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Trip Wire :: Part the First
Friday, March 11, 2022 at 01:44PM 
Okay with me
And we are back! (Actually we got home on Wednesday evening but it has taken me this long to get organized. Apologies.)
TG and I left Columbia on March the second at nine o'clock a.m. EST, bound for Enid, Oklahoma, by way of a one-night stop in Memphis, Tennessee.
(We gained an hour along the way, but we'd be obliged to give it back on the day we headed home.)
The purpose of our trip was to be present when the son and heir received his wings from the United States Air Force and officially became a pilot.
As we speak, he has continued with his studies and will be learning to fly a whole 'nother aircraft, which training he is due to complete sometime this summer.
Meanwhile we had the most wonderful time, I cannot even tell you.
But I will.
To begin with I must be a wee bit negative in that -- well, let's put it this way: the first day of the trip was so tedious that, that night when Andrew texted to check up on our whereabouts, I told him that it had been one of the most boring drives I had ever experienced.
Just wait until tomorrow, he responded.
It was the weekend we'd all been waiting for ... photo courtesy Brittany Weber
Haaaaahaha. He turned out to be one hundred percent correct.
To soothe our weary souls, we went to a nearby restaurant and had a delicious dinner followed by a good night's rest. The hotel breakfast the next morning was pleasant enough, served up by a young man who picked out the crispiest bacon for me and nestled it beside my scrambled eggs.
We were on our way by around ten o'clock, by which time I had grown a trifle more savvy.
As in, we ditched the Sirius XM and I hooked my phone up to the car's Bluetooth and played audio books and podcasts and an eclectic array of music from Spotify, and it helped to pass the time.
Bluetooth and audio materials notwithstanding, once we crossed the line into Oklahoma, although it was a beautiful warm day, it seemed an endless bleak journey until finally we reached the gates of Vance Air Force Base in Enid, at six o'clock in the evening.
Andrew was there to greet us and get us through said gate and onto the base (our REAL EYE DEES were successfully deployed), where he and Brittany and Ember live.
Talk about curb appeal
Earlier that afternoon, he and Brittany had attended an informal ceremony during which Andrew's buddies and classmates learned which aircraft they will be flying next.
(Andrew already knows he'll ultimately be piloting the KC-135 tanker for his unit in the Tennessee Air National Guard.)
As we drove up to their house, Ember and Rambo were traversing the lawn to clap eyes on us.
Ember was clutching her two wooden horses, which have their own barn but really live in her heart. Rambo, fresh from a trip to the groomer, sported a snazzy blue and white necktie.
Poor old Rambo is fourteen. Andrew acquired his beloved pet in 2011, and they have traveled many a mile together.
There is a cancer in Rambo's leg that is inoperable except for if they resorted to amputation, from which he would likely not be able to recover given his age.
Rambo may be up in years but he's still a handsome old dog
So he hops on three legs and limps using the bad one, and he also has two bad hips, and is extremely thin although he eats his kibble and still hankers for treats.
I had brought treats to add to his stash, and he pretty much begged me for them the whole time we were there. Seems to me there's a good bit of life left in him if he can do that.
(And we are glad because the thought of losing him looms over Andrew and it will be painful when the time comes.)
Their house is perfectly charming, not least because of the love with which Brittany decorates and cares for it.
We were made instantly comfortable and before we knew it, Andrew was cooking up hamburgers on the grill.
Along with those, we had a beautiful salad and baked beans and deviled eggs. It was all scrumptious.
When my dollybelle what's-her-face Ember wasn't reading, she was often lolling
Ember was intensely interested in seeing how many books she could get me to read to her. She is obsessed with being read to. I see that as a very good thing, so I was glad to oblige.
I have only brought you up to speed on the first two days, but it's all I have time for.
Part the Second will be along shortly.
And that is all for now except to say, don't forget to spring forward! Arrggh.
=0=0=0=
Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend
Reader Comments (22)
It's been a while since I took such a long car trip. Ember is absolutely adorable!! That is such a good sign that she enjoys being read to. And Rambo in his tie is too handsome. It's so hard when they get older.
Glad to hear you made it safely home and I can't wait to hear about the rest of the celebration!!
@Lori ... Yes it is, so very hard when the beloved pets begin to age out. So difficult to contemplate the end and how much it's going to hurt! But when you love a dog or a cat or any animal, it is inevitable so we steel ourselves for the worst. And yes, Ember is wonderful to read to because she snuggles close by when you do ... and the whole trip was epic so stay tuned! xoxo
Some road trips can be so tedious! Especially if you are anxious to get to where you are going! Ember is adorable and it's so cute her holding her wooden horses to show you! Poor Rambo. It's so hard to watch a beloved fur family member get old!
@Jeanette ... I know, right? And we were SO anxious to get there! Ember is besotted with those horses. She puts them in the barn "to bed' every night, hahahaha! xoxo
Ember is gorgeous! She really does look kind of like a little ember, with her beautiful hair. Sounds like the visit is off to a great start!
Sounds like the time we drove across Wyoming. BORE-ING! But the destination made it all worth it for you all. What a lovely couple and gorgeous grandchild. I bet you were tickled. Reading books was always my favorite activity with my kids and now my grands.
