Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

If you remember, I told you the other day that I’m planning this elaborate scheme so that my mom and I can make a road trip from her home in Abilene, Texas back down here next spring.  (See here.)  Well, now my younger sister, Laura, has found out about it and wants in on the fun.  So, the three of us are going to drive down here from Abilene together.  (Laura’s wanting her husband to fly down to meet them here and drive back with them, so hope that will work out, too.)

When I told Mom and couple of days ago that Laura was wanting to come, too, she said – well, then you won’t need to come out here at all.  Laura and I can just come down to vist you all there in Picayune.  "But, Mom," I said.  "You don’t understand.  I want to come out and ride back down with both of you.  That’s what’s going to be a big part of the fun – all of us being together in the car for 750 miles visiting and sightseeing."  (Which is a relative term, you understand – sightseeing – when it comes to driving from Abilene, Texas to Picayune, Mississippi.  But, hey – we’ll find some fun things to see and do.)

Of course, that raises another problem, as Tom pointed out.  What about our brother, Neil?  Tom thinks he’ll feel left out and want to join the party road trip.  Which Tom thinks ought to include the renting of a van by the four of us, so that we’ll be "comfortable" on the road.

You see – that’s the way it is with Tom – and planning "events."  One thing leads to another until it all gets totally out of hand, both with elaborateness and scheduling, but also expense.  But, Mom says, not to worry.  She thinks Neil will just be very happy for us girls to hit the road without him having to tag along!  Probably so, but we’ll invite him.  It would be fun!

Planning all of that has put Tom and me in the road trip spirit, so we’re going to drive over to visit Tom’s older brother and his wife in Panama City, Florida for a few days.  Tom’s going to be off work all next week (just for me!!) and we plan to just hang out for the most part.  But, we’re excited, too, because good friends of ours are coming over from Austin for several days next weekend.

I grew up with both of them – they were both in my class in school and I’ve known them both since we were all 10 years old!  Bill(y) and I rode the school bus together for years.  It was the longest route, some 45 minutes or more long twice a day, so we spent a lot of time together learning about a lot of things in life that we didn’t learn in school. 

It was a time of innocence, though, you know?  Oh, that our kids and grandkids could live in such a wonderful time of childhood innocence (until about 25 or 30, in our cases!).

Marty lived in town, so she didn’t ride a bus.  Tom never did, either, growing up, which I think causes a great lack of education.  In Tom’s case, he made up for it by growing up, literally, in movie theaters and drive ins, living with his dad and brother in Biloxi.

Anyway, we’re focusing on our families and close ties for a while.  Lots of nostalgic things.  Remembering our childhoods with family and with classmates, laughing at all the good times and missing being together all the time.  Time passes so quickly and slips like sand through our fingertips.  We must stay connected as much as possible and hold on tightly while we can.  Too soon it will come to an end and all that will remain are memories that fade away too fast.

Thanks for dropping by today for a while.  Hope you have a great weekend and I’ll be back here soon.

Cheers & Blessings to you all today!

Dee