I’m home.
A day earlier than I had originally planned.
I got on the road about 8 am yesterday, crossed over into North Carolina, and by the time late afternoon rolled around, I knew I was close enough to keep going. It seemed foolish to spend more money on a motel if I could get home that day – even if it was late in the evening. I called Don and told him I was going to go for it and I rolled in around 9 pm.
Thoughts about the trip: Driving through the greater Washington DC area is a nightmare. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my trusty GPS and even with it’s help, I can’t tell you how many times I had to cross 3 lanes of traffic in order to exit at the very last minute. And sometimes the directions given by the GPS were unclear, so I had to take a chance and hope I was right. Somehow, I managed to get through that crazy spider web of roads and too many people driving too many cars.
Once you drive north of DC you start to hit toll roads. Most of the states had modest tolls, but Maryland? A state I was in and out of very quickly? $12. Come on, Maryland, that’s just plain ridiculous.
The car drove beautifully and I like it a whole bunch. I either listened to CDs or the radio. I’m not a book on tape sort of person because I like the narrator’s voice to be in my imagination. I want to set the pace, if you know what I mean. Meredith sent one along with me, just in case, but I went for the music and NPR instead.
Happy to be home. Scout is having a hard time of it – she’s falling a lot. So I’m glad I’m here to help with my girl.
I’ll write more about Little Z on another day. He’s my hero, that boy. I miss him so much it hurts.
Grateful to be home safely. Grateful to my dad for his generous gift. Grateful to my sister and her family for a great visit. Grateful to Don for holding down the fort while I was gone.
Happy Thursday.
glad you are home safe Claudia. have a relaxing day after all the driving you did. Doris
Thank you, Doris!
Glad you are safely home. Take a breather from that drive and get some rest.
I will, Regena.
So glad you made it home safely and a day early. I get driving and don’t want to stop either. Sending Scout lots of hugs and much love. My baby girl Scout is napping…such a sweet girl just like your girl. Big hugs to you. Linda
Give her a kiss for me, Linda!
Thankful you made it home safe/sound !
Thank you, Regina Anne!
Happy you had a good trip and are safe back at home!
I have enjoyed reading the three books by Jean Davies Okimoto-Loves Ceiling, Walter’s Muse and The Reinvention of Albert Paugh…thanks to your review. Could you recommend another book/author with the same kind of writing? I’m almost finished with the last one and don’t want it to end!
Thank you,
Debbie
Don’t have anyone else to recommend but Jan Karon – she writes in much the same style.
Hi Claudia, glad you are home safe. Hugs to Scout.
Thanks, Patricia!
That was quite the test drive! I’m glad you had the opportunity to see family – Meredith sounds like an angel on earth.
She is!
Welcome Home Claudia! I’ll bet Don and Scout were so happy to see you again. Glad you made it safely and that you like the car too — as someone else said, a great test drive coming all the way up from FL!! Hope you can take it easy today…relax and enjoy being back in your cottage.
Thank you, Vera!
Glad you made it home safely, Claudia! Give Scoutie a hug for me…
I will, Linda!
Glad you made it safely. Know exactly what you mean about No. Va and D.C. area – it truly is a nightmare driving – we go quite often and it gets worse each trip! We used to think about returning to live there again but just the traffic alone (and the cost of housing!) changed our minds.
Enjoy being again home with Don and Scout – no place like it.
Mary –
It’s crazy in that area! I don’t know how people cope with that from day to day.
You made great time on your drive. I get turned around each time I’m in DC and just glad that I’ve never been the one driving. I’m sure Don and Scout were happy to see you arrive home and I’m sorry to hear that Scout is having problems.
I enjoy books on tape while knitting. When I used to work I would listen to them on my commute.
Enjoy your first full day back home.
Blessings,
Betsy
Thank you, Betsy!
So happy you made it home! Kudos to you for negotiating the traffic….that is not easy to do alone. Usually I need a navigator….road signs can often be confusing! I’m sure Scout and Don are happy to have you safely home! ;)
I would not have been able to handle it without that GPS!
Glad the return trip went well and you are home safe and sound. I would never get anywhere in the States if I didn’t have my GPS. :)
I wonder what I did without it all those years! AAA tour books and routes, I guess.
