Bewildered when I received my schedule a few weeks ago & noticed that I was going to have a 4 day weekend, my first thought was that I MUST travel to Alabama. As some of you know, my mom was born, raised & lived in AL until marrying my dad at age 19. All of my mom's family (including my mema & uncle) reside in AL. Due to only receiving 2 weeks vacation/year & a number of other factors; I had not been down to visit in 2 years+. As I prepare for life overseas, these next few years will be hectic for me; I'll most likely have even fewer opportunities to travel south. I had hoped to find someone or several someone's to keep me company for the drive. Unfortunately, such was not possible. Still, I did not let being alone stop me from going. GPS was ready & off I went.
As I made the drive, many things crossed my mind. I saw the sign that said "Trenton" & could remember my parents stopping there on our road-trips when Haley & I were kids. Just like "Trenton", "Clarksville" was another town that I remembered from our childhood. I pictured Haley & I sitting in the back of our mini-van (beige/yellow in color) & then our full-size van (burgundy) eating Nabisco's Better Cheddar's. Those were ALWAYS a snack for the 8 hour trek to Ft. Payne. Sure, we had other snacks as well but those are the ones I vividly remember. I can't express the nostalgia that took place when I entered Dierbergs (a local grocer) about a year ago, was walking down the Cracker/Cookie Aisle & saw the Red Box with the Yellow, Round-Shaped Crackers that said "Better Cheddar" across it. Though expensive, I bought a box & hurried home to share them with Haley. I'm pretty sure she was just as enthused as I was.
Above: Visiting my Aunt Lottie. Her husband (my Uncle Charlie; my papa's brother) passed away in early September. Due to everything going on with my dad, none of us were able to be at the funeral or burial. I don't remember a time when we would go to AL & not see Aunt Lottie & Uncle Charlie.
Though the trip was brief, I had a nice time visiting with my mema & Uncle Rog as well as my Aunt Wanda, Uncle Bill, Aunt Lottie & Cousins: Kristy, Melissa, Scott & Meleah. Just so happened that the Cardinals had just made in into the playoffs as the Wildcard Team & while I was down there, they had 2 games against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mema, Rog & I sat on the sofa watching both games intently. 1 game had a not-so-great outcome; the other was perfect. Notice: Mema proudly wearing her 2006 World Series Champs shirt in the pic below.
Autumn is such a beautiful time of year that I was hoping to capture a bit of that through the camera lens. Rog was kind enough to take me to DeSoto Falls to enjoy the splendor of the turning leaves.
He & I had quite the adventure there. Those who know me well know that athletic, coordinated, graceful & adventurous are not words usually associated with me. I proved that yet again during our walk through the park. I'm sure that if you each could have seen me trying to jump from one rock to another over a very small rush of water, you would have been well-humored. After a tiring day of rock climbing & hiking, we went home & mema prepared one of my favorite meals for me: Homemade Chicken & Dumplings, Fried Squash & Shelly Beans (green beans). I know, a very healthy balanced meal. Hey, I get it once every 5,6 or 7 years (if that). I think it was OK!
After 2 full days in Alabama, it was time for me to meander back home to St. Louis. Not unlike many return trips home, the day started with rain. I just prayed that God would cause the rain to cease for it it continued on, the drive home would be that much more difficult for me. Thankfully, by the time I reached Franklin, TN to meet some dear friends of mine for lunch; the rain began to stop. I never saw another drop of rain again. As I switched from station to station, CD to CD, I again had flashbacks. My dad has always been a fanatic about Christmas music. That is something he has passed down to both of his daughters. Haley & I LOVE Christmas music! Each year, when we go to AL for Thanksgiving, our return home would consist of 8 hours of Christmas Music while my mom would say, "It's too early to be listening to this stuff." Yet, listen we would.
So many memories, such special times throughout the years. Those thoughts coming to the surface after so long made me all the more thankful for God's goodness to our family in the healing miracle of my dad's health over the course of these last few months. The times I've shared with all of my family for the last 31 years are times I will cherish for a lifetime.
As good as it was to visit AL, it was nice to return home. When reaching St. Louis, I did not immediately come to my house. Instead, I went by the university as the meeting with the International Students was taking place & many of them had contacted me asking when I'd be returning. As I raced to get to the school & the students were on my mind, I got to thinking. I was so pleased to come home after just a few days. I can't imagine the homecoming I'll receive & the happiness I'll feel when I one day come home after being overseas for years. As I approached St. Louis, I could see the Arch. When I see the Arch, I know that I'm almost there; almost "home." I wonder, what do you see in your city or state that lets you know you're almost home when you've been away? The Arch was a pleasant sight for me to behold but I'm anxious for the day when, for a period, something else will represent "home" to me. Will it be the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley? Could it be the Taj Mahal in Agra, India? These things I do not know yet. I look forward to the future with a happy remembrance of the past & great eagerness for the road ahead.
