Journeys

Our journey to the south has been a great diversion from our duties as caregivers. Although we have kept up with Katrina about her time with Susan, we have also been able to put it aside, if even just for a little while. In a way this leaving our duties to one mother to do our duty for another mother is sadly ironic; in a far greater way, it is a blessing because of the love that Jeff and I share for both of our mother’s.

Woo Hoo! We chose to drive more of America’s back roads for this particular journey in our lives. I suppose we simply weren’t in the mood for the less scenic hustle of the interstates. It makes me feel old- that’s for sure. It’s really all about our need for the less traveled roads. The scenic route we traveled wound through small cities and communities where people are busy living real lives, has nurtured our souls.

I felt connected to them all in a way that I never have before- more curious about their lives and interested in their stories. Everyone has one, you know. I found myself often silent on this trip, just starring out the window at the world I have been missing and at the people I long to know. Jeff was quieter too. We were dreaming and pondering on these lives all around us, including our own.














Periodically one of us would begin chatting about a dream or a hope for our future and the other would add to it. Our dreams are not big; they are just happy ones! They are like stars in the sky that twinkle reminders of their existence. These past few years we have watched helplessly as falling stars have again and again dashed across our skies. We have stood helpless to stop them. Too often, we have not realized they were falling until we saw their skidding light of warning in our horizon.

But right now we aren’t looking back- not until we have to. Soon enough, dealing with my mother’s estate will certainly force us to do some of that. For right now though, we are only taking in the view of each moment of every day. Oklahoma…Biloxi…on to the shrimp cook off in Mobile under the live oaks… alligators… grand sceneries… emerald coast… palm trees…white sand…ocean waves!