A Wedding this Spring

Going into 2011, we had made a decision to save every dime we could and live very close to the vest this year to save to buy a new car. A new used car. I hate car payments and really want to pay cash for it. Both of our current autos have over 150,000 miles on them and it is time.

With that in mind, we have been invited to a wedding in Tennessee this spring. We met Lauren in 2008 when we visited my uncle’s grave in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is his step-grandchild. Her wedding will take place on her mother's farm in the Smokey Mountains north of their home. We have decided to attend. We have to fit this unexpected trip into our budget.

As the wedding site is just over an hour from Michael’s sister, Debbie in Knoxville, we are going to visit her as well. And as it is only hours from Knoxville, we are also going to visit our friend Christien who recently moved to the Durham, North Carolina area. That drive would take us through the Appalachians, where I have always wanted to visit.

We also want to drive to the coast from Durham and down to Charleston, SC then up to Atlanta. We were going to try to avoid Atlanta because of the horrific traffic but William told us we have to eat fried chicken and waffles at Gladys Knight’s restaurant. He swears they are the best in the country. Kimberly also has her favorite restaurant in the entire world in Atlanta. May have to spend a few days….

We will drive mostly on Highway 40 heading east and Highway 70 on the return trip, if the weather allows. We want to hit Memphis and Kansas City on this trip as well as Denver and the fantastic highway between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. 

So, our current plan is to head east to the Bourbon Trail before the wedding. We will probably stop for a day with Chip and Betty in New Mexico on our way east and two nights with Michael’s mom in Las Vegas on our way home.

The entire trip should last just about a three weeks.

It is something to look forward to. Something to plan. It will take a lot of planning. Bills will need to be paid ahead of time and all my medications will need to be refilled and ready. We will need to rent a portable oxygen system and also arrange for someone stay in the house and water the garden.

I am so excited. A road trip. Our favorite time together.