Well, it's the night before we depart. We are purging and washing and packing and strategizing about suitcase efficiency! I have officially been terrible about keeping the blog updated, but not because I've had nothing to share. Mostly, it's because we have been DOING like crazy and I have not had the opportunity to sit, unless it was behind the wheel of the car, or in the passenger side playing "navigator". I can honestly say this has been an adventure in every sense of the word and one that I don't think we (with the exception of Clark) will ever forget. As we sat down at the table for dinner tonight, Brynn said," This has been so much fun, I can hardly remember the bad parts". I hope this remains true when we return. We have had a great time, but don't think for one minute that any of us is not completely ready to be HOME! While here, we've been somewhere on a continuum of "man, I could get used to this weather" on one end and "there is NO WAY I could live here" on the other. Many times, we have seen landscapes that we just couldn't even make our mind comprehend as "real" and have looked around for cameras at times when we felt we MUST be in a movie, as it couldn't be "real life". On the subject of home, let me recount some of the things that we've missed the most:
1. Knowing the speed limit and actually being able to drive at that speed, if desired: There have been times that I have gone over an hour and have had no clue what the speed limit was. The signage is just crazy and different here. I guess ultimately there is no need to waste the money on signage, as either one of two things are true here: you are either a) in crazy traffic going 10 MPH if you're lucky or b) on the freeway going around 80 so you don't get run over. NOTHING in between.
2. Sweet Tea and biscuits: Now, to be fair, McDonald's does serve Sweet Tea and Carl's Jr. (Hardee's twin brother) has biscuits (that we didn't partake in), but as a general rule, these are not readily available. While we've been here, I kept tea made, and the girls conned a couple of former NC residents to make tea while visiting (they are shameless!), so we aren't having the shakes or anything, but STILL! (Bojangles, we're coming home to you!)
3. Knowing that you could communicate with almost everyone around you: As you can imagine, we have come into contact with many people speaking MANY different languages; mostly Spanish, but lots of others, too. Brynn has gotten us through a few situations that would have other-wise been much more difficult. Having said that, this has been a great thing. I am grateful for the girls to experience this beautiful thing that makes our country OURS. It has also shown them that learning a second (or 3rd or 4th) language not only has value, but real application.
4. Our people: We have so missed our family and friends. The time difference has made it even harder because, in the evenings, when we get to a point where we can actually make calls, it is way too late to call. We know y'all love us, but not THAT much. ;) We also miss our Woody dog, who is also our people. Luckily we found a stuffed replica (minus the bad breath) that has traveled with us and slept with Brynn since Sunday. (Woody, we're coming home to you! Hang in there!)
5. Greeness and Flatness: It is DRY and brown. I am glad there are at least things that can be brown, as opposed to concrete everywhere, but I have never seen anything like it. They are not kidding when they say there's no water. In Bakersfield, we drove over a bridge, which should have carried us over a river. Instead, we went over DIRT. Lots of dry, dusty powder with not a drop of water in sight. Jacksonville folks could picture driving over the bridge on 17 and seeing only vast desert where water used to be. It's really a sad situation. We also feel like we've seen more mountains than we ever anticipated. When you're on the beach, the mountains are behind you. When you're on the freeway, you're in the mountains. The only time you're not in the mountains is when you're in the valley. And that's your geography lesson for today!
What we haven't missed (or will miss from here):
1. HUMIDITY: Now, don't get me wrong. WE have felt HEAT. I mean, crazy, "Did God leave the oven door open after he took the biscuits out and forget?" kind of heat, but there's no sweating! 106 degrees outside and still limited perspiration! And when you go under a tree or other shade, it drops a good 10 degrees. Those have been the moments I've swung to the left of that continuum. We've also been COLD. Not often, but we've had to deploy jackets and blankets a couple times, even Mr. Hotty (take that any way you'd like). ;)
2. In N Out: We made our 2nd trip, as a farewell, last night. We've already developed some strategies to overcome this issue: a) "How about we swap you one In n Out for one Bojangles, LA? Trust us, you won't miss one, we'll have 2 more Bojangles for us, you'll get BISCUITS AND SWEET TEA, and everybody will be happy, mmmkay?" b) Perhaps we can convince the Cook-Out people to make a California style burger and make it just like the In n Out?
3. NICENESS: I have to admit that I pre-judged LA on my experiences in it's somewhat entertaining, amazingly unique, but mostly grumpy, black-sheep of a cousin, NYC. For that, I was wrong and I am ashamed. Perhaps it's the weather that makes folks happier? The lack of need for mass transit systems? Whatever it is, there has not been one time that we have not been treated with courtesy, respect and consideration. I have never felt fearful for our safety {ok, except when Bryant was driving }. In that regard, it's felt no different from home. There have been a few crazies, but what town doesn't have those? And when you have THIS many people, there's bound to be more crazies. Just a tip for those of you reading; if you can't identify who the "crazies" are, it might be you. ;) Seriously, though, it's another factor that swings me back on that left side of the continuum. Then I quickly swing back at 2 am when the sirens start whirring down Hollywood Blvd. That's when I remember that, as nice as it is, "City" is still it's last name.
4. BEING: We have managed this whole trip on a day-to-day, sometimes hour-to-hour basis, based on the needs and desires of all involved. There's been waiting, and lots of riding, listening, and dance parties in the car. Through all of this, we have been able to focus solely on each other. There's been simplicity in the limitation of "things" and walls, the beauty of resourcefulness, and just acting on whims, with no set agenda, save the ones set by the medical professionals. We've had a few meltdowns, some pouty faces, a couple time-outs, and the girls had some issues, too, but overall, it's been wonderful to experience all the madness and excitement together.
I will follow this post with some further posts that will outline more specifics about Clark's EARICLE and some of our journeys along the way, but for now, this will serve as our epilogue. We appreciate prayers for one more round of traveling mercies and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!
