There’s No Place Like Home
Today is November 3, 2018.
Jim and I have been on a road and plane adventure for the past nine days. Can I just tell you that it feels like I’ve been away from home forever, and I am very homesick. What I have found about traveling by car and by plane is that it doesn’t make me as happy as when I am floating on a Waterway.
Ten days ago we left our Happy Destiny in Columbus, Mississippi. We rented a car and took of on a road trip to Nashville, Tennessee.
Now, I’m not a big fan of driving. I have control issues. It is a lesson in patience and tolerance. It’s stressful and extremely crowded and people drive like idiots. When I drive, you will find at least 4 car lengths in front of me at all times. I give people plenty of room to cut in front of me, and I rarely have to flip anyone off. Jim on the other hand is more aggressive and does flip people off! So, when we go on road trips, I like to drive.
We chose to take 3 days to get to Nashville to make our flight to Los Angeles. In those three days, we traveled 400 miles and never got on a freeway. We traveled back roads. Jim planned it all out, just like he does when we travel the waterways. Our first stop was Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We attended an AA meeting at a really cute club that reminded me of an old motel, had the insides that looked like an old school house.
Driving through Alabama, we went through many small cities that if you sneezed you would miss the entire Main Street. We found Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are alive and well and appeared to be the main shopping place for many of these small cities and towns. We drove past cotton fields. We took a side trip down a unpaved, dirt road, and the adventure was to see if we made it out alive! There was nothing for several miles. The kind of place where Bigfoot might live.
We drove, and we drove. We saw cows, and horses. Goats and beehives. Beautiful homes on acres of green grassed hills. Churches, and more Dollar Generals!
Our destination for the day is Chattanooga, Tennessee. We drove for several hours, and finally had to get on a freeway for a few minutes. We found our hotel, checked in, and ate at a Cracker Barrel. Both of us were tired, so we planned our next day adventure and called it a night.
Destination - Ruby Falls at Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga. This huge rock formation is 240 million years old. We went down 1120 feet underground and walked a half a mile through this amazing underground wonderland. At the end of the walk we were presented with Ruby Falls. A 145 foot waterfall that is is fed both by rainwater and natural springs. It collects in a pool in the cave floor and then continues through the mountain until finally joining the Tennessee River at the base of Lookout Mountain.
Jim got a phone call. It was Peter, his son, telling us that Giselle was scheduled to give birth the following morning. We obviously have been waiting for the birth of this new baby boy, but now the wait was over. He was coming at 10:30 on October 24, 2018. I have 8 grandchildren who Jim has always treated like his own. But this new baby, is Jim’s first grandchild. I can’t tell you how excited he is.
From Chattanooga we traveled more back roads to our next destination - Nashville Tennessee. We are catching a flight to Los Angeles to attend Bruce and Kelly’s wedding. We were invited to celebrate with them several months ago. Bruce is a very special friend and the gentleman who is Jim’s successor at Social Model. I have know Kelly for over 20 years, and it was an honor to be asked to join them on their special day. That being said, Jim and I wandered around Nashville. It was busy. Another place with way to many people and way to much noise. Jim and I both agreed, over a high priced lunch, at a shitty rib joint, that we are not very good tourists. We are not big fans of big city living, especially when every corner you turn, someone is trying to take your money, to allow you, to look at stuff, you’re not really interested in. I think we have become “simplified”
One place I was interested in seeing was The Grand Ole Opry. I’m not a big country music fan, but I do enjoy the history of this establishment and having traveled lately in the South, I have become a bit hokey. We drove to the theatre and at the freeway exit for the Opry was a huge shopping mall. The Grand Ole Opry was embedded in a shopping mall. All my ideas of how this place might look were destroyed. I had envisioned a place, maybe backed up into a mountain, with trees and rocking chairs. Hokey right! That just shows you what a really bad tourist I am. The Grand Ole Opry is in the parking lot of a mall. Ugh.
On a spectacular note, on this day, Peter and Giselle welcomed a healthy, 8 pound 10 ounce, 20 1/4 inch, bouncing baby boy. His name - Sebastian Action O’Connell. Both baby and mommy are well, his Daddy, so proud, his two grandmas were present, and I’m sure they are over the moon in love. Jim and I received pictures and an invitation to come visit soon. I think I saw a beautiful tear in my husbands eyes. He is one proud grandfather. Congratulations Peter and Giselle. May your son bring you much joy and happiness.
