Uneventful trip...

NOT!!!!

We left, a caravan of two, pretty much on time. Everyone ready for the trip, in spite of the cause of the trip.

Not far from home I heard a noise I wasn't familiar with and mentioned it to Kristen. But, being the one who always 'hears new noises', and has been mostly ignored through the years, I continued on. Conversation continued on. The noise continued on.

And on, till it was a noise you hoped was someone else. But it wasn't... It was me, with a very flat tire in the far left fast lane, following the trooper in front of me. Quickly I weaved through Columbus morning traffic, over to the brim of the road. Only miles from home with a smoking flat. I dare say some smoke was exiting my ears. Kristen quickly called the trooper to return.

As Tim crawled under my van to remove a wet, dirty donut, spare tire, I prayed that it wasn't flat and that Tim would be safe. We thought he had called for a police car with lights to warn other drivers. He hadn't, but God had. In the form of a Columbus snow plow, who sat behind us protecting the wonderful son-in-law.

Tim knew of a tire shop just up the road, where another hour of time was added to our road trip. Inside the shop I let the manager know just how important it was to get our family moving. Also, I didn't want the tires that were on sale, or that gave him the best sale of the day. I wanted the tires he would put on his sister's van. Tires that he would want his kids, grandkids, Mother etc riding on in the snow belt of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. This, while Tim stood there with that look on his face that said, "Don't mess with Mama, cuz when she is done with you, you will deal with me." One hour later, and $ 313.00 on a credit card I drove next door to Frisch's and rescued the waitresses from my grandchildren.

We traveled fairly well, until Jackson decided enough is enough, it is time to focus on him. This trip wasn't his idea, he wants out of it, funerals are boring, and life would be more fun if he was with his Daddy. Hm-m-m-m.... A phone call with Papa and a stop for lunch helped.

By now we definitely are driving in snow belt country. And Aurora (road trips are not in her top ten list of things to do) got a back ache. A bad back ache. A crying back ache. Another stop to try using the bathroom, everyone please....

Back to driving, after a moment or two of fun and concern. The rear tires decided to go ahead of us and we did a donut, stopping near the deep, hard snow plowed to the edge of the entrance ramp. No problem. I just backed up and turned around. My only concern was that two tractor trailers were on the ramp behind us. But all was well, I thought. Kristen decided that Jackson needed to know about the brodies that her parents did for the entertainment of herself and her siblings. And Jackson decided he need to let Papa know. But he didn't tell Papa all of it, only that it was fun...



TO BE CONTINUED.......