Well, I did finish my trip in safety, but drove a long ways each day, so I was too tired to do my blog at night. I thought I'd finish up when I got home.
What actually happened is that I slept most of four days, (and nights!) and just couldn't settle. Reentry to my normal life proved to be harder than I anticipated. So I went to Georgia, my excuse was to pick up my houseplants that I left with my daughter Jeanne. The plants did great under her care, but I nearly killed them on my way home, but that's another story. I talked and prayed with Jeannie, and she helped me with some suggested sites on the internet to start my job search. She also gave me a motorcycle ride to see the quarry lakes where they mine kaolin. It was so good to ride again; it feels like flying. We were joined by Ashley, my granddaughter, to play innumerable games of rummy and Kings-In-the-Corner with the picture card decks I got at some of the National Parks I visited. My son-in-law, Jeff, removed a large tic from Jiffy, for which both Jif and I were grateful! We visted a neighbor down the street who has a small farm. She makes pine straw baskets and grows Scuppernongs, which I finally learned are large brown grapes, similar to Muscadines. I really liked her. She also has two long rows of blueberries that have the first ripe ones ready. Yumm! I attended the church where Jeff preaches, and those people greeted me like they know me, all of them inquiring about my trip. I guess many of them have been following this blog and feel like they know me pretty well by now. I left with a sense of peace and purpose.
This time when I came home, I have spent the week catching up on my life. Most of the travel gear is now off the living room floor, and the kitchen table top is nearly visible again. My garden is assuming a sense of order and peace again, and I have had the car windshield repaired where a rock from a semi made a small chip that had started to spread. I also have been to the transmission repair shop, and need to go again in the morning. I've picked up relationships with friends, and FINALLY I'm ready to finish the blog!
May 20 After seeing Aunt Dean and my cousins yesterday, I drove to a town called Stuttgart. I think that it was the nearest big town to the place my grandparents used to live. This part of Arkansas is almost totally flat, known as the Grand Prairie. It is quite a contrast to the morning's drive through the mountains. When we arrived at our hotel for the night, a crop duster plane was working the fields just behind the motel. It was fascinating to watch it work.
This morning, I drove past fields that were either ready to plant, with checks scrolled in odd patterns across them, or had been planted a week or two earlier with rice. (I thought it was rice because my Dad had told me they grew a lot of rice there.) I didn't see anyone planting, and the only picture I had in my mind of rice planting was of people with teepee shaped bamboo hats bent over pushing rice shoots into the water. So I stopped at a grocery in a tiny town named Hazen to buy some rice produced in the area, but they didn't have any. The clerk there told me to drive down the road another mile and a half, and I'd find the processing factory where the farmers took their rice. She said they would give me a bag of rice. So I went there, and sure enough, the office administrator gave me two bags of the rice they process. I asked her about the patterns of the irrigation checks I'd seen. She laughed and said they are not just for designs, they are according to the elevation of the field, to hold the water in. She said the only places, which are few, that are perfectly level have straight checks. I then asked her if they hired coulees from China to plant the rice. She really laughed then, and said, "No, there is a big piece of equipment pulled by a tractor that drills the rice seed into the fields, following the contour maps." I think the Chinese way is much more picturesque.
Jiffy and I then rejoined Interstate 40 and crossed the Mississippi at Memphis and were back in Tennessee. We spent the night at Cookeville, and were very glad to stop and rest. We drove over 400 miles, which translates to a long time with the various stops we have to make. It is great to be in Tennessee!
May 21
I woke up excited, knowing I could sleep in my own bed tonight! We got organized and left a little early. I hoped we could eat at a wonderful restaurant by a river that I knew about from the days of being a houseparent. We stopped on one of our vacations with the Villages kids we parented. The place is called "The Crosseyed Cricket" and they had wonderful fish and a great view of the river. I drove around looking for it for about 45 minutes before I stopped at a little gas station/grocery and what had happened to the Cricket. He said they sold out the restaurant to a mega business park, and the building has been torn down. I could have cried. I was all set for trout and had to settle for chicken nuggets.
But we did get to go to the Falls Creek Falls state park, and Jiffy and I walked out on the swinging bridge so I could take pictures of one of the waterfalls. We were less than half way across when I decided the bounce factor with both me and the dog were more than I wanted to undergo. Later I found out that if I had just finished that walk, there is a viewing place on the other side where you can see the Falls Creek Falls, which is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Guess I'll have to go back for that picture!
