Traveling across America

18 December 2009

It’s 0330 in the morning and I’m sitting at a rest stop just outside Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

I’m in my van with Recruits, 3, 5, and 6 as well as our blonde 15 year old lab Bradford and our 3 year old little Cocka-poo Little Red. Parked next to my van is The Marine’s big grey truck with Recruits 2 and 4 and our black lab Scratch, (he’s 7, guess I should keep all things equal. Oh and it’s not really important how old the dogs are, I for some reason just felt it needed to be stated.)

The real question is why?

Why am I writing at this hour, why are we here, and why am I (and Little Red) awake?

Well it all started back on June 28 when Recruit 1 went to church that first fateful Sunday after she had graduated highschool, left us and flown to Texas to live with The Grandmother, start her new life as a grown up, and go to college.

That Sunday she met the man of her dreams and now here we are today, enroute to Texas to spend our first Christmas in 6 years at home and the first time we’ve been back for the holidays since my Father died. We are also going to attend Recruit 1’s sealing and wedding reception.

Then we all trek back, along with Recruit 1, her new husband, Grams (The Marine’s Mom) and Recruit 1’s new puppy, a lab mix named Henery, for her reception in our humble hamlet.

Oh and they bought a house, like yesterday. Well actually Thanksgiving.

Who does all that in almost EXACTLY 6 months?

Oh don’t bother to answer, my child does it. She is a startling combination of all traits feisty, bold, and beautiful of both her father and I. It’s frightening sometimes.

So I’ll recap our journey up to this point.

I woke up about 0630 and started the final stages of packing and cleaning. We were on the road at 1000. I was turning around at 1010 to go back to the house and retrieve my camera. The one we are using to take pictures with at the wedding….

We were back on the road about 1020. The Marine waited for us at gas station to catch up and then we were off.

About 45 minutes into our trip the first sprinkles hit the windshield. From there it only became heavier, foggier, and sloshier. I know Microsoft Word is underlining sloshier, but you drive behind The Marine and his truck and watch it slosh through water for hours. You’ll adopt sloshier as well.

It rained all the way through South Carolina with Columbia being the yukiest.

It began to lighten as we curved our way through Atlanta. Finally, as we entered Alabama the rain subsided and we had clear highway to mow down. Our goal was Birmingham, but the Marine and I both felt good and decided to make it to a rest stop outside Tuscaloosa (ROLL TIDE ROLL).

So that’s why I’m here. I tried to wake The Marine about 0300. I called him. I watched him startle and grab his phone. Then I heard a sleepy gravelly voice. Ug. I hate gravely. It is never a good sign.

The Marine: hullo.

Kelli: Hey, are you awake?

The Marine: (growl, snarl, something something) I was sleeping, (something) I’m awake now.

I couldn’t understand most of what he said, but I figured out what he meant.

Kelli: Wanta get on the road?

The Marine: No. I’m sleeping.

Kelli: Wanta see my hair?

It was pretty funny looking.

The Marine: No. I’m going to sleep.

And he did.

So I sat silent for a minute. Then realized I really needed to go to the bathroom. However as I looked over at the restrooms probably a football field away I had a newspaper headline flash through my mind. It happens all the time.

“Woman murdered at Alabama rest stop while peeing. Family of 6 sleeps peacefully only yards away.”

I sat there pondering my dilemma. I opened my computer. I really really had to potty. I put the computer down.

I woke up Recruit 3 and told her I was going to run to the bathroom and to stay awake to unlock the doors to let me back in. She mumbled okay.

I went to the bathroom. The cool thing is there is a security guard inside. The uncool thing is he saw my hair.

I wet it down a little and used the nozzle on the hand dyer to try and make it a little less scary. It was only funny when I thought The Marine would walk over and look at me not funny when strangers saw me.

Oh and I made it back just fine, no murder. However Recruit 3 wasn’t a very good sentry. I tapped on the window and she didn’t even look over at me, just reached up and unlocked the doors. Little Red was fabulous though. He had breathed all over the driver’s side window and was insanely wagging his whole body.

OH THE TRUCK STARTED!!!! I’d better save this before The Marine yells to move out. (it was another thirty minutes before headed out and The Marine was very nice, he didn't growl at all.)

19 December 2009

Well we finally pulled out of the rest stop outside Tuscaloosa at 0430. The roads were clear, dry and not too busy. When the sun came up we decided we needed to stop for breakfast. We stopped at a Waffle House in Brandon, Mississippi and took up two booths.

Then we hit the road again. We made several more stops of the day and then finally pulled into Mom’s driveway at around 7 ish that evening.

I set the camera on a 10 second delay and managed to snap this picture. If you look closely you can see Scratch behind Bradford and next to me. This was the two cars, three dogs, 5 kids and The Marine and I.

Recruit 3 helped out with the dogs while texting. That annoys me.

She is also so cheery. I mean I have to wear sunglasses around her she is so sun shiny and bright. 14 year olds. You have to love them.

Scratch was buddy's with Recruit 4. They rode with The Marine. It was a regular man mobile!

Recruit 6 worked on his ninja moves. Here he is at peace.

Little Red shoving his little body between the driver's seat and door jam in The Marine's truck.

The Marine was ready for me to stop taking pictures and get back in the car. He said let's go. several times. I finally stopped snapping.

We were glad to finally arrive. Now, on to Christmas! I'll post tomorrow our Sunday evening activity out at Mom's property. I'm just too pooped right now. I'm sitting in a comfy chair after a a wonderful Sunday afternoon/evening and I'm lucky to get Friday and Saturday blogged!