The Happy Travelers

From the Front Porch

I am an "accidental blogger". When I launched my writing career in March of 2014, one of the things that I decided to include was my journaling, which I have always found to be a comforting and therapeutic endeavor. It was a big risk to open myself up in such a public forum, but it has taught me that, for the most part, we share far more experiences than we think. It's comforting to know I'm not alone! (*the "Button Text" is the link to my first novel)

The Happy Travelers

3/6/2015

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I am cold down to the bone from spending most of the evening in my husband's old pick-up truck. I have had it with fast food today, so I made myself a scrambled egg sandwich and a glass of chocolate milk for dinner. My butt's been asleep for about two hours and I gotta confess, being cold, hungry and cooped up in the truck so long today has made me pretty grumpy. I think, however, that not having my girls with us on our travels today is the main culprit of my prickly mood.

We traveled the highways frequently when they were little, taking trips or going to visit family and it never ceased to amaze me just what happy little travelers they were. They would play games, sing, and talk practically non-stop, making traveling with them a fun adventure. They never complained, never asked "Are we there yet?", and they were always content to entertain themselves for hours on end...without the advantage of technology! They didn't argue or fight and often they prompted us to join in their conversations or games.I've probably played "I Spy" with them in every state from here to California along I-40! It used to crack me up when they'd mix it up..."I spy, something green..." We'd guess, "A tree!" And it would be a tree. Two minutes later, "I Spy...something green." They'd both giggle like crazy and this would go on for AWHILE (...by the way, that version doesn't work very well in parts of West Texas, or ALL of Kansas)!

My favorite part of our family road trips, however, was always listening to them sing together. God knows I got sick of Disney songs after 10 hours of listening to them but I never tired of hearing my girls belt out whatever tune struck their fancy. When we were moving back from Arizona, I drove my husband's truck, the girls sprawled out all over the backseat, and he followed us in a moving truck. About Memphis, the girls discovered a Disney CD stuffed in a back pocket of one of the seats and excitedly exclaimed, "Hey Mama, put this one in!!!" By the time we reached Knoxville I was ready to chuck that CD out the window but I never tired of their giddy enthusiasm. Alas, since I didn't have them with me today, my solution to the grumps is comfort food, a long, hot bath and some Blues. Sorry girls but Mama burned the Disney CDs.

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About The Author

I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter.

Since then, I have learned to reach well beyond what I ever dared to think was possible. I've learned not to allow fear to stop me from whatever future I want to create!

What keeps me grounded? My Tribe! What provides the wind beneath my wings? A well of reserves filled with unstoppable passion!

From the Front Porch