Dang, I’m sitting down to write some thoughts out, and now that I’m not plugging miles away on Red my mind and thoughts have sort of vanished for the time being. Perhaps I’ll get to sit for a while and write out what comes, and I’ll get most of it out. If I get too personal I’ll prolly edit it out…and hopefully I’ll still have a semi-logical sequence that y’all can follow! 8o)
As you know already, Oshiba is out of commission. It appears that I fried part of the motherboard that connects to the battery terminals, so I’ll either get a new motherboard (perhaps a 700 mhz processor instead of the 500 of Oshiba…!?) and swap out everything else, or perhaps I’ll just get another unit altogether. Too many thoughts on that right now, so I’ll put that aside.
On my way from Montana to Arkansas I had the privilege and opportunity to meet up with KatieJo from the dot net for a meal and a cup of coffee in Kansas City, Missouri. It was quite a welcome break in the middle of the drive that was going to be a night stay at the shelter that she is volunteering at, but I decided that it would be good to continue riding through in hopes of getting to Arkansas at a decent hour. It was a good thing I did, because it ended up taking a LOT longer to get there than I had previously anticipated, with an unfortunate detour into Oklahoma City, OK (adding about 260 miles to the trip than otherwise would have been necessary!), but I learned some things about myself along that particular venture that were eye-opening. Hopefully I’ll blog about that soon enough, but it may be under quite personal headings, so you may or may not get to read it without somehow sighing up on my site (if that’s as possible as I understand it to be). We’ll have to see ‘bout that when the time comes for me to blog more personally. But KatieJo was kind enough to join me late at night (early morning!) even though she had to be up early for a staff meeting and work the next day! How cool was that? Thanks KatieJo! I had a good time (albeit sleepy and slightly scattered…) but was truly glad to get that chance to stop and visit. KatieJo, next time I have the chance to hang out, we’ll have to do it again (but this time I’m buying!). hehehehehehe
Alrighty! I’m safely in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with Kenny and Sarah, and we just picked up the U-Haul trailer earlier today, so they’ll get stuff ready to pack it as I wander around the state taking pictures, visiting with friends, and hopefully having a very good time. I’ll get the opportunity to hang out with Morgan again, and hopefully take Sue the cafeteria lady out for a ride on Red (!) as well as take a bunch of pictures elsewhere. I’m looking forward to these next couple of days as I’ll have time to just hang out with friends and do a bit of packing, then take the last leg of the trip home with Kenny and Sarah, stop off a bit of a detour to the Grand Canyon (none of us have ever been!) and visit with each other for the trip back to Southern California. This really has been an interesting, but very good trip.
Kenny and I had a really, really good (unfinished) talk last night at Denny’s, which is where we all are tonight, but I’m sitting alone with my thoughts, phone, and Kenny’s computer, and he and Sarah are across the room chit-chatting about this and that. But that’s neither here nor there (just for you, Jesse and Cory!), as this thought is about ME talking with Kenny. It was a talk a long time in coming and very much anticipated, and I’ve noticed that those kinds of talks seem to have an interesting time getting started, but once they get going they are very good. Still, there was soooooo much that we had in the docket to talk about that we didn’t even get to. But I think we hit very solidly on the things that were most on our hearts, and that we were able to both be the one pouring our heart out as well as be the sounding (“smacking up-side the head?â€) board for each other, and when we realized it was well after 1 am we headed back to the Cross home for the remainder of the morning to sleep. Good times. Much like old times, but distinctively new and different, with elements of maturity and immaturity strewn throughout. Yeah yeah, a good time was had by all. All two of us. 8o)
Let me just take this time to rant for a moment. I have a very hard time giving much respect to a man who cannot even take the responsibility of standing up for his family, protecting them, and respecting all parties concerned by himself, but rather speaks through his daughter to use the boyfriend to do the talking for him. Aaaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhhh! Uuuuuuuuuggggghhhhhhhhh! If y’all ever see me acting like that, and not standing up myself when it IS my responsibility, please, please, please lovingly SMACK ME UPSIDE THE HEAD! There is much wanniness here on my side (perhaps more than there should be?) that I needed to get out so I can get on with life. Thanks for that moment. 8o) I feel better now. Whether you do or not I can’t help just now, but thank you anyways!
Dang, I’m just barely scratching the surface of what’s on my mind and heart, and I’ve got to go! If I want to be up at a reasonable time I need to get back home and finish laundry, pack the saddle bags, and SLEEP! And as I’ve said before, I’m still relatively new at this journaling thing, so I’m not all that good at getting it out when I can! There will be more. Oh yes! There will be much more in the time coming soon. This weekend I’ll be back at Momma’s house to unpack all the things from my U-Haul last month, to have that interview with Starbucks, and to resume life down in the OC and maybe even get in contact with the DeShazo’s soon! I’m missing home, and I’m missing Lindsay, and I’m already missing many of the folks that I’ve come to know and some I’ve known and loved for a long time that I got to see and meet and visit and know on this trip.
Miller’s, thanks again for opening your home to me on this trip! You were gracious hosts and just really good people. I am proud to know you! Thanks for the side pack and the Helly Hanson’s, as they both have been very handy and useful. 8o)
Momma and Papa O, if you are reading this, thanks for having me up! It was so good to finally get to see you again and to see your new house! Give Piper a treat for me, and I hope that next visit we’ll be able to do and go and see more things together, and that I’ll just plain have more time to be with you guys. 8o) I love you!
KatieJo, keep rockin’ and serving at the kitchen. I was so very encouraged to see where you are and hear ‘bout the kinds of things that you’re doing with and for the Lord! Blessings on you, and I hope to get to visit with you more in the future.
Ouachita folks, thank you for your welcomes and the chance to visit with you! I wouldn’t necessarily count on much by Spring, if I were you, except maybe a diploma, should it be your year and if you’ve done your work! But keep focused on God’s love and presence…I cannot say this enough! I know intimately how easy it is to lose focus, even when you’re trying hard not to. And thank you to Rushing for allowing me to stay in your room! Be noisy…I’ll sleep right through it!
Crosses, if you get to read this, thanks for letting me join the festivities in your neck of the woods, and inviting me to join you at church. Blessings on you as you seek the Lord in life and love.
Kenny and Sarah, let’s get ready to pack, drive, talk, play, pray, sneeze, eat, and sporadically sleep along the journey home. Just no sleeping for whoever of us is driving! You know how I feel about you guys…8o)
Ok, I need to get going pretty quick here. But isn’t it a beautifully strange thing that our God made us in His image, and that relationships are an integral part of our lives and being? I’m so glad for the time I’ve had to spend with Him on Red, and the time I’ve had with others along the way. I’m signing off tonight in much anticipation of the life to come (here on Earth, NOT counting the Life to come when I leave this dirt clod floating in space…), and of the new and interesting things that will be happening to and around and with and because of and near me. I do hope all is well with y’all, and if not, gimme a call! If you need my number, you’ll have to contact me ‘bout that. There are those who have it, so just ask around if you can’t get me. I most likely won’t be around the net before next week.
Blessings on you!
8o)