Welcome baby Sebastian ❤️
It’s been a busy 3 days.
On the 25th, we flew out of Nashville to Los Angeles. Here we go again! Nothing changed from last time we arrived at LAX. It’s still busy, still crowded, and the freeways are still ridiculous! Our main reason for coming to L.A. is to attend the wedding, but obviously we can’t be in California and not make time for my kids, grandkids and our friends. I have a schedule set up. My kids are busy people. They work and they have families. We arranged a dinner for Friday night at Lucille’s BBQ in Covina. Michael and two of the girls were able to come. Millie and Andreya could not make it. Veronica, Audrey and Veronica’s new friend Mark were there, and my Sister also joined us. It was a very loud evening at the restaurant. I didn’t know the World Series was on, and of course, the bar was packed with loud, screaming, they’ve had a lot of drinks, people. I couldn’t hear myself think, let alone visit with my kids and grandkids. But, this was it, so I made the best of it. I wouldn’t see any of them again this trip. Aimee and her troop couldn’t make it to this dinner, so they will come to the hotel tomorrow and go for a swim.
Son Michael and two of his girls Arianna and Aliessa, and Daughter Veronica and her daughter, Audrey
Daughter Aimee and her 4 kids Alfonso, Bella-Rose, Gracie and Ezekiel.
It is times like these that my son Robert is missed. He lives in Massachusetts and it is rare that I have all four kids in the same room. In fact, it’s been years! I love you all and I miss you all.
We also got to visit our tribe. We went to our morning meeting, and I also got to visit with Jennifer and Patricia. I miss our friends, but I know all of them are happy for Jim and I and support our Happy Destiny Adventure. ❤️
Sunday, the 28th - Wedding Day for Bruce and Kelly.
This was the day we came to California for. It was a fairytale of a day for our friends. Two people, who, in the midst of a very busy life, found each other, and fell in love. The wedding was held at the Wayfarer Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on a beautiful afternoon, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The bride, Kelly, looked like a princess, and our friend Bruce, had a smile on his face like I’ve never seen. The day was pure magic and Jim and I are thrilled for our friends. May your life together bring you happiness, and may your days be joyful. It was an honor to have been invited to share in this very special day.❤️
Kelly and Bruce Boardman
More baby news! Our trip is being extended. We are going to Miami! We changed our flight arrangements and will spend a few days with the new parents and their bundle of joy. Jim will get to meet his grandson while he is still a newborn, which is very, very special. I’m so happy for him. I will be able to take Giselle to a few appointments ( in my very own car) and help out with some chores.
Our trip to Miami was really good. Grandpa Jim is in 7th heaven. He spent many hours cradling his grandson. He really is great with children. He loves all my young grandchildren. He plays, and reads and introduces them to new things. He really is a wonderful grandfather. Baby Sebastian will be the Apple of his Eye forever and ever.
I forgot how god awful humid is in in Florida. We have been having some wonderfully cool days on the rivers, so coming back to Florida, where, when you exit the car, your sunglasses fog up, kinda sucks. Giselle and I went to her doctor appointments. One for her, and baby’s first visit with the pediatrician. He is doing great. He’s gained a few ounces, which says a lot for his mommy. He is a really nice boy. I helped Giselle with some chores, and Jim and I held the sleepy baby while mommy rested. I cooked a few meals and Jim took care of a few projects around their place. We are both grateful for the time spent with Peter, Giselle and baby Action. Thanks for letting us be a part of your joy.
Grandpa and Sebastian
Three Generations
This is the view from Peter and Giselle’s home. Being in Florida, this close to the water, and all the boats made me very homesick. Our trip from Mississippi to Tennessee to Los Angeles to Miami has been nice, but I am so ready to get back home to the Happy Destiny. Today is Saturday November 3. We are in Fort Lauderdale and will fly back to Nashville in the morning. YIPPEE! We will retrieve the rental car that we left there 11 days ago, and drive 5 hours back to Columbus Mississippi. I think both Jim and I are in agreement that life on land is just not as cool as life on the water. We are both ready to continue our Great Loop Adventure. We still have about 1000 miles to go, and are looking forward to the places we still get to see.
I’m sitting in the Airport now in Fort Lauderdale awaiting our flight to Nashville. Tic-toc. Tic-toc. I figured out last night that during this adventure we traveled 6,452 miles by land and air. Jim said “no wonder I’m so damn tired”.
Here’s what I learned on this trip.
Theres no place like home. ♥️
