I've been a bit quiet this week, trying not to give away the secret trip we made yesterday morning. I know his Sis might occasionally peek at my blog and didn't want to slip up. Several times over the past year he's brought up the thought to travel down here to Alabama. It's been a rough year for me to travel, but I have offered to let him use my car or to fly. Each time he's opted out. He doesn't do well with leaving me to travel anywhere.
A few weeks ago, he asked if I was working this weekend. I wasn't sure, anymore I have to look at my calendar for everything, but promised to look as soon as I got back to my office. He'd finally decided it was time. He was ready to go to Alabama, with or without me.
It was a surprise trip to see his sister, her birthday was earlier this week and he wanted to see her. But he wanted to surprise her!
Sneaky man started conspiring with his niece, plotting the trip and what he would do to catch her off guard. He booked the hotel (he never does this so I knew he was serious), gave up a visit to his buddy for cigars and bourbon and helped me pack.
We left St. Louis yesterday morning before 230 am, he was wanting to be there by lunch time.
Somewhere around 5 am I found myself giggling as I drove through the dark night singing along (off key) to my country music and and the boys gently snoring. It was 5 am, I'd crossed the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, Kentucky Lake and been in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. It takes little to humor me in the middle of the night, I was simply waiting for Johnny Cash to pop up singing "I've been everywhere..."
For years I have been dying to go to Paducah, my quilt loving soul was finding the irony of driving right past a bitter pill to swallow. I'd never realized it was so large of a city, nor that it would look so bright and modern under the darkness of night. Knowing it is a relatively reasonable drive from the house assures me that eventually we will go back and actually visit.
It's been decades since I have traveled through Kentucky and Tennessee, I'd forgotten the beauty. The softly rolling hills and beautiful silhouettes of bridges in the darkness were intriguing. Looking at the names and the historical markers along the highway had me day dreaming of more journeys east, with an intention to explore.
Hubs woke up a short ways before Nashville, and after a VERY quick stop for biscuits we were heading out again. My country loving heart was pretty darn tickled at listening to an old Randy Travis CD as we rolled into Nashville. Unfortunately, that is about the time all the trucks started to hit the roads and it was a very stressful drive through the unfamiliar city.
It is so beautiful, nothing in my memory banks prepared me for the journey through western Tennessee and Alabama as the sun was struggling to burn off the heavy fog. In fact I've only been through Alabama once before that I can remember, and honestly, I don't remember it. It was right before that time in my life that is full of holes.
The beauty is incredible!! I could move south. Well at least this time of the year could find me cherishing those tall pines mixed heavily with all the beautiful changing colors of the deciduous trees. I don't remember these hills, I guess I was further south, the lakes, rivers, beautiful out croppings of rocks. The colors and scents. Everyone is always plotting trips north to witness the beauty of fall and here it is in the south.
I want a week to just explore. Maybe next time...
This is a rather quick trip.
Hubs had planned to sneak up to his sister's door and pose as a Gideon, wanting to share the good word with her. He was too pokey going up the driveway and she spied him outside the window as she was cutting fabric in her sewing room.
He was all prepared with his speech as she whipped open the door before he could knock and said "I hope you're here to help cut this fabric". I am sure neither of them was quite prepared for the moment.
Watching their hug I felt out of place. Like I was interrupting a private, special moment between siblings too long apart. Both of them having endured things that needed the silent reassuring love that only a sibling can sometimes give. The love and happiness in their eyes and smiles was beautiful. It'd been about a decade since they'd been together. Time moves too fast and often leaves us behind as it's going.
Sis had a treasure for me as well, she knows I love quilting and old fabrics. And she gifted me with a beautiful, almost perfectly flawless feed sack. Scissors will never cut it, at least not in my possession, It will probably end up framed. Yet running my fingers over the fabric delighted me on many levels, the history, beauty, the thrift and thoughtfulness all in one small treasure.
As we'd caught her unprepared for company we sat and visited while she got ready for us to go visit his niece and her family. Hubs hadn't met his great nephew yet, and he'd seen that he carried the same cute dimple in his chin as Hubs. A family trait for sure!
I marveled on the drive to her home at the quaint little town she lives in. Enjoying the drive through the towns and past the waterfall. If I had known that it was beautiful, I am fairly sure that I would have brought my good camera with me. My phone hardly does it justice.
Sipping my jack and coke and watching sweet Hubs reconnect with his family made my heart soar. His laughter at memories that I have heard about many times, the smile in his eyes, the silly man he becomes around his niece that he adores. The two of them have very similar personalities and I imagine could get into a world of trouble if left to their own devices. Or maybe that should read have gotten into.
The boys handled the ride well, we weren't sure they would. And have enjoyed the extra walks in the warm sunshine. All the new sights and scents. I wished we could take them up on the offer to bring them over with us when we go back in a bit, but sadly, those two are simply not that friendly and I would hate to see them get into it with their sweet old girl. She is so precious and sweet. Right now they are snoozing peacefully with Hubs.
It's time to go wake him. Although I am hesitant to leave the beauty of this little gazebo in the sunshine. Listening to the soft rumble of distant traffic and enjoy the scents being carried in the soft breeze and watching the fall of brightly colored leaves. I am loving the way the swirl carelessly past like a snow globe of shimmering colors.
Well, I just wanted to share a few moments and memories. I guess I wanted to encourage everyone to take that trip, visit, enjoy the beauty and your family. Life is short, grab up those minutes, and don't get trapped in the minutia of day to day living.
Eight hours is a standard work day, in that small amount of time we've traveled to family Made more memories and forged tighter bonds. Yet it often seems to be easy to say, that is such a long drive (it wasn't) or the boys will not be able to handle it (they did) or a hotel is so expensive (not so much, Hubs is a Senior now - hehe - and I am a member of the rewards club).
Excuses... cherish the moments...
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