were part of my trip.
I have been planning a trip for the last few weeks. It causes a lot of stress to make sure things are lined up and will work. It’s hard to replace me at my house! My first concern is always making sure my furry kids are taken care of in my absence. I am thankful there’s a dog boarding facility in our small town. Koko’s Palace is a safe, happy place for Boxita and Chance. I am also thankful to have a great neighbor who will be in daily to care for the other critters we have. Our furry, four-legged “children” are considered family around here!
Now that I think about it, I have a lot of reasons to be thankful—people who want us to visit, good friends, a car, a roof over our heads, food in the cabinets and freezer, work that I enjoy, people who read my blog 🙂 and even more.
All that remains is to fill the tank, get some rest and have a safe trip.
Have you ever given your pet a massage-petting? You know what I mean, don’t you? You’re digging your fingers in the fur (gently, of course) as you pet. My dogs and cats LOVE it. Today when I let the bunnies out to binky (jump around), I decided I wanted to pet the rabbits. That’s what I did, but what happened surprised me. I was petting Bella Bunny’s back. She seemed to enjoy it, so I moved to massage-pet her right side. She curved her body toward the right as I petted. I chuckled and petted her left side. She curved her body to the left. Hmmmmm. And again. I concluded that she must be ticklish. For some reason, I think it’s hilarious. I never would have considered that a bunny would be! Maybe I’m easily amused, but these bunn-bunns are very entertaining.
There is nothing quite so adorable as these two little faces in the morning. I caught them playing with their new toys. As soon as I snapped the first picture, they, of course, decided they were done.
My sweet little “Barkleys”
They stopped playing to pose. Chance is pretending he doesn’t want to play.
I love watching House Hunters International. There. I’ve said it. Don’t judge me. The people who have a budget of a million dollars are so far out of my league that I just can’t relate to them. I am happy they have that much cash to spend, but at the same time, it is not—for me—a realistic budget.
I have news hot off the press for these rich folks. I can find them a presentable house (in Mexico) for MUCH less. The Mexican price is not the same as the American price for a house. You just have to know where to look. If you go to the real estate ads online, be sure you will pay the American price. There are some pretty houses (for a pretty price). Many have a few acres too, BUT wouldn’t you rather find a little jewel for a great deal? Do you really need a hacienda to be happy?
The episodes I can’t get enough of include regular, working folks who have a realistic (to me) budget and are looking for that one special home, perfect or not. Like me, they will search for a home with “rustic charm” and “good bones.” I can definitely relate to those people. After all, what’s wrong with doing some upgrades and not paying top dollar? That’s what we did when we moved from the States to Mexico. I still love that house. 🙂 The best part? It was WAY under a cool million.
Almost 12 hours after getting home from the after-Prom party, the princess is UP. I swear she fell asleep mid-sentence early this morning. (I picked her up around 4:30.) I staggered into the kitchen for coffee about 11:30, put the dogs out and back in to guard my Sleeping Beauty.
Shhhh!
Princess Ysabela enjoyed a “breakfast” of waffles and bacon and savored the memory of choosing her new Blu-ray disc player as a prize at the end of the after-Prom party. I would like to thank all the parents and community members who worked so many hours to make the party a roaring success. As far as I know, the Bronco Boosters coordinated the event.
All the hype about Prom—is it really worth it? Girls and their parents spend so much for so little, really. Dresses and shoes, of course, are usually expensive. Then there’s a corsage to buy, pictures, hair, makeup, nails, etc. Add in a dose of anxiety about finding a suitable date, and I have to wonder if it’s really worth it. Let me tell you about my experience.
I was so lucky to find a discounted dress at Deb’s in Grand Island last October. It was on sale for about $25. I saw a tiny flaw on the breast and brought it to the cashier’s attention. I received an additional 55% off! HALLELUJAH! Imagine my glee in spending so little for a PROM DRESS! (Sorry to shout, but it was exciting.) Getting Princess Ysabela’s hair done cost me $25 (thank you, Lisa), and a wrist corsage was a little over $17 (thank you, Lynn). Momma was rocking, right? Go me! Anyway, I thought I was rocking too. As I mentally patted myself on the back, I noticed my princess was manifesting signs of stress. Stress? Why ever would that be? How do I know?
Ysabela was smiling, but her silver shoes became her focus once she got to the gym. She complained that they hurt her feet. I suspect that was simply a symptom of insecurity and nerves. It makes sense. Like a guest speaker at school said, “Kids walk on stage and perform every time they enter the school.” I had never thought of high school like that. If I view Prom in the same light, no wonder Ysabela was using her shoes as a focal point for her nerves! It was easier than admitting to herself (or me) that she was feeling insecure. Oh, teen angst! It’s a battle we all must fight—and hopefully win.
Is the stress worth it? Prom is an important event in a teen’s life. As a parent, I think we need to be vigilant and do something if we notice our children’s stress levels escalating. I, for one, will pay close attention to my daughter’s clues, both verbal and nonverbal.
As a new blogger, I have been cautioned against stressing over my blog’s stats. As a hard-headed woman, I let that advice go in one ear and out the other. (Some days there’s nothing in between to stop it anyway.) I love seeing places lit up on my map. Various days have shown readers in Singapore, Greece, Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Some visited from New Zealand and the UK. I’m thrilled to have them read a bit on my humble blog. Some days I feel like blogging is similar to putting a note in a bottle, corking it and throwing it into the ocean!
My dream is to have readers from every country. Preferably on the same day so my world is lit up on the stats page! If you enjoy something you’ve read on my blog, repost my link. If you have friends (inside or) outside my home country (US), send them a link to my ramblings. Go wild! And thank you. 🙂
Feel free to leave me a comment. I always read (and respond) to the ones that make it past the spam filter.
Ramblings of a Perforated Mind 