1,846 miles one way…..
I drove every bit of it except for a small 100 mile stretch when I felt that my eyes were about to snap shut.
With plenty of caffeine and loud music we were on our way.
We left the great state of South Dakota with four adults, one child and a wolf. The luggage stowed away on the roof and our spirits soaring.
We came across some amazing sights along the way and ran into some pretty severe storms.
We picked up our fifth adult (my brother 5.0) in the small border town of Antlers Oklahoma.
We continued our trip across the country with one more soul to liven up the mood (as though we needed any help).
Finally, we arrived in Florida after two days of driving.
For me I was coming home, somewhere that I had not been in over three years. For everyone else, they were on an adventure with someone who knows all of the best places to get into trouble, play, or just relax.
After a short nights rest we began our exploration.
Visits with family and friends refreshed my soul and made me remember the good old days.
To all of those who have been a friend to me over the past 15 years and to all of the new friends that I have made along the way…..
You have laughed with me, cried with me, gone on some pretty wild adventures with me and I must say that I love yall.
After what only seemed like a day (but was in fact 10 days) in Florida, we had to say our goodbyes.
My heart aching the entire way, we traversed the country side once more.
We stopped in Nashville Tennessee and took a gander at the Shelby Bridge. While I was hanging over the edge having my photo taken I managed to stick my finger in a bugger. Now if you have never taken part in the experience let me just tell ya how that felt. When you stick your finger in a total strangers booger, first you feel like throwing up then you feel like you have just been violated. It will completely ruin the good time that you were having just before it happened and of course everyone that was a witness to your misfortune will laugh at you the entire way back from your trip. All in all it’s not a good experience.
The road is long and hard and the time spent in a vehicle can wear on you. It gives a person plenty of time to ponder all that they had just experienced. It also makes everyone who is trapped in the vehicle with you (even your best of friends) into complete maniacs.
My foot heavy on the gas, we reached our destination (South Dakota) at sunset on the third day of driving.
Happy to be home, we all got a hot shower and a good night’s rest.
My mother flew up to South Dakota in order to make the trip to Florida with us and when we departed from Florida she stayed behind. It made me sad to leave her behind but I am also glad that she is finally back home where she will be happy and has friends to stand by her.
Upon returning from our trip I lost a friend who I am now glad is out of my life. There is an old saying that I hold to be true.
“A friend is one that knows all about you, yet likes you anyway”
When a person can throw you away like yesterdays garbage and never give you a straight answer as to why it is better to just bid them a good life and walk away.
After all that has happened over the last month I have come to a cross road in my life and I feel the need for change.
Indigo Swallow will be no more. I am closing my shop.
I will however be opening a new shop under a different name that will not be disclosed at this time.
Until then……
See you on the flip side……
C.D.