We got home about 6:30, enough light left to go look at the garden. Jiffy was delighted and raced around all over it, checking things out. I have been so homesick for the garden, especially because one of my good friends took pictures of it every week or so and e-mailed them so I could see what was blooming at home. I found out that she is an excellent photographer, for she didn't send a hint of all the weeds waiting and the incredible number of pinecones littering everything. When I finally attacked the pine cones, I had a stack by the street in front of my house that was 10 feet long and 3 feet tall, which the city workers vacuumed into their truck. And that wasn't all of the pine cones! It took until around 9 p.m. to unload the basic stuff and get to bed.
I took some time to think about the trip, and to thank the Lord for all the blessings and the staggering number of Divine Appointments He arranged, and for safety and provision and answered prayer. I did fall asleep counting my blessings!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Aunt Dean
Tuesday, May 19
It took longer than I expected to travel the winding and hilly roads between Ft. Smith and Hot Springs, Arkansas, so I arrived at Aunt Dean's house a few minutes before noon. I walked up to her patio and found her asleep in a chair there. I called to her softly, and she immediately woke up and smiled at me. She looks older than when I last saw her, (25 years ago, I think), but she still looks like the woman I remember. I, on the other hand, have changed a great deal in this amount of time. We talked about the memories I have of her mother and father, and she really enjoyed and remembered many of the same things, and told me more that I never heard before. Then her youngest daughter, who lives across the street from her, came over to check on who the stranger was visiting her mom, and I met my cousin that I hadn't seen before. Her name is Marlene, and she provided me with address and phone links to the rest of my cousins on Aunt Dean's side. Aunt Dean wanted me to see another of my cousins who lives across town, so she came with me and gave me driving directions. She is over 90 years old, and is very fit and mentally sharp, although she will have surgery tomorrow to remove a cataract that has obscured her vision in one eye. I was able to pray for her about that before I left. I feel so blessed and honored to have found and spoken with two of my aunts, at my age! Can you feel the praise in my heart, can you imagine the hallelujah dance going on in my mind, even though I am too tired to do it physically tonight? Praise the Lord!
It took longer than I expected to travel the winding and hilly roads between Ft. Smith and Hot Springs, Arkansas, so I arrived at Aunt Dean's house a few minutes before noon. I walked up to her patio and found her asleep in a chair there. I called to her softly, and she immediately woke up and smiled at me. She looks older than when I last saw her, (25 years ago, I think), but she still looks like the woman I remember. I, on the other hand, have changed a great deal in this amount of time. We talked about the memories I have of her mother and father, and she really enjoyed and remembered many of the same things, and told me more that I never heard before. Then her youngest daughter, who lives across the street from her, came over to check on who the stranger was visiting her mom, and I met my cousin that I hadn't seen before. Her name is Marlene, and she provided me with address and phone links to the rest of my cousins on Aunt Dean's side. Aunt Dean wanted me to see another of my cousins who lives across town, so she came with me and gave me driving directions. She is over 90 years old, and is very fit and mentally sharp, although she will have surgery tomorrow to remove a cataract that has obscured her vision in one eye. I was able to pray for her about that before I left. I feel so blessed and honored to have found and spoken with two of my aunts, at my age! Can you feel the praise in my heart, can you imagine the hallelujah dance going on in my mind, even though I am too tired to do it physically tonight? Praise the Lord!
Travel through OK
Monday, May 18
All the tables were occupied when I went to eat the free breakfast at the motel in Amarillo this morning. A middle aged man invited me to share his table. As we struck up a conversation, he told me that he and a friend were using their vacation time to be storm searchers, but the weather was too good. I told him that it is probably my fault, because I have been praying that I don't encounter any tornadoes as I cross these plains.
I drove the entire width of Oklahoma today. The worst part was seeing a semi truck hit a great blue heron. The best part was seeing Lake Eufala.
The crowning point came after I registered to stay in Fort Smith Arkansas. I tried again to call the number I found on People Search for my father's sister, my Aunt Dean. She answered! I am going to go see her in the morning. She lives in the Hot Springs National Park. The Lord God who has kept me safe from tornadoes is also giving me my heart's desires on this trip!
