Florida
I arrived at Becky's on the late afternoon of March 12th and spent the next two days visiting and recovering form my dash across the southern states. Tuesday and Wednesday was relax and visit. Thursday Becky and I met with Cassie The Sassy at the Texas Roadhouse for dinner and chatting. We found her to be a charming young lady just as delightful as S(t)eph(a)ni(e) says she is. We enjoyed our meals then went over to a Starbucks for an evening coffee and more chat. That is where we had one of the baristas take our picture. All too soon it became time to part company and return home. Another notch in my steering wheel. #23.
The next day being Friday was my day to drive 180 miles further south to meet and stay the night with Faith and my namesake even though she hasn't yet learned to spell it correctly. For clarity sake we will use her spelling here. Lori. I left Becky's heading the 14 or so miles back to I-75 to continue south. Speed limit - 70, my speed 75. everyone else is driving at least 80mph and I feel as though I am going backwards in the flow. Eventually I get down that way and stop for gas and return to the road. Not far to go now I cross a long bridge over to their vicinity and my gps directs me to turn right into what looks like predominately empty lots. Turn here another turn there and pass a couple homes. More turns until it finally tells me to turn left onto a dirt road and announces I am at my destination. Sure enough there is one home in sight. This must be the place so I pull in and park at the end of the row of vehicles in front of the A shaped camper. I shut the truck off grab my purse and head for the door and there on the porch to greet me are Lori and Faith. Hugs were exchanged and inside we went.
We sit on the couch and proceed to get to know each other a bit. Lori the gracious hostess that she is gets me a glass of water as we talk some more. The subject of dinner comes up and the decision is pizza which Lori orders and we all go back to talking. Soon the pizza arrives and it is decided that we should go into the dinning room table to eat. My guard down I failed to realize it was an elaborate ruse to lead me into a trap. I thought it a little strange that someone would have a secure fenced in area inside the house but I thought it was for the dogs. I found myself trapped within. What scheming it must have taken them to lay such a diabolical trap for me. I know Lori had to have been the mastermind behind the plan in spite of her sweet disposition.
Subdued and fed I was let out for more talk into the night. After awhile Faith announces she is going to bed so Lori and I banish her off to the bedroom and we continued to talk into the night. We talked of her and Faith's relationship and how she's in it for the long run. We talked of religion and how she has had to reevaluate some of her views in the light of new data. But most of what I understood from her was her capacity to love Faith no matter what. Their happiness together is what is important to her. Eventually we too called it a night and I retired to the room with a nice bunk bed setup with a double mattress on the lower bed and a twin bed above complete with bed tent. I was sorely tempted to try the tent but decided to adult that night and after bang my head repeatedly (kids are shorter than an adult) I put on my PJs and crawled into the lower bed. Where I was accosted in short order by a ferocious feline that insisted on being petted and scratched for half the night.
Suddenly it was morning (late afternoon if you listen to Faith) I got up still in my PJs and made my way into the kitchen following the scent of freshly brewed coffee where I was given a cup of the black nectar by Lori who was busily starting breakfast. Frying up sausage and taters and a bit of this and some of that with eggs and broiling bacon. Some of her concoctions make it's way into a casserole dish and into the over. Meanwhile from somewhere she produces a bowl of pancake batter and begins cooking pancakes. Faith smelling food makes an appearance and also fetches a cup of coffee. Magically the food finishes cooking and is put on the table along with genuine maple syrup and we sit down to a breakfast fit for a queen. Thanks to Lori's skill in the kitchen. There was plenty to eat and the carbs were there to be had also. I ate my share and finished off with a fresh cup of coffee and a full tummy. So much for the cutting carbs this trip. It just isn't meant to be.
We visit more after getting dressed and then take the dogs for their morning walk (late due to guests sleeping in). Lori spots a young black snake maybe 4 feet long which one of the dogs, oblivious to such things, steps on and off it slithers in a hurry before it can be stepped on again. We go down to the pond (a small lake) and wave at the neighbors on the other side and admire the view of the lake. It is a pretty setting. We walk on until the last dog finds the right spot and then does it's business and off we go to return home. We sit and talk some more and noon comes and goes.
I decide that it was time to cut the visit short and head on back north to Becky's place. I've enjoyed my stay and inconvenience these good people enough. Hugs and goodbyes made I climb back into the truck and add two more notches in the steering wheel. #24 and #25 I find my way back to the main roads and onto I-75 northbound for the 180 mile trip back to base.
To be continued
Hugs,
Laurie
