A Trip Out West

Oklahoma City Here I Come

It was with anticipation that I went to bed at half time of the Eagles football game on Monday 10 November. Tomorrow on wake up I would be heading to Columbus, Ms and assisting my Granddaughter and her husband with their move to Oklahoma City, Ok. My two Great Granddaughters Mia and Ana would also be making the trip. Two young Air Force Lieutenants making the second move of their careers after two years at Columbus, AFB. 

Ana, Sam, Zed and Mia Davies

My trip west began on Tuesday November 11th, 2014. Early AM, 0319 to be exact I started waking up. I never exited the bed until 0350, I had been awake long enough. Mary Agnes was already out of bed and her cup of coffee was sending it's wafting aroma throughout the house. I'd have my usual yogurt, coffee and chit chat once out of bed.

After completing my morning obligations I was in the car and out of the driveway by 0440 on my two hour and a few minutes ride to Baltimore's BWI airport.

 

 After only eleven miles I met one of Salisbury's finest, and this on Veterans Day. After a brief chat about gently rolling through a STOP sign by our local Catholic church, I mentioned that this old Marine never realized he hadn't come to a full stop and apologized and wished for the best.

After a 5 minute delay the ex-Army Sergeant, I was told, handed me a warning, requested I come to a full stop the next time at this intersection, said “ Happy Veterans Day and have a safe trip.” I was thankful, expressed such and continued on my journey without incident.

Once at the airport, parking, shuttle and security went without a hitch. Into the inner sanctum of the Southwest boarding area with a fine cup of Pikes, no cream, no sugar from Starbucks and I was good for the morning. I was on time and my flight was on time to Memphis. I've been flying Southwest for a number of years and have had little to no complaints.

The flight to Memphis was uneventful and 15 minutes early. The weather on landing was grey and smoggy. I'd say Dark and Stormy but then I’d need some Goslings dark rum and Ginger Beer with Lemon. Got to know Bermuda to get that one.

My granddaughter's husband, Zed, arrived in about 15 minutes with great granddaughter Mia asleep in the back seat. We would now be off for the two hour ride to Columbus, AFB, Mississippi, and an uneventful ride it was. Zed and I caught up on all the news and he filled me in on my tasks for the pending move to Oklahoma.

I must add that I'm writing these words at this time from 31,003 feet and 571 mph at this very moment over Indianapolis, IN. I'm using Quip with an iPad and a Zagg keyboard, all of which I've been very pleased with. I've had very few issues copying and pasting to my blog. If there are any writers out there, give Quip a try, send it on to others to proof read without an issue.

So, back to the trip experience. In route to the Sip (short for the whole word) I learned we would be heading out to OK on Thursday morning. I'd be driving a 26 foot Penske box truck with all the worldly belongings of the kids, which was already loaded. We would be spending the next two nights in temporary quarters. My granddaughter Abby, a freshman at Mississippi State University and her roommate Molly would join us for dinner and a sleep over on Wednesday night to say goodbye.

The previous night Sam had hosted her International student pilots and Squadron personnel for a get together and to say goodbye. 55 people in all and a whole lot of Pizzas later, we had leftovers for dinner that night.

Prior to dinner, Zed and I had to return 55 chairs and seven 10 foot tables used for the gathering. This being Veterans day the base facility to return them to was closed. Obviously Zed had prior B & E experience. He backed the truck up to the locked 8 foot chain link fence and climbed into the storage area to begin the off loading process.

With his aged wife’s grandfather on the outside I was to pass the chairs 1x1 over the fence to him. The tables were slid through the locked gate opening (heavy suckers I might add) to complete the task. At the end of the rigorous workout my Medtronic Pace Maker continued to function like the Champion it’s been for the past 11 years. Of course I could no longer lift my arms vertically and had difficulty handling the Pizza we had for dinner. This was to be the beginning of a pattern of Elder Abuse by these youngsters on the move.

I would retire early on the first night of my adventure, having spent a long time traveling and getting a good workout from the tables and chairs. Sleep was not hard to come by.

On Wednesday I went with Sam when the girls went to Day Care for the last time. What a wonderful set up for the children.

Day Care Ctr.

 The kid’s house was to be inspected at 0900 that morning and Sam and I returned to the house to undertake some last minute cleanups and fixes. I would be the paint dab man touching up here and there as needed. The inspector arrived promptly at 0900 and the kids passed without issue.

After the inspection Sam and Zed completed their out-processing and I returned to the temporary quarters and undertook a mountain of laundry to wash. Zed would return and do some pre move maintenance on their trailor while Sam and I went to Walmart for winterizing fluids for all the vehicles. It seems a Polar Vortex would be descending on us momentarily. After all the miscellaneous tasks were completed we picked up the girls from day care and headed to Starkville to pick up Abby and Molly.

I got a tour of the girls dorm and we ventured off to the Zumi restaurant for a fine meal. After dinner we all headed back to Columbus for the kids last night in Mississippi. Tomorrow the journey to Oklahoma would begin.

On Thursday November 13, 2014 the journey west began. Sam would return the girls to Starkville and with Mia and Ana head north to rendezvous with Zed and I somewhere between Tupolo and Memphis. Me and my Arctic Bear companion would be in the truck while Zed piloted the Pickup and camper.

Our first real test of driving prowess would be in Memphis and getting across the Mississippi river into Arkansas. The amount of truck traffic was more than I have ever experienced. Crossing into and through the first few miles of Arkansas we encountered several accidents to slow our pace. It would be many miles into Arkansas before the truck traffic started to thin out.

