On the road again . . .

Margaret & Kimberly, June 2010

Road trips are one of my favorite things. They're even better when I'm accompanied by my Mom. She's the best driving companion a girl could ever ask for.

We recently made the 1,700-mile journey from Ozark, Alabama, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and back again (to visit the lovely Tarajean, Paul and Gavin-the-adorable). I traditionally break this trek to Oklahoma into two days; this time wasn't any different. Day 1 is from Ozark to Conway, Arkansas, 500+ miles. Like I told my partner-in-gardening-crime, Jan, Conway boasts a Ruby Tuesday, a Hobby Lobby, a WalMart and a Super 8 Motel. Need I say more? Reaching Conway by the end of the first day makes Day 2 an easy drive. And traveling 75-mph on the Muskogee Turnpike for the home stretch into Tulsa makes it even breezier.

Our trip to the Warren Home was terrific. Decent weather prevailed --a bit of downpour while driving through the Jasper, Alabama area -- started listening to an audio book by Anne Perry...but the reader's voice was wimpy and too difficult to hear over the sound of rain and of truck traffic. So we settled for listening to GLEE soundtracks until we could get to a Cracker Barrel to rent another book-on-CD. (Diane Mott Davidson's SWEET REVENGE wasn't a whole lot better, story wise, but Barbara Rosenblatt's narration was easy to hear above the road din).

The return trip was just as good. We stopped at this beautiful rest stop in Arkansas and I was so happy to find it again (since it's on the westbound side of I-40 and I missed it on the trip to Tulsa). Jeff and I stopped at this same rest stop last fall. I knew that late spring/early summer would be better for a stunning floral display. I was not disappointed; it was gorgeous.

Mom and I spent a restful evening at the Super 8 in Olive Branch, Mississippi (I just love the name of this town); only a short distance down the road from Tupelo, birthplace of Elvis. We made a stop to eat and another to browse the Dollar General store. We purchased fresh peaches and tomatoes at a road stand somewhere in northern Alabama and several hours later pulled into Ozark. Jeff, Stubby and Girlfriend were all present to greet us and welcome us home. It's always wonderful to pull in the driveway after such a good road trip. This journey was made more special because Mom and I got to travel the distance together!