Get In The Car And Go

The day dawned desperately early
and none got much sleep.
Van packed until got no more,
stuffed kids in and gingerly
closed the doors.
We were off to an adventure.
And who knew what was in store.

Navigating around big cities
and through small towns.
Sun rising but couldn’t see
because of rain and clouds.
Try as it might, it couldn’t ruin
our joy and happiness
as we pressed on.

Mile after mile and greenery began.
Eyes drinking it in
and pointing excitedly at hillsides
of daffodils.
Trees beginning to blossom
and tiny wild blooms carpeting 

the grassy highway-sides.

Ah how we sighed
as it all unfolded on our journey,
our journey southward.

Stop for breakfast at the Barrel
and cute little bottles
of real maple syrup
for pancakes big and yummy.
Bellies full and carload of snacks,
we laugh at the thought -
how could we ever go hungry?
Could we dare?

Sleepy kids make the most
of highways white noise
and two Mom’s catching up
and chatting excitedly
up front.

Captured by car, what more can we do
when captured by constant
and changing view?

Arrive in the hills of the beautiful
Tennessee to sister of friend
and her lovely family.

Lovely to go and hike around town.
Saw college campus
and given the deluxe tour.
“Snuck” into old mansion
and viewed each room.
Back after walking and so hungry
to grilled venison burgers
and yummy crisp sweet potato slices
and that tasty asparagus.
Bed felt ever so good.

Morning come and on the road again.
Gas stop and coffee at Love’s.
Worst coffee I’ve ever had!
Met a friendly Indian family.
Sun streaming this leg around.
Kids more active as we rebound.

Best part of our journey
was the re-direction we took.
Avoiding the long traffic jams
that made traveling south
a bit of a challenge.
Saw abandoned old ghost-town.
Started at Pinehurst, GA
and followed parallel route.
Slow guy in front of us
pulling trailer of brush.
Laughed at pun
that he was headed to his happy place -
such a chipper one!

Beautiful plantation home

with huge stairs up to the second level.
Detoured and went to Vienna.
Dreamed of the European Vienna.
Gorgeous purple azaleas and a feast
for our flower-depraved eyes.
I teased that if my sleeping partner
would wake up suddenly
to the car pulled off the road,
she’d find me face down
with arms spread out on some
of them.
Soaking in the sight of fresh new blooms of all kinds
all around in the countryside.
Navigating and finding ourselves beyond
the detour and the road obstruction
and then we are back on our way
going 75 on 75.

Driving through Georgia
and you can’t help but notice
the pecan trees grown in rows
and we wonder how they get
those nuts down.
So much laughter from friend
as article we read
with these exact words,
“Encourage your trees to drop their nuts...”
Sharing songs and you can tell

when weary travelers are feeling
cooped up and done,
when everything just begins
to be ever so fun-ny.
64 miles from the Florida border.
Crystal blue persuasion
and Don’t Bring Me Down.

Florida Welcome Center and
the usual snapshots, tasting of
the watered-down OJ and the
bathroom break. Place crowded
with snowbirds on spring break.
Break rules just to park
and then the frogger to embark.

Finally arrive to Fruitville road

and then pull into destination -
friends’ Dad’s home.
Mexican food at Guererro’s,
flan, guacamole and chimchanga’s.
Dash over to Siesta Key
and raced to the waters edge
and sunk my feet in.
How glorious to be alive
in the orange glow of Gulf sunset!
Back home to souls restored
and beds that felt ever so good!

Reverend Sheets preached
that Easter morn.
Kids groaning as their Mother
explained the spiritual depths
of his words to her soul.
Get ready for the day
and drop friend off to her family.
Taking daughter for a waterside brunch
of shared seafood platter.
She enjoyed it very much.
Off to Celery Field to maybe spot
some birds.
Waters dried up quite a bit,
but wide-open spaces all to ourselves
brought such a peace.
Picked up friend after meeting her
Aunts and cousins - sweet family.

Over to Lido Key to show her
my favorite secret place.
Kids diving down into surf.
A wonderful walk
and desire of friend to see
something never seen before -
Starfish!
And delight of delights, saw not one
or two or three, but five!
And one wee baby one!
And handfuls of live olives,
leaving hands softened by their slime.
So many sea goodies to take back
to show the kids.
And they loved every one!
Taking large shells and filling them
with sea water, made little homes
for these living creatures
and admired until back
in their native habitat,
they were placed.
The sun setting on evening two
and fading light exposing
the twinkle of stars
in the warm twilight.
Home to fried cheese quesadillas
the kids quickly gobbled up.