All the tables were occupied when I went to eat the free breakfast at the motel in Amarillo this morning. A middle aged man invited me to share his table. As we struck up a conversation, he told me that he and a friend were using their vacation time to be storm searchers, but the weather was too good. I told him that it is probably my fault, because I have been praying that I don't encounter any tornadoes as I cross these plains.
I drove the entire width of Oklahoma today. The worst part was seeing a semi truck hit a great blue heron. The best part was seeing Lake Eufala.
The crowning point came after I registered to stay in Fort Smith Arkansas. I tried again to call the number I found on People Search for my father's sister, my Aunt Dean. She answered! I am going to go see her in the morning. She lives in the Hot Springs National Park. The Lord God who has kept me safe from tornadoes is also giving me my heart's desires on this trip!
Sunday, May 17
I got up early this morning to take my friend, who isn't nameless but prefers anonymity, to catch a shuttle bus to Albuerqueque, where she hop-skipped flights back to Tennessee. She made it home safely, she called this evening to tell me so. I was sad to see her go, but Jiffy was happy to reclaim his spot on the front seat.
I took pictures of the oldest church in Santa Fe, then went to a fairly new church, where the worship and praise singing was very much like my home church, Celebration. It is interesting to me that this last Sunday of my trip is the only one that I was a total stranger to the church. God has done such amazing things, given me such a new picture of many facets of my life and relationship to Him.
This evening's stopping place is Amarillo, Texas. I remembered seeing mountains to the Northwest when I was here last, but was disappointed that I couldn't see them this time. Atmospheric conditions, I guess, or maybe I remembered the wrong town.
I got up early this morning to take my friend, who isn't nameless but prefers anonymity, to catch a shuttle bus to Albuerqueque, where she hop-skipped flights back to Tennessee. She made it home safely, she called this evening to tell me so. I was sad to see her go, but Jiffy was happy to reclaim his spot on the front seat.
I took pictures of the oldest church in Santa Fe, then went to a fairly new church, where the worship and praise singing was very much like my home church, Celebration. It is interesting to me that this last Sunday of my trip is the only one that I was a total stranger to the church. God has done such amazing things, given me such a new picture of many facets of my life and relationship to Him.
This evening's stopping place is Amarillo, Texas. I remembered seeing mountains to the Northwest when I was here last, but was disappointed that I couldn't see them this time. Atmospheric conditions, I guess, or maybe I remembered the wrong town.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Saturday, May 16
My friend and I, and Jiffy, traveled down I25 through Colorado to a few miles inside New Mexico, where we turned and went on a scenic route to Taos, which is an artist colony and also has ancient pueblos. We went to one just north of Taos, which is still the home of contemporary tribal people. The pueblo, made of adobe, was constructed over 1000 years ago. It is over three stories tall. The bottom story is mostly shops for the sale of Indian artistry. It was so fascinating. On the way, we went through snow, rain, and a lightning storm, but it was worth it. Having another person to share the driving, praying, laughing and eating is a lot of fun! We also saw the Rio Grande, which is a wild river with white water this far up in the mountains. Taos is over twice the altitude of Denver! We are spending the night in Santa Fe. We stuffed ourselves at a wonderful restaurant called Zia's. I ate a mango crisp for desert, and thought it compensated satisfactorily for the mango I lost crossing the border into Canada.
My friend and I, and Jiffy, traveled down I25 through Colorado to a few miles inside New Mexico, where we turned and went on a scenic route to Taos, which is an artist colony and also has ancient pueblos. We went to one just north of Taos, which is still the home of contemporary tribal people. The pueblo, made of adobe, was constructed over 1000 years ago. It is over three stories tall. The bottom story is mostly shops for the sale of Indian artistry. It was so fascinating. On the way, we went through snow, rain, and a lightning storm, but it was worth it. Having another person to share the driving, praying, laughing and eating is a lot of fun! We also saw the Rio Grande, which is a wild river with white water this far up in the mountains. Taos is over twice the altitude of Denver! We are spending the night in Santa Fe. We stuffed ourselves at a wonderful restaurant called Zia's. I ate a mango crisp for desert, and thought it compensated satisfactorily for the mango I lost crossing the border into Canada.
