Random Reflections

Here's a few thoughts about what I've learned or felt on my three-week journey:

1.  I'm blessed with an incredible, wonderful family, Patty & Raj with children, Mallory & Johnny; my baby brother, Don and lovely Irish sister-in-law, Kathleen, and my dear friend, Dorothy.  They have interrupted their lives for my visit and have treated my friend, Peggy, and me like Queens. "Thank You" is in no way adequate!

2.  The big, beautiful United States of America is a TREASURE we can never take for granted.  It was bought for us at a terrible price of many lives dedicated to freedom.  Compared to other countries, we are young and had better learn their tragic lessons of failure.

3.  Texas is so huge you could probably put the world's whole population in it and feed it.

4.  I will sell the mineral rights to my small 1/2 acre lot if you're interested.

5.  I thought all the guys in Texas would look like cowboys!  What I observed: no ten-gallon hats, no boots, no giant belt buckles, just ordinary Americans.  FYI: maybe this 'pre-conceived notion' mirrors the idea that more air travelers than I can count over the years thought about us Kentuckians. I've been asked, over and over, "Do you wear shoes there?"

6.  Without Peggy, AAA and the GPS, I couldn't have done this expedition of a trip!

7.  I love Comfort Suites, McDonalds, Walmart, the Catholic Churches, my 2007 Toyota Camry (31 mpg this trip!, made in Georgetown, KY), cell phones, free wi-fi, my Kodak camera, Shell gas stations, palm trees and sea life.

8.  Peggy and I praised God for our safety each and every day.

9.  "Adopt-a-Highway" signs are everywhere.  I think this means that the individuals or groups will pick up the trash.  How generous!

10.  It's so nice to drive instead of fly on a vacation!  We had the car positively packed tight!  And we didn't have to worry about size or weight when we bought souvenirs. 

11.  I brought a new knitting project but never even started.  Peggy brought a baby afghan she was hoping to complete and worked on it several times.

12.  Even though the America is a young country, we have so much history!  I wish I could take twenty years just to study our history!

13.  We managed to severely restrict our souvenir buying since we're both Senior Citizens.  Wish we could have restricted our eating! We ate like Queens!  (Now we can diet!)

14.  Next vacation, I'll bring a purse with more pockets.  The one I brought was large and it had a lovely palm tree and beach scene on the front.  There seemed to be no end to the amount of things I could stuff in it!

15.  I also love power cables and chargers: computer, phone, camera & Kindle.  It helped to put them all in one place.

16.  The motel/hotel coupon books at state Welcome Centers were very useful.  We usually called ahead for reservations.  Next time, I'll be proactive and print them before the trip.

17.  We LOVE State Welcome Centers!!  Florida's even gave out cups of orange juice.

18.  Yesterday, on our last day, Peggy and I were thinking of possible future trips: 1) Virginia north to New Jersey to Boston then Canada then south to Wisconsin then home; 2) West to the southern California coast then north to Seattle then home; 3) Amtrak anywhere; 4) Get a Europass, or 5) Do a river cruise on the Rhine River and see the castles . .endless possibilities. . .

19.  With 3,000+ miles together, glimpsing oil pumps, electric power plants, one wind generator and gasoline refining plants, we had time to philosophize on the question about What is the Power of the Universe?  The Sun?  Magnetism?  No, it is Prayer: reaching out and connecting with our Creator.

20.  I so appreciate how having weekends off forever!  On my last nursing job, I spent seven years working weekends only, the job Peggy had before she retired.  It is especially wonderful to be able to go to church on Sundays, the Day of the Lord, when everyone else goes.  FYI: I also very much appreciate how every Catholic Church, no matter where it is in the world, has the exact same church service, the Mass. 

21.  Peggy and I do not take our good health for granted!  We never thought we'd be able to climb the 219 steps to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse but we thought we'd try - and we did it!

22.  We love all the large, modern generic Shopping Malls but also love the small, unique shops.  In a tiny St. Augustine shop, I bought a handcrafted Shell Decoration that I had in mind for many years.  I asked the owner if he was on the internet.  He said, "No, I tried that in New Mexico.  I ended up with 40 shops. I hated every day.  Here my wife and I have enough business we can handle ourselves."

23.  My favorite souvenirs of the trip are a NASA mousepad with a 3-D photo of earth from space; a plain, tall statue of Jesus with his arms extended, and cactus jelly.

24.  Peggy and I both have sons at home who took excellent care of things in Lexington for us while we were away.  Thank you, John, and thank you, Billy Frank.

25.  Back in Lexington, I have a new attitude toward rush-hour traffic: it's not to compare to that in the giant cities we visited.  Kentucky still has the Interstate Highways in best repair and the cleanest rest areas with Florida close behind.