Sam and the girls would eventually catch up to us as we ventured west to North Little Rock where we would spend our night. I was originally booked to share a room with Zed, Sam and the girls. After a quick call to Social Services and the Ctr. Against Elder Abuse, Samantha called and informed me that I’d have my own room. Praise be to Jesus. Someone was looking out for this old timer.

We would dine at an adjacent Cracker Barrel restaurant, a first time experience for Zed. Dinner was substantial and we said our good nights and headed to our respective rooms. Once again sleep was not hard to come by.

I experienced a great night at the North Little Rock Fairfield Inn and awoke well rested. I was downstairs at 0600 for a breakfast of Yogurt and Hard boiled eggs and coffee. After checking out my truck, I met the kids while they ate their breakfast. We would be on the road and headed west once again in route to Oklahoma City, 6 to 7 hours away.

Rote 40 west heads NW out of Little Rock through some gorgeous rolling hills and the Ozarks. We came upon an interesting sign that said, Toad Suck, really I thought. If interested here are some highlights on Toad Suck, Arkansas. 

 A good portion of Rt. 40 runs adjacent to the Arkansas river and just outside of Russelville, Ar is a nuclear power facility. It surprised me to see the giant cooling tower from many mile away.

We continued west without any adverse incidents and arrived at the new home of the Davies at 1300.

 

The new home

 

 We immediately started emptying the truck and offloading everything into the garage. I would handle mostly light stuff. With the truck 85% empty the prearranged help from their new church arrived and the last heavy items were removed from the truck.

 

Sam had a prearranged meeting to attend with the Day Care facility at Tinker, AFB and Zed had a few things to attend to also and wanted to return the truck. With Mia in hand the three of them departed for the base and left me alone with Ana. On exiting Sam said there was a bottle for Ana and just stick it in the Microwave for a minute, shake it well and feed her if she gets hungry.

Ana fell asleep in my arms and I put her down on some blankets and began to organize their kitchen a bit. After about 2 ½ hours Ana began to stir and fuss. Hunger was setting in. I got the bottle from the fridge, and began to look for the microwave, I checked every outlet in the house, including the garage, guess what, there is no Microwave. Thank goodness the house had hot water to warm the bottle. I fed the starving child and kept her amused until the parents arrived close to 1800. 

Has anyone heard me mention a noon meal on this vigorous moving day? You are so right, seems feeding of the elderly was not a priority on this venture. Once again, after visualizing my shaking and uneven gate, Zed was dispatched to a local fast food establishment to fetch meals for all. Finally 12 hours and 45 minutes after breakfast, nourishment was taken in. This saved another call to Social Services and another incident being recorded. I can only hope the children fare better during their upbringing. The poor displaced Indians of Oklahoma had been treated better than this.

After a good night’s sleep, in a bed I might add, I awoke early. I ventured out to McDonalds and brought breakfast back for all. We would at least start the day with some food. The Winds from the north had started to blow and the Polar Vortex was making its way into Oklahoma. With continually help from Mia the three elders of this house commenced to unpack and organize things. Zed, God bless his soul, fired up the grill at lunch time and made the most delicious hamburgers. How he completed the task in the cold north wind was not a pleasant task. Later in the day we observed the wind moving the grill about the rear porch. Welcome to Oklahoma.

The afternoon brought more organization to the new home and as the sunlight of the day began to fade, Sam made a delicious Lasagna dinner. This would be my last night with the grand and great grandchildren and I was going to miss them. We would watch an old John Wayne movie, “The Big Stampede” a 1932 B movie and head off to bed by 2130. Once again, I would sleep like a rock.

On Sunday I would head off once again early to get breakfast. This would be my last day here, Southwest and I would head East at 1630 for a 2 ½ hour flight to Baltimore. In the meantime the kids would head to church, I’d pack for the trip and tried to organize a bit more. By 1030 it had begun to snow and the winds began to pick up.

The kids returned from church around 1400 and we were immediately off to the airport. It proved to be an interesting ride with several accidents on overpasses. With someone obviously watching over us we arrived safely at the airport. We said our goodbyes and with sadness in my eyes, I watched as they drove off to their new home and adventure. I was going to miss them all, even having come so close to starvation.

As I awaited the flight I would dine at Schlotzsky’s Deli. My first adventure with this facility was in Colorado Springs about four years ago. If you’re ever near one and hungry, I recommend it as a great meal stop. Eventually, after watching the snow continue to fall I would board my plane for the trip to Baltimore. 

After the push from the gate, we would not go far. It seems a significant amount of snow and ice had accumulated and we would have to be deiced. We came to a stop 100 yards from the gate to await the Deicing truck. Twenty minutes later the truck appeared and began the process of eliminating the extra weight. With only one wing done, the truck ran out of fluid. Another twenty minutes lapsed until the truck reappeared and completed his assigned task. It would be 75 minutes late that lift off would finally come and we were in the air and heading east.

 

Getting ready to deice

The flight was a good one, little turbulence would be felt along the route and we landed safely in Baltimore. I retrieved my bag and was in my car headed to the Eastern Shore by 2100.

I drove the two hours home in the rain. I arrived at home to an awake wife, a big hug, a cold glass of wine and a wagging tail dog. Nothing could have put the period to the end of this adventure any better. 

It was a great trip and I’m thankful I was able to lend a hand to the young ones. I now wait to see what my next adventure shall be.