I’m so glad you are home safe Claudia…I also used to live in the DC area and I know all about the traffic..used to have to leave so early to get to work..then getting home seemed to take forever..most horrible traffic I have ever been in…I bet little Z is missing his Auntie Claudia too..Give Miss Scout a big loving squeeze for me..it’s hard to think of our girl in that condition…Old age can be hell for pets too…
You’re right, it IS horrible! I’ll give Scout a hug for you.
I just received this quote in my email from Goodreads…I thought you might enjoy it…..
Book collecting is an obsession, an occupation, a disease, an addiction, a fascination, an absurdity, a fate. It is not a hobby. Those who do it must do it.
Jeanette Winterson
Thank you, Nancy! How true!
So glad to hear that you made it home safely. Thought about you coming through Maryland. It is more than a nightmare driving around here. I am in Gaithersburg Maryland and years ago it was not like it is now. It has gotten so crazy. I take back roads and they can be bad enough. Can’t wait till we move to the mountains where things are slower paced. So sorry to hear Scout is having hard times but I am sure she is glad you are home and missed you bunches along with Don missing you home. Rest up and relax being home. Glad you had a wonderful time seeing your family!
hugs
Nancy
I would have given anything for a back road, Nancy! And this was about 2:00 – I can’t imagine what it would have been like an hour or two later!
So glad you had a good trip and visit. Glad you are safely home. Know Scout and Don are also.
Judy
My body still feels like it’s in the car, Judy! Over 11 hours of driving yesterday…
You are way more brave than I. That driving would have freaked me out!! Sorry to hear Scout isn’t feeling too good. Positive thoughts her way to be pain free and comfortable. I know you and Don do everything possible for her. She is lucky to have you
How could you not miss Z ? He obviously likes Auntie Claudia . That picture of him holding on to you when you were holding him in the hospital is priceless.
Rest, relax and settle back in. We missed you
Aw, thanks, Sue!
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like HOME. :))
And it’s humble, Elizabeth! It is great to be back home.
Glad you are home safe and sound. Missing your loved ones in Florida only means you had the best time, and will make time to visit again.
I’m sorry to hear about sweet Scout. Give her lots of hugs, cuddles and kisses, as if you didn’t already. My kitty is battling two infections, ear and bladder, and is on three meds. I decided that since she responded so well to the meds and acting like her usual self, I would forego the pain med. I hate giving morphine-like pain meds to anyone unless she really needs it.
Scout’s bad rear hip is collapsing nowadays and she can’t stay standing long. She’s better when she’s outside on the grass. Hope your kitty gets well very soon!
Scout probably has more traction outside on the grass and dirt. When I took my kitty to the vet yesterday, the vet had new-to-me mats that she had put onto the stainless steel exam table. She said she loved the samples from the supplier and planned to buy more. They are oil cloth on top, but are lined with a skid-free bottom. I’m wondering if these will help Scout inside, so she has some traction to make getting up easier? Here’s the link: http://petvetmat.com
Thanks, Wendy. We have a lot of rugs everywhere, with non-skid backing. We just can’t fill up every bit of the open floor space. So we do the best we can.
Welcome Home! Glad you had a nice time. I drove from NY to SC and driving thru DC was a nightmare!! Loved the pictures of your grandson from previous posts. He is adorable….Hope you get time to relax and unwind from such a long drive.
Thanks, Mamey. He’s my sister’s little boy – not my grandson, but my nephew!
I am sure that you are very glad to be home and that everyone there is glad for you too! xx
Thanks, Amy!
So glad you had a safe trip home. On the news last evening they said DC is the worst area in the country in which to drive. Also glad you got out ahead of the big storms/hurricane heading towards Florida. Hopefully it will stay out to sea.
Give sweet Scout a hug for me. Glad she still finds some sure-footing in her corral. Getting older isn’t easy for any of us.
I hope that hurricane stays away from Florida and my family!
Glad you made it home safely. They make gripper socks for dogs to help them get up and down, I think we all may have discussed them here before. Your rugs everywhere probably do the same. Sending Scout hugs and prayers. They don’t understand why they can’t do the things they’ve always done. Just like us when age starts catching up to us.
I know about the gripper socks, but Scout will have none of that…I know from experience. She slips a lot, but now the problem is due to her weak left hip. It buckles a lot, causing her to fall down.
You are home and safe: Brave woman!
Thank you, Regula!