Next morning dawned in paradise
with warm temps and sunshine.
Stopped in to produce market
to buy strawberries,
but all sold out.
Purchase soft ciabatta
and ripe cherry tomatoes
for full day of beach excursion,
Paris style.
Loaded up and made our spot
on South Lido - where no worries
to finding good parking.
Beach beauties bask in sunlight
and walk along the sea edges.
Air just right and waters cool,
skin soaking up and didn’t even know
how it was affecting my skin.
But oh how I burnt myself this day!
What a bummer it was.
It did not discourage my friend & I.
We fed our kids and off we went
to enjoy some seafood and adult time.
Favorite drinks in hand
as we waited in length for our table.
Taking cool pics as twilight fell.
And much laughter over good food.
Trip to Walmart afterwards for
things too numerous to mention
and found all our kids asleep.
The beach had worn them out.
Those chai shakes would have to wait
until the next day.
Bed felt oh so good.

Morning dawned and breakfast too.
Thinking of something un-sunny to do.
Save Our Seabirds - a good place
to start. With lunches in hand,
off we embarked.
Fascinating birds of all kinds
having been rescued.
We loved the active blue jay
as he flew ever so close.
And those little full-grown quail.
The pigeon (spoken with a French accent)
and the bird who sang happy birthday.
Hungry by now,
stopped at a nature preserve
for a nature tour.
Heat of the day making us drag,
but we made it to the overlook prize.
Saw jellyfish and zebra-striped fish.
A long procession of fish swam by
by the hundreds. We marveled at them.
The bay so turquoise-blue.
And lunch hunkered down
in small spot of shade.
Crabs in mangrove trees?
Caught a few and day was made.
Back home for some dinner
and a creamy chai shake.
Delicious beef and beans
layered with cheese
and homemade salsa.
All was downed in hungry silence.
Then to next adventure I’ve never been.
Point O’Rocks on Siesta at low tide.
What a time that was! What a time!
Sun about to set, perfect for those
with sun-burnt skin.
Crossing beach and over sea-wall.
Down to landing and there it was!
Moss-covered rocks all laid out.
Such a bright green.
Water of tide low
and leaving tide-pools behind.
Cats-eyes and tons of conch -
mostly occupied.
So much fun searching for shells.
Thinking this place was an incubator
for babies shells to begin.
So many miniatures we found!
Then dusk falling quickly
leaving a thin line of orange
at horizons edge.
Pretty enough for amazing silhouettes.
Then darkness came,
faster than we could remember
where we parked.
What a time we had
and finally we found our van!
Tired and worn out,
but a happy and full day.
Might have enjoyed a peach sangria
made especially by my friend.
Then drop us off to next home nearby,
to stay.

Next morning dawned
and skin feeling so deeply burnt,
decided to stay home and rest
while friends visited friends
on Casperson beach for sharks teeth.
Daughter & I rest and read.
Then lunch of buffet at Der Dutchman.
Lovely walk home with full bellies.
Later us girls all got
to go see the beautiful sunset,
goofy pics of ourselves
and then shopping,
mostly for a walk and something cold
at St. Armand’s.
Ice-cream for four and night filled
with music and people galore.
Coffee stop at Starbucks
and checking out some stores.
Bought bag of shells for $11 bucks.
Then back home we snuck in.
What a lovely night!

Could it possibly be the day
before we leave?
Well, a visit to Albrittons Nursery
was just the thing!
Lots of Florida foliage
in all kinds of stages.
Ceramic pots in dazzling glazes.
Flowers blooming for butterflies
and the monarchs
were sipping the sweet nectar.
So many flying about.
I lost all sense of time
and all that was left was wonder
as they flew so near me.
Something magical about them.
Maybe Gods favorite transformation?
Daughter buying a succulent.
And friends daughter needed some too.
Fruit trees left us dreaming
of buying land and growing some.
It was a lovely dream
I may keep on dreaming.
To a place called Ollie’s -
Filled with bargains galore.
Daughter found book and I -
a two-pack of plastic flamingo’s.
Delicious can of nuts and
bags of Hershey chocolate eggs.
My friends favorite.

Then an amazing meal back at
Guerrero’s! Shared fajitas and
guacamole. We were all,
so very hungry!
Flan ordered at end
was given to my daughter - no charge.
We left there full and satisfied.
Such good, good food!

