Road Trip #2

From the bourbon trail in Louisville to an organic garlic field in a small Ohio town, we stayed at a charming hotel and invited our friends to join us for dinner (they nabbed the check, darn it!). We connected years ago on this blog and we met them for the first time during our last road trip. They both looked fantastic, we were given a tour of a really cool garlic operation and they surprised us with gifts of the most outrageous chocolates and wine! We brought them some good California wines and a bottle of Evans Williams bourbon.

These are truly the nicest people on earth. Or, at least in Ohio! It was lovely to spend some hours with them and so wish it could have been longer. Hopefully, we have enticed them to come for a visit with us here in California.

We were stunned when we drove the beautiful highway through West Virginia and Virgina into North Carolina. The beauty of West Virginia was so unexpected and the views were breathtaking. We had no idea. It was a lovely surprise.

After driving day after day since being with British Don, we were so happy to be welcomed into Christien's home near Raleigh, NC. She took care of us. We rested, slept in, Michael did a minor repair for her, we watched all the wild life in her back yard, took drives into surrounding areas, ate out at great places and generally relaxed. We needed it. She worked with me at the school where I got sick and we have been friends for many years. Michael enjoys her and we have fun together.

After several days, we drove a short distance over the Appalachian Mountains to Knoxville, TN to visit Michael's mom, Mary and his sister Debbie, her daughter Valarie, her son Josh and Valarie's boyfriend Josh. It was the reason for the trip. Michael's mom is failing and we soon realized that she was really just waiting to die. Debbie was so good with her, didn't treat her like an old woman or even sick. In their daily life, they laugh and enjoy each other as well as some of the neighbors, who came by to meet us. We discovered that Mary had been sending dinner over to one neighbor, who had lost his wife of 69 years less than a year ago. That is so Mary.

We were staying at a hotel just seven minutes away but we would spend all three days with them inside their house. Everything was said that needed to be said. This clearly was going to be the final time I was going to see Mary and probably Michael's, too. When she and I were alone, we were able to really talk about dying and what lessons we have learned from challenges we have had in our lives. I made her laugh and cry all in the same conversation. I will never forget it. She has always treated me as a dear friend ever since her son married me 45-years ago. I adore her. I admire her. She has had one difficult life but kept moving forward with a focus of simply loving her children - all five of them! Instead of saying goodbye, we smiled, looked each other in the eyes and said, "We will be back next year. See you then!" It made it easier to leave. Still makes me cry thinking about it.

From Knoxville to Chattanooga, we were on a quest. Years ago, I promised my Uncle Bill that we would visit his grave. This would be our fourth and last time. His wife, Alma passed away two years ago and we wanted to see them settle together for the first time. We were dismayed to discover that her family, who live locally, was not keeping the large stone structure clean or even tended. It was sad. We cleaned it but were unable to remove the large, dead bushes. We couldn't leave it that way so we bought some silk flowers for the urns and said our goodbyes. May they rest in peace.

Continuing on to Nashville, we ran into a massive hail storm. It was impressive as was Nashville.

Next: Nashville, a little Memphis, Waco Fixer Upper, Fredericksburg and more.