Happy Weekend! XO
Hello Jenny,
I am already excited for part two.
Ember is so cute. I love to read to little ones and big ones. :-) If I find an interesting story I will save it and read it aloud to my sons.
Spring Forward Pirate.
She is getting cuter, by the hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh poor Dear Ol' Rambo.....
Being read to..... A wonderful desire for a child.
I'm sure the blahhhhhh trip, was totally worth it.
Gentle hugs,
Mari-Nanci
@Ginny ... doesn't she though? Her name suits her perfectly. I think you will enjoy the rest of the trip too! xoxo
@Bijoux ... haaahaha you know what I'm talking about! I used to think traversing the width of Pennsylvania was bad ... and then we traversed Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, little corner of Tennessee, Arkansas, and most of Oklahoma, to get to Enid! But what was waiting there was totally worth it ... you are so right! xoxo
@Carla ... Oh yes girl, the pirate will change her clocks tomorrow afternoon so as to begin getting used to the time change! I think you will enjoy the rest of the story! Life is grand. xoxo
@Mari-Nanci ... Yes, so worth it, every single mile. It was such a treat to go and be there for Andrew's special day. It meant a lot to him and Brittany to have family rejoice with them in person! xoxo
Bijoux is right about Wyoming, lol :) I thought we would never get out of that state when we drove down from Billings (Montana) to Denver. I was never so happy to see the sign that we were in Colorado :)
Ember is adorable!! What a great greeting committee you had!! Poor Rambo, but I'm still thinking he has a bit of quality of life left and I'm sure he'll let Andrew know when it is time to say goodbye (as painful as that will be).
Congrats to your son for his present achievements and those to come down the line!
I loved reading to my kids and my grandson. Such a wonderful past time and bonding experience. Glad you got to read with Ember!
Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip and welcome back to blogland!
betty
Oh, I forgot to mention. We don't spring forward in Arizona :) or fall back :) It is wonderful except for remembering our family in California is either the same time as us or an hour behind. I don't miss changing the time at all :)
betty
@betty ... Haaahahaha you know the drill! I hope to never have to drive across Wyoming but if I do, I will think of you both! I would actually love to visit Tucson to see you (I hope) and Davis-Monthan AFB where the huge plane boneyard is, but I think I am not up to driving that (it is a mere 28 hours, which would take us three days, haaha). But what an adventure! Yes, we had a grand time reading books and giving treats to old Rambo (will I ever see him again?), and talking and visiting and eating and doing what sightseeing there was to do! More on that later! Love to Winslow! xoxo ... p.s. just saw your second comment ... Interesting! I did not know that some states did not do time change! I wish we didn't do it here! I hate the early dark in the fall and winter! xoxo
An Absolutely gorgeous family!! Congratulations to Andrew! I know you must both be so very proud of him…Poor sweet Rambo! Wish there were something to be done for him…I’ll be praying!
I know everyone hurts for him…💙
I never remember to hook up Audible to the car speakers. Makes travel a lot less tiring.
And if y’all came through Waco…you are in trouble! That’s my stomping ground and I could have at least run over and hugged your necks! Oh well…😉. Glad you made it home safe and sound!
Get some rest…
Hughugs
Donna
@Donna ... well we were no closer than 400 miles to Waco Texas so you were safe BUT you'd better believe that I know right where you are and look out if I get within striking distance! And yes we do hurt for our precious Rambo. I will hate the day when the bad news come. And I sure am resting today. xoxo
I've been so looking forward to this post! What a beautiful family they are - right down to Rambo in his tie. :) I'm sorry to hear of his health issues. Laura and Aarons dog Remie is having similar issues and they are dreading the pain that is coming, especially for little girls who love him.
Ember is growing and is such a pretty little thing. It's so sweet that she loves her horses so. Also, loving reading is a very good thing! Now I can't wait for more pics!
@Mari ... You shall have lots more pics! And you know what it's like when those little grandgirls snuggle up and want to be read to! I am so sorry to hear about Remie. That's going to be a tough couple of days on everyone. Aaarrrghh. xoxo
So glad you were able to be there with your family! Yes... hard to imagine going 2 mph or 15 miles a day through Oklahoma in a covered wagon! Oh my goodness!
@Gayla ... Yes ... in that WIND and cold! They can have brutal winters. Imagine pregnant women traveling in wagons, in those conditions. And little children! It boggles the mind. xoxo
Congratulations to your son on earning his wings! Ember is adorable and it must have been a joy to read various books with her.
@LB ... Thank you! We are so proud of him and of all of the graduates. They work so hard! It was lovely having the time to read to Ember. She's my angel, haha ... xoxo
Well I know from reading backward to here that Rambo is no longer with us. There is such sadness in losing a gentle friend. We have driven through Oklahoma on our way to "somewhere else". What I remember is wind and dust.
@Barb ... the wind is like a character in the movie. With a leading part. Simply relentless. I don't think I could live there! I really don't. And yes we are still mourning our precious Rambo. He was a gift from God. xoxo