Road trip to South Dakota

So on Friday, I embarked on a trip across the US to deliver some furniture, items, and motorcycle to two different people in two different states.  While it seemed daunting to drive this big truck, it soon became a fantastic adventure since my very dear and long time childhood friend agreed to travel with me.  I was shocked when she said that she would love to go-seriously who wants to drive many miles across cornfields to hop right back home without getting to sight see or anything.  Apparently she did and for that I was blessed. So truck is packed and I pull out around 8:30.  I cruise past Gainesville and past north Florida and cross the border to Georgia.  At this time, I notice that my phone is about to die despite the fact that I have it charging.  I soon realize that the fuse must be blown.  I pull into a truck stop and get out the manual.  After finding the first box under the chair, I quickly realize that it is the right box.  I locate the second one under the hood and look at all the hot pipes and coils that I must stick my hand between in order to remove the cover.  As I am pondering what to do, I realize that the truck stop I am at has a full service station.  Here I go past all the truckers with their big rigs and tell the woman my problem. Never have I felt so much like a little woman in all my life.  Engines are being rebuild, tires shredded and repairs, and here is me "um excuse me, is it possible to get my fuse changed".  So not like me, but considering it is a rental and I really do not feel like getting burned, I let them do it.  After 45 minutes of getting approval, the tech finishes in 5.  I am on my way again.  I pull into Atlanta to stay the night with Jenn.  We catch up on good times, share some good laughs, and call it a night.  Awake at 6:30 and we are off.  Our final destination:  Jefferson City Missouri.

 We travel through crazy weather, miles of corn fields, and some great eateries.  Throughout it all, we are chatter boxes-talking about everything under the sun. I must say that she makes the best travel companion I have ever had.  She anticipates my every need , from holding out her hand for my discarded cough drop wrapper to giving me handfuls of food. 

She navigates like a champ-with a steady calm voice saying "turn left here.  Turn left now. Um the turn is about to go-turn now. So calm-actually so calm I do not realize the urgency as I whip this 16 foot truck through the lanes to get off.  Most importantly, she is a rock that I can lean on and someone that has so much I can learn.  Thank you Jenn for all of it.  I had a blast. 

So we make it to Jefferson City at 8:30 and hit the bed early (well for me early was 11:30).  Up at 6:45 and we continue on driving until we make it to Omaha Ne.  She makes her flight back home and I travel to see another friend.  We unload the motorcycle and other items and visit for a few hours.  I still have a few more hours to travel that night so I leave at 8.  I post something about all the corn I will be traveling through and my husband texts "Don't break down out there and watch out for those children"  Not the greatest image I want in my head, but thankfully I never saw the entire movie.  I make it to Mitchell South Dakota and crash at 3 in the morning. 

My last leg of the trip:  awaken at 7:30 travel to Pierre South Dakota to unload, got taken to lunch and spent time with another friend.  On the plane at 4:00 and land in Orlando at 11:00.  Finally, 1 1/2 hours in the car and I arrive home.  I am hungry, tired, and very cranky but I manage to get 5 hours of sleep.  I am going to bed now and get some rest since I did not today (Connor had blood drawn at 8:30 Doctors at 1:45) 

Throughout all this, I would call my mother to tell her I missed her.  It broke my heart that I could not tell her what I was doing or where I was.  I reminisce of a time when I could share all the crazy details with her.  Instead, I let her believe that I am very sick and not able to visit.  She is not doing well-her recall of words is most notable-she tries though and does not want to give in to it.  Everything is a color or that thing and she cannot give clues to what it is she is trying to tell you.  The other night she wanted to tell me she was having a charley horse.  Her description was similar to this:  Those on the floor that you have.  They help you with stuff they help you ummm wait they help stand. me:  your feet.  Her:  yes those I hurt.  They hurt.  You know you had it its a ummm.  I know its a um. ****** that thing on the feet thing. On never mind and then some yelling and crying.  I cannot imagine what it must be like.