Front Porch with Elvis

A friend passed away. Not one of those close friends, but more than a casual friendship. She was what most people would describe as backward. Her lack of sophistication was her charm. She loved dogs, Dad, Elvis, Trump, and John Deere. Well, I'm sure you get the picture. 

She could laugh at the silliness of things.  And she loved drama. Lots of it.  There was always a crisis.  You would spend time dealing with drama-comforting her.  Everything I told you about here so far I could handle. 

But there was the other stuff that made it difficult I would walk away from.  Things like seeing sex where there wasn't anything to see. You get tired of hearing all your friends are freaky.  To be fair, she had a helper who encouraged her. A huge anti-vaxxer. Right after my fully vaccinated father passed away from COVID-19, She posted awful comments about how her husband was forced by work to take the COVID shot.  She was unfriended by lots of people.  I spoke to her infrequently after that.

 I'm not a believer in the afterlife. If there is one, I hope she is there with her dogs, looking out on John Deere's tracker. discussing the sex life of her friends with Elvis 

sticking with Choice

After Charlotte, we drove to the north side of Jacksonville and stayed in one of the Marriot chain hotels around the airport difficult to figure out. I was charged for the room before I arrived, plus 20 dollars for incidental (??), then a credit card on file. I'm a Marriot member so there was already a credit card on file.  The excuse that they used was the credit card on file for incidentals. Just how many cards do they need on file? I'm sticking with Choice Hotels from now on. 

 It was a simple four hours drive to our home in Florida. 

Our New Normal

 We returned from Florida in four days. We were and are still tired. Four days will be our new Normal. The first day was a late start with last-minute things to do, like draining the water heater and packing the nonperishable groceries. So we arrived in Athens, Ohio, in the early evening. 

  Athens is at the foothills of Appalachia. It looked beautiful in the setting sunlight. It is home to a Civil War veteran lunatic asylum, where the paranormal is said to be a frequent occurrence. Athens was voted # 1 in the world for supernatural actively 

 While we didn't see any ghosts, there was a motorcycle event. The Fairfield was the host hotel for the Windy 9 bike run. I knew very little about the world of motorbiking. There were no burly men with ponytails and missing teeth, but lots of middle-aged professional men with sizable stomachs. They were discussing events worldwide. Travel agents and travel groups specialize in motorbike runs all over Europe and Australia.

The travel through Appalachia was terrific. There were beautiful vistas around every turn. A dead bear at the side of the road made us pause. There was very little traffic until we got to Charlotte, NC.

Like the Sandhill Cranes

 It's 31 degree outside. The sandhill cranes are stopping nearby on their way south and  I'm ready  to start that way as well. Tomorrow is the big day,  we drain the water heater and go. The weather for the trip looks clear and sunny.  We're taking 4 days to get to Sarasota- were old and we can afford it.  No  travel day will be longer then 6: 30 hours. The last day just over 4 hours 

 We will say goodbye to family style restaurants and say  hello to potlucks.  The first week I am back - there are 3 potlucks planned.  Our social calendar  doubles or triples in Florida. The realization hit me  this week, the things I hated about Florida when I was young are the very thing I love about it now- old people, pot lucks playing Mexican train dominos . I will miss our local McDonalds  in the morning  half filled  with polite  Introvert's who enjoy a casual  morning conversation. In Florida the McDonalds are filled with far right extremisms  professing love for America all the while glorified the insurrection. 

The Return Trip

 I am anxious to return to Sarasota.  I am not sure what to expect, my friends who are usually talkative  are being evasive about about what's happening there. When asked about the water purity  they response with they only drink bottled water.  When discussing gas they say  they say the  gas lines can last for hours. The  grocery stores are open but shelves are empty. So I am in up in the air about whether to return home or not

   We'll going to take our time driving on the way down.  We've become disillusion  traveling Interstate 75. We once planned the travel around  the most low time traffic time of the week and were stuck in traffic 4 hours. Now we either travel  east or west of 75. It takes longer but  a lot less frustration. It will 5 hours the first day then 6:30 hours then 5:30 hours. The last day will be 4 hours. 

  There are a few last minutes thing to do such as lab work and check the tire  pressure. We pack a small suitcase for hotel travel and large one for the future travel. I have craft supplied,  things we might need for potlucks and dinner parties.  

 

Helene and Milton

  . This is the time of year we head back to Florida

 The original plan was to make a vacation out of the trip.  I had to be in Columbus Ohio. Then a visit to Mt Airy, home of Andy Griffin.  Followed by a drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway and then ending in Ashville. Then home in Sarasota.  Helene pretty destroyed those plan--But I am very grateful. We're safe

Last week we took off for Columbus when we received the news about Milton. After a small discussion we turned around and headed back,  I am grateful I live a life where that is possible. We're safe

 Next week we are going to try it again.  I am hopeful the hurricanes  are behind us.  The stores will be stock,  Gas station will be supplied, Water will be drinkable and power back on.  I remain Grateful