Traveling

Sunday evening, April 28th  /  After a wonderful worship service today with prayer and praise and confirmation and a guest preacher, I took off for a few days of R&R and some quality windshield time.  I had most everything picked in my big suitcase and then at the last minute decided I didn’t want to take it and decided to break down my clothes into smaller pieces. So I repacked, muttering all the time I was doing it, but the stuff I am taking are easier to manage now.  At least I think that was the reason I did this.  I drove in rain and snow most of the way to Bismarck.  Also fog in spots. The closer I got to Bismarck the more snow there was on the ground but I made it and all went well.  Attempting to find the doctor’s office for tomorrow and then my hotel I ended up going wrong way on a one way!  I got lots of honks, of course, but fortunately it was a  short block and I was able to pull into a parking lot and get turned around.  I did that one other time in Bismarck. I don’t know the town very well and there is a lot of construction (excuses).  The sky is clearing tonight so we hope for a good, clear dry day tomorrow.
Monday noon, April 29th​  /  Well the “dreaded” MRI is done.  I drove 200 miles to get to an imagining machine that was open and not like a coffin.  I am more stiff and sore from having to lay quietly for 30 minutes than anything else. Washcloth over my eyes, pillows for arms, neck and knees. I got through Psalm 23, 121, and part of 46.  I am going to have to memorize some others. Someone suggested Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.  Good idea! Treated myself to breakfast at McDonald’s afterwards.
Bismarck did not get snow last night.  But cold and windy today.  Spitting moisture right now.  Plan to head back to Belfield tomorrow and then south on Highway 85 to Belle Fourche.  Spend the night there.  I want to put flowers on Ardis Sell’s grave in Buffalo for Geri.  I try to stop when I go that way.
Later this afternoon I hit the streets — woo hoo!  They have an antique mall here which I have loved for years.  I bought a primitive wooden basket.  And I was talking about downsizing??  What happened! Barnes and Noble, Bible Book Store AND I had to buy a toothbrush.  Forgot mine at home.  Yuck!  Can’t stand not brushing my teeth!
Supper with Tami Conrad and then get packed up for another drive tomorrow.  Nice.
Tuesday evening, April 30th
Brr!  Today was cold and windy and I did drive in scattered snow until just outside of Belle Fourche.  It was a biting cold and I would have been shivering in my boots if I had had some with me.  It was nice having the extra hour as I came west again.  I could get up at 7 a.m. and feel very smug about it because after I got going it was really 6 a.m.  So I gained an hour when I rolled out of bed!
    I had gassed up the car last night so this morning I just picked my stuff and took off.  I drove to Dickinson and stopped at the Dakota Diner for breakfast, French toast, egg and sausage.  And a cup of coffee.  All of it went down very well and it was nice to stop for a bit.  Verna called me on her car phone.  They were heading for Bismarck this morning.  Lots of truck traffic on Highway 85 South.  Most of it heading North.  Squalls of snow throughout, buttes shrouded in fog and mist.  I stopped in Buffalo SD and put some flowers on Ardis Sell’s grave at Buffalo SD for Geri.  It is a pretty spot and open to the prairies.
 When I got to Belle Fourche I went on to Spearfish to hit my favorite shoe store and take a walk along Spearfish Creek.  I even taped the sound of the creek — water over rocks — so I can listen to it later.  Mexican food for supper.
   Tomorrow will be a long day down to Newcastle WY, across to Wright then down to Douglas and then I will hit for Cheyenne. Hope to have supper with the kids and then go on to Denver for a couple days.  It will all be good.  Just wish I had brought a warmer coat.  Folks here are re-donning winter jackets and  stocking caps.  Brrr!   
Wednesday evening, May 1st
Woke up to snow this morning!  Yuck!  Highways were slushy but once I was out of the Black Hills area I pretty much ran out of it.  Sun did come out.  There was snow all the way to Cheyenne, but the highway was dry by about noon.  It was about 350 miles of driving, but the windshield time went well.  I am listening to a good Michael Connelly audio book that really holds my attention.  Got to Cheyenne and had supper and a good visit with Cole and Margy.  Evan had confirmation tonight and Abby had a zoology lab so I will see them when I come back on Saturday.  Had a nice visit about their moving to Rapid City.  Lots of changes in their lives.
I am surprised at the cost of motels wherever I am going.  I am going to have to figure something else out — maybe a pup tent!!
Thursday evening, May 2nd
The MRI was the big test.  Getting through that without going claustrophobic was the first hurdle.  Driving through the snow and slush yesterday was hurdle #2, driving into Denver today on I-25 with six lane traffic was hurdle number 3, but it wasn’t too bad today.  There was construction and it was busy, but all in all I was given room to do what I had to do to get from one lane to another.  Thank you, God, for watching over me and the other drivers.  Then this evening Aunt Dorothy had me chauffeur her around a little.  Will do more of that tomorrow.  It was a beautiful day — no wind, 60 degrees.  Lovely.  Even put my candles back on!  Yeah!  This was what I wanted!! Not sure how long it will last but I will take it!  Even ran through a car wash to get all the crud off the car from Wednesday’s drive.
Had a really good Mexican dinner.  It really was seasoned well. 
