I returned from Florida on Monday. Took me about three days to make my way back west to Colorado. One night in Pensacola, one night in Dallas and two nights in Kansas. Originally, one day in Kansas was sufficient. The weather had a different idea.
Plus, the opportunity to spend time with niece and nephew was too much to pass up. They are nearby but that drive is pretty awful. I manage to make it there with little resistance but the return to Denver always frustrates me.
Sunday, I woke up with the intention of enjoying breakfast before heading home. I decided to look at the weather report which is rare for me. The potential for rain was listed in Kansas and snow in eastern Colorado. I figured I could handle rain but didn't want to deal with the snow. I asked Jasmin if it would be okay to stay an additional day. I called my mom to see if she would be able to spend time with us. She agreed to drive into Manhattan, have lunch, and then we would accompany the kids to a bounce house party. The event center was huge and loud. There was a large trampoline and an area to jump into foam balls. Of course, we wanted to watch the kids and ensure that they were safe and not getting hurt. There was an overhead ladder and additional swings. The swings had this terrible sound as kids swung on them. Think hamster wheel that needs some oil. I was sort of going crazy due to that. I think I may have been the only person affected by it. Perhaps it was white noise for everyone else.
As we sat there, it started to snow. Of course, it did! Definitely solidifying my decision to stay and cutting my mom's visit short. Hurriedly, she left but I knew she would be fine. My mom always drove in Iowa in rain and snowstorms. I knew it would be like muscle memory for her. No issue. While, on the other hand, I had anxiety just thinking about it. I was thankful to have opted to stay in Kansas instead of getting stuck somewhere along 1-70.
That night, we made guacamole and watched a hideous show on Netflix. Hideous due to content but addictive. Highly addictive as I put it on last night as I sorted through mail. It is awful!
While driving across country, I listened to oodles of podcasts. Talk about addictive. That was my first time traveling that way. Normally, I listen to music, sing along, and then find myself fighting sleep. The podcast is a fantastic way to drive and stay alert. I listened to a few about cat fishing. con artists, and true crime. I found myself listening to these while driving between cities. The travel time between Pensacola and Dallas seemed easy minus the hip pain.
If you want a compelling podcast, check out Sweet Bobby. Talk about crazy catfishing and I am still curious to the why this person chose to do this to another person. I could not stop listening. I enjoyed the narrator's description of the events that unfolded.
Or there was another one--Do you know Mordecai? This man has duped many women into dating him. Never asking for money but convincing them to give him a second chance when he would disappear to pursue another woman. There would be cancer, his dead wife or a slew of other excuses that kept women letting him back in.
I listened to a podcast about election fraud (no, not the 2020 election just to be clear. It was a local election), education, and a man who was accused of murder. That one stayed with me, too. He was in jail for ten years before his case was initially a mistrial and then acquitted. He cannot get that time back and in order for the case to be reopened, they would have to pursue the other strains of DNA found on the victim.
Insanity.
The trip was awesome. Soulful, reflective and community building. I neglected my blogging, journaling and updating my ledger. Instead, I was present with my friends as much as I could be. I could have taken time to write while in NOLA or the night in Pensacola. Yet, I didn't feel up to the task. Especially, in Pensacola. My motel was seedy. As I delved into the negative aspects of traveling solo, I had to remind myself that I was okay. That I would be okay and not to create an unnecessary situation. I arrived, asked the clerk where I could eat nearby and he mentioned waffle house. I knew that I would not be able to do that. So, I googled local restaurants and found a sweet local spot. Immediately, I felt better and back in control.
I will update more later. I have other tasks to attend to.
No comments:
Post a Comment