Trip to Texas

Aug
5

This past Wednesday, I headed to the city with a one-way ticket to Texas, leaving my neighbors in charge of the farm.
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My “official photographer” (ha) Jerry drove me to the airport, which explains why there is actually a photograph of this event. After landing in Texas (it is HOT there), I got in a visit with my dad before heading straight for my baby–and by 6 a.m. the next morning, Morgan and I were on the road.
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In her new car! Well, “new to her” car. Her dad gave her a 2000 Honda Accord, and I was there to help her get it home. Nine states later (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia), we were back at the farm. Whew. This southern route is not the shortest, most direct path back to West Virginia, but it was the one Morgan wanted to take because, while it adds some extra miles to the trip, it is more scenic. It was her big trip, so I let her have her way. She was doing half the driving. Until we got to Virginia and mountains and then she got scared on the curving interstate.

She’s scared of curves.

She lives in West Virginia, which makes that real handy.

She did drive briefly in Virginia and West Virginia because she had a hankering to drive through the tunnels, but as soon as she came out of the tunnel at the Virginia/West Virginia line, she got nervous. I was surprised by how many states have an interstate speed limit of 65 mph, by the way. The speed limit in West Virginia is 70, which means people go 80. Not that I would have allowed Morgan to keep up with the West Virginia 80 mph traffic (on one of the most twisty interstates in the nation), but she was clutching the wheel and going 45. Twenty hours into this road trip, I was ready to be home. I had her pull over at the next exit so I could get us there. We’ll practice West Virginia interstate driving (at 70, not 80) some other time.

Meanwhile, Morgan had hatched a plot to surprise her boyfriend, who didn’t think she was coming home for another week. But we had another surprise waiting for us when we arrived at the farm to find Ross home for the weekend and (really?!) cleaning out the cow stall in the back barn yard.
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Morgan texted her boyfriend to ask him to come over to “help” me. That I should need help is a believable story, though he was a bit confused when he arrived to find a couple of extra vehicles in the driveway. Apparently, I needed a lot of help! Or….not. Before he had time to think through this state of affairs, I asked him to come into the house for a minute, and Morgan popped out–
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–to surprise him!
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And so, that is what I’ve really been doing for the past week. I had posts scheduled in advance to run while I was away, and between my neighbors and Ross, all was well on the farm when we got home. Now, there is but one week of “summer” before volleyball and Morgan’s senior year of high school begins.
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And my baby’s got a car. I’m gonna have to let her drive it.





Comments

  1. Diane says:

    Congrats Morgan!! Your mom was very brave to share driving with you though all the states. Enjoy your car!

  2. Jane L says:

    As an Accord owner myself, congrats on a great car!

    Welcome home Morgan:)

  3. Journey11 says:

    Awww, how nice for Morgan. :happyflower: I remember being scared to drive those curves on the Turnpike when I was her age too, going back and forth to college. It’s still not my favorite road to drive.

  4. lifeisgood/ Melinda says:

    Glad the trip was safe. If you drove through Louisiana, you must have traveled I-20..in which case you drove right past me!

    Morgan’s car is cute! Hope she enjoys it!

  5. Stick Horse Cowgirls says:

    Love your cowgirl boots, Suzanne! Congratulations to Morgan on her “new” car! I don’t think I have ever had a brand new car, but I am really happy with my new used car! Gotta be frugal!
    V

  6. whaledancer says:

    High school senior, owning a car, having a boyfriend; Morgan is definitely not a little girl anymore. Almost an adult, in fact. When I starting reading CITR, she was playing with dolls, catching tadpoles, and wearing braces. It seems like yesterday, but Morgan makes me realize that several years have passed. She’s turned into a lovely young woman.

  7. ginakenney1 says:

    Aw! Sounds like a fun mother/daughter trip!

    When I see that your daughter doesn’t like driving curvy roads, it made me remember that my own daughter refused to drive the interstate until she was about 19 years old. We live in a small town and our only way “out” is to travel the interstate. Rebecca decided to switch colleges from the local private college she was attending to a state college that required a trip down the interstate. I told her that the only way she could do that was she had to be able to drive herself there. She hopped in the car and hasn’t looked back since, but oh how I wish she still was hesitant to travel very far from home.

    Crazy question for you.. but that same daughter has bought her first house a few weeks ago and we have been working to update it. We love the light fixture shown in your living room. Did you get it anywhere that we might be able to find it? So lovely!

    Thanks!

  8. bonita says:

    Reminds me of driving (as an adult) through Arkansas and freaking out at the signs which read, :Road steep and curvy next 90 miles!” Glad everyone home safe, including surprise cowhand.

  9. jodiezoeller says:

    I was a big chicken as a beginning driver and didn’t get my license until I was 21. Not too many hills or curvy roads where I lived then. But lots of interstates cris-crossing San Antonio. Now driving to SA from Dallas isn’t too much of a problem except for the constant road construction on I-35. CONGRATS to Morgan & you for making a cross-country trip in her new car!

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