Visit with a friend
Friday, May 15
When we arrived in Cheyenne last night, our hotel had overbooked, and had no room for me. The staff there called and arranged another booking for me, in a historic hotel downtown. Interesting, but unexpected. (I'm trying to be flexible, but would prefer that things go according to plan, especially when I'm tired.)
The car was still warning-free and functioning normally, even when I was climbing toward Denver, the mile high city. I was going to the hotel there that houses flight crews, because my friend still has free flight priveleges even though she retired from being a flight attendant to become a fork lift operator. She will be with me for a couple days, before she catches a flight home from Albuquerque. We traveled, still at 60 mph, to Pueblo today. I wore off one of her ears today, will work on the other one tomorrow.
When we arrived in Cheyenne last night, our hotel had overbooked, and had no room for me. The staff there called and arranged another booking for me, in a historic hotel downtown. Interesting, but unexpected. (I'm trying to be flexible, but would prefer that things go according to plan, especially when I'm tired.)
The car was still warning-free and functioning normally, even when I was climbing toward Denver, the mile high city. I was going to the hotel there that houses flight crews, because my friend still has free flight priveleges even though she retired from being a flight attendant to become a fork lift operator. She will be with me for a couple days, before she catches a flight home from Albuquerque. We traveled, still at 60 mph, to Pueblo today. I wore off one of her ears today, will work on the other one tomorrow.
Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Bears
Thursday, May 14
Today was very interesting. On our way to the giant-sized mountain sculptures, Jiffy and I drove through a place called Bear Country, where the humans stay in their cages, (the cars) and the wild animals are free and roaming around. We saw elk, reindeer, wolves, mountain lions and a plethora of bears. Jiffy growled and was ready to fight the wolves and bears. He especially did not like the bears, because they approached our cage with a cheeky impudence. Quite a photo op, especially when I saw two of the bears, cranky with the end of hibernation, rear up and trade punches.
I saw Mount Rushmore for the third time in my life. They have built a much more substantial and interesting viewing plaza than when I was there 40+ years ago. The faces are still the same - majestic. Crazy Horse, only 17 miles away, is impressive, but unfinished. It may take another 50 years at the rate they appear to be going, but they now have specialized tools and more funding, so it may be going faster now.
Trouble developed on the way to Cheyenne: the car had a warning light come on, and according to the owner's manual, it indicates problems with the transaxle. I think that means the transmission. I called Jonny, my son, who gave me some mechanical advice, but more importantly, prayed with me. I had stopped at a service station, so I turned the car off and went in and asked for the number of a mechanic I could call after hours. When I went back out and started the car again, the warning light was off. Jonny told me to drive at 60 mph to avoid stress on the transmission, and I did that all the way to Cheyenne. I think God answered our agreeing prayers. But it is interesting to me again, the demonstration that faith is so much easier in theory than in fact!
Today was very interesting. On our way to the giant-sized mountain sculptures, Jiffy and I drove through a place called Bear Country, where the humans stay in their cages, (the cars) and the wild animals are free and roaming around. We saw elk, reindeer, wolves, mountain lions and a plethora of bears. Jiffy growled and was ready to fight the wolves and bears. He especially did not like the bears, because they approached our cage with a cheeky impudence. Quite a photo op, especially when I saw two of the bears, cranky with the end of hibernation, rear up and trade punches.
I saw Mount Rushmore for the third time in my life. They have built a much more substantial and interesting viewing plaza than when I was there 40+ years ago. The faces are still the same - majestic. Crazy Horse, only 17 miles away, is impressive, but unfinished. It may take another 50 years at the rate they appear to be going, but they now have specialized tools and more funding, so it may be going faster now.
Trouble developed on the way to Cheyenne: the car had a warning light come on, and according to the owner's manual, it indicates problems with the transaxle. I think that means the transmission. I called Jonny, my son, who gave me some mechanical advice, but more importantly, prayed with me. I had stopped at a service station, so I turned the car off and went in and asked for the number of a mechanic I could call after hours. When I went back out and started the car again, the warning light was off. Jonny told me to drive at 60 mph to avoid stress on the transmission, and I did that all the way to Cheyenne. I think God answered our agreeing prayers. But it is interesting to me again, the demonstration that faith is so much easier in theory than in fact!
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