Then Aunt Dorothy wanted to play Scrabble.  I should have known better.  The Anderson’s are a competitive lot and even at 96 with macular degeneration she beat me twice.  She is a dynamite speller (yeggs) and has a great vocabulary.  Who knew “yeggs”??  We always laugh and have some good visits.  She was two years younger than Dad so they were always close and I am the oldest niece by some 16 years so that makes a difference as well.  Good day!
Friday evening, May 3rd
Day’s end and I am closing out things in my room before I start some packing.  Head back to Cheyenne in the morning.  Made my connections with Paul (lunch at 12:30) on Monday.  Monday evening family dinner with Lisa Jerde Spillman and crew.  I keep thinking I don’t know when I will be back to Cheyenne again.  Cole and family were what kept me coming.  The addition of other family and friends was a real treat, but now things are changing.
Today we did the driving and shopping routine.  Aunt Dorothy is a great navigator.  She doesn’t drive any more, of course, but remembers where everything was located.  We went to a dollar store and then to Chuze, a huge fitness center.  A friend of Dorothy recommended we get the hydro massage — 10 minutes of heaven.  Lay in a chair and the water rolls up your back to the base of the skull and then back down.  There are varying speeds and pressures.  We wanted another 10 minutes but there was a waiting line!  I like that.
Then we went to the International Market where I love to shop.  They have odds and ends from all over the world.  Unique, exotic and fairly good prices.  A little steep, but then what isn’t?
Dorothy was having trouble with a connection to her DVD player and TV.  Her friend and her husband came and tried to work with it but not much happened.  Dorothy is satisfied as long as the tv works so that is what they went with for now.
Then back into traffic.  I actually haven’t minded the traffic this time.  Seemed somewhat more bearable.  We went to Black Eyed Peas restaurant.  Had some good catfish.  They had a varied menu.  Wouldn’t mind going back there to check out more of the food.
Two more tense games of Scrabble.  We each won one.  I really enjoyed playing.  She is so good at it.  I have been too off-hand but she got me to watch the counters and think before I plop some tiles down.  More strategy — fun.  Got some good words in.  No “Yeggs” tonight.  She remembered that word from mysteries she had read — means a criminal or burglar.  She is 96, as I said and so sharp.  Fun to be with her.
Flowers are out here and trees are flowering. Further south, of course.
The weather was gorgeous today.  Supposed to get colder and rainy starting tomorrow, so time to start heading for home.  Looking forward to my days in Cheyenne.  Sirens, sirens all the time.  Fire truck right now 9:58 p.m.
Saturday evening, May 4th
May the fourth be with you!!
Left Denver about 10.  The traffic on I-25 from Denver to Cheyenne was unreal!  A Saturday!!  It was busy onThursday, but today was something else.  Had a little fuss with Days’ Inn and ended up at Super 8 where I got a nice room.  The price some of these places charge is ridiculous.
Hit Hobby Lobby for my yarn stash and Wal Mart for odds and ends.  At 5 p.m. Evan and I went to evening worship so he could do his last sermon note.  Cole and Margy were tired.  They had finished moving Margy’s Mom to an assisted living.
Then we went to Pizza Hut for a bite to eat. Visited
Abby is finishing up year one of college. Thinks she will do one more year community college.
Beautiful day!!  Almost no wind.  Strange for Cheyenne!!
Sunday  May 5th
Happy Cinco de mayo!
Attended Ascension Lutheran Church in Cheyenne this morning for confirmation — Evan’s.  I was there when he was baptized and have pictures to prove it!!  14 years ago!! Handsome young man.  Vacillates between silly and all business as is typical at that age.  Very loving man — typical Anderson male — family all the way!  We sang “What wondrous love is this”, “All are welcome”.  Holy communion with my family which is always special.  Fun that Pastor Paul confirmed Abby and Wes Aardahl confirmed Evan — that Eastern Montana connection is insoluble. Wes gave a good message, speaking mainly to the kids.
    Ate at a marvelous buffet at Little America.  I treated Evan.  I told him to enjoy.  This won’t happen again until he graduates from High School!  The family is gearing up for their big move to Rapid City.  Cole and Margy are going to look at houses the week-end of the 17th of May.  Cole starts work there on the 17th of June so not much time between now and then.  Besides the anxieties of moving they seem ready to go.  Evan thinks it will work as he is going into high school and there will be plenty of other kids just starting as well.  The weather today is lovely again.  Rain tomorrow.
    As I was driving down main street in Cheyenne I was thinking how much it was like Bismarck in lay-out. I was thinking about their history and of course being railroad towns had a lot to do with it.  Cheyenne is close to Ft. Laramie and Bismarck to Ft. Abraham Lincoln other things too.  Couple times I had to think twice as to which town I was in!!
    My mind is starting to turn to back to work.  I will go to Great Falls the end of the month — this is more traveling than I have done in a long while. 
Monday, May 6th
Fog tonight.  Reading Becoming Michelle Obama.  Enjoying it for a variety of reasons.  She talks about her relationship with Obama and how it developed and adapted to their life together.  About her understanding herself.  Asking the questions who am I?  What do I want? And what do I want in relationship to family, friends, career?  Thought provoking and really revealing.  Had supper with the Spillmans and the Andersons one last time.  Fun to see all of them.  Fun group of people -- raising good kids -- good people!  I really had to drive carefully going back to the motel.  Yikes -- it was pea soup thick!!

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