Part Three: The Ride Home

Panera. Panera was great. I left thankful. Warm and fuzzy. Happy.

In the car on the way back to pick up Tex's truck we had this brilliant idea of going to Uhaul to get a trailer so that we could tow my car behind his pick up so we could hang out in one car instead of following each other back five hours to Virginia. We thought this was a fantastic idea, so much so that I ended up calling Uhaul (which Tex knew the #1-800 WHICH WAS SO RANDOM), got this location of the Uhaul in KY, and the fee. If the fee had been $30 less we would have done it and laughed the entire way home. It's still a great story though...

We made in about 15 minutes on 64East before I remembered that we couldn't get back home without Ale-8 for the troops (more specifically Matt), so we stopped. Did you know that groceries in Kentucky are less expensive then where we live in Virginia? It's true. Also, the Soap Opera Digest covers are a great conversation starter with other folks in your line, or with the check out clerk.

In the travel on the way home, I always get super reflective about what I'm going back to, who I am going to see, where I am going next, etc... well this time I had this visual in front of me leading the way (the joys of a radar detector are amazing when on 64 through West Virginia)- so I had lots of to stimulate thoughts of friends, dinners, my bed and dog- just by looking straight ahead towards someone I knew, someone who I live in community with.

While there are so many highlights to the trip home- I have a few absolute favorites.
1) The Toll Stops: Tex jipping West Virginia 20 cents by accident, and the fact I had him on speaker phone and talking to him about the toll- thus making the teller realize I was talking to him- so paid his shortage. He was kind in returning the favor and paid for me at the next Toll. What a friend.
2) Talking on the phone. The marathon conversations we had, and how it was always apropos when we'd lose service, b/c one of us would be mid-significant thought and would leave the other waiting for the bars to go back up on the phone.
3) Tamarak: I just love stopping there. And I recommend with whole hearted enthusiasm the Raspberry Danish at Starbucks. And pairing that with a Diet Coke and French Fries.

So I am home now. I am sitting at the table, and am just thinking. I feel like I have significantly caught up on my blog, so now all you readers know exactly what was important to me the past four days away. Thanks for joining me here to remember.