Walk nearby along creek and pond.
Live oak trees with moss spiraling down.
So soft and romantic.
Alligators lounge along edge.
Got close enough for a pic.
Just being outside and adventuring
this way leaves me
feeling free and happy on the inside.
Back home to seashells laid out.
The catch of treasures found
so far this week. Sit to gaze
and be in awe of Gods treasures.
Off together to Lido beach
for a sun setting evening.
Relaxed and enjoying the view
sipping jar of peach sangria.
It was a beautiful sunset too!
I enjoyed a little walk along waters edge.
Another wonderful and heart-full day!

Last day of Florida dawns!
Could it really be?
Picked up and meeting at Yoder’s,
enjoyed a delicious breakfast
with friend and her family.
Stuffed strawberry French-toast
and omelette - that French-toast
was oh-so-good!!!
Large chocolate milks were downed
and tummies ever so satisfied.
What a treat we had!

Off for one last adventure at South Lido,
this time to walk along edge
in hopes of spotting sea treasures.
Tide at its lowest, and coming back in
but still time to see what could be.
We found crabs and sea urchins.
Caught a couple curious fish.
Their yellow stripes were cheery.
A hermit crab entertained us on shore
and even saw a couple jellyfish.
Then on way back,
a sea urchin skeleton floated in
and friends daughter excitedly
brought it home - what a rare find!

No one terribly hungry after such
a big breakfast, so we travel
over to Mixon Fruit Orchard
to show our friends.
Enjoyed getting orange cones
dipped in chocolate and finished
at the butterfly garden.
Walking about the grounds
as a wedding event was prepared.
So fun to take pics of each other
and the beautiful flowers everywhere.
Coy fish - big and bold
splash about the water set in paradise.
Benches made of old driftwood
set along the path. Kids marvel at that.
Deciding whether or not to break rules
and jump fence to join in tram tour.
Large and wonderful bouquet
of vine archway - smells so divine.
Take photos and breath deeply.
Then buy some fresh-frozen juice
for friends sis and one for her.

From there we take a route
to a wonderful farm market
called Detwilers.
Bought some goodies for the drive home.
So much yummy produce
and at great prices too!
Lunchmeat and fresh cheese.
Humus and pita.
Pints of cherry tomatoes,
cut cantaloupe, watermelon, chips.
Such a beautiful day to be about
and enjoy such things with each other.
It’s fun buying normal everyday stuff
with friends!

Back to our guests home to wait
for an outing with my dear sis.
She arrives and hugs ensue.
Smiling faces and sunglasses
and ready for some yummy seafood.
Can’t believe she had never been
to my fave seafood place
all these years she’s lived here.
Bought ourselves a pina colada
and sipped it slow while catching up.
Table ready and enjoy chatting
outside under the eaves of tiki hut.
So wonderful to be there with her.
My daughter is her twin and I loved
that she could be there with her
cute Auntie. So much personality!
Dropped off back at guest home.
Hugs goodbye are always hard
and tears form. My baby sis!

Packing for end of last day.
Hosts home and chat with them
while they work on a puzzle.
They, puzzled by lack of one piece.
Fun to watch this
50-year, married couple
as they are together.
Then off to bed for an early rise.

Dragging our luggage out quietly
into the early-morning night,
smile as friend arrives.
Stuff and snuggle our luggages in.
Prayers for safety together
and off we go.
Slightly crying on inside to leave
our beautiful place we both love.
But home is calling and leave
for another time.
Dreams spoken aloud of possibilities
of one day being there more often.
Fun to think about.

Lovely two-day journey home.
Kids quietly sleeping in back.
So much conversation
and friendship up front.
Being. Knowing that we are human.
Understanding dynamics of life
a little better at our age.
Glad for the seasons and reasons.
Being close to the same age
and the depths God brought
us both through.
So precious to be understood.
And then the cutting loose
and having fun. The music. Laughing.
Kids groaning in the back.
Two Moms on vacation and music.
Can you imagine?
Songs and singing. Movement.
Cooped up for too long
and we all just get a little silly.
Spent night in Tennessee and enjoyed
the sweet company of friends sis.
Relax to fish tacos and movie.

Next day dawn early.
watch sun rise upon the mountains
with coffee in hand.
Sweet friend stopping for some
just for me.
Those mountains drawing out
the deep in us and the love
and understanding and to listen.
Love times like that.
Stopping for gas and yummy drinks.
Lunchmeat wrapped in cheese.
Love this frugal friend.
Wind around traffic jam.
See beautiful countryside.
I love road trips and those you know
and who know you.
And you can just be yourself and breath.
Thank you friend for your love
and for inviting my daughter and me.
Parting after the trip is over
and smile as you pull away.
And the memories will never
be forgotten! ❤️