We are making our way home in Charissa’s car, our daughter already having flown home to surprise our other daughter Serena for her birthday. Along the way the tables were turned a few times.
Having guided Cindy along the PCT, we turned the tables by visiting the Grand Canyon, a place she had visited but I haven’t. Kirk joined us for a day touring the Grand Canyon. We parted with him in Flagstaff on Sunday morning, leaving the last vestige of our PCT journey behind, and headed for Oklahoma City along I-40.
We were supposed to make it by the evening, but we came upon the aftermath of a snow/ice storm that paralyzed the southwest. In New Mexico it took 3 hours to span two exits … in the middle of the New Mexico desert there are no alternate routes. Through Texas cars littered the side of the road and many trucks had jackknifed. Near the Oklahoma border a bunch of trucks had jackknifed or turned over in one spot, bunched like pick-up sticks on the median.
Our car with New York license plates was one of the very few without snow and ice caked on, more tables turned. We arrived in Oklahoma City after 1:00 am, where we discovered they gave away our reserved room. The day was exhausting, but provided an opportunity for the tables to be turned in yet one more way.
While stuck in the New Mexico traffic jam Cindy became increasingly agitated at first. A person with Alzheimer’s who wants a situation to change has a hard time accepting why it can’t. As we continued to wait … and wait … and wait … I became more agitated and Cindy less so. At one point she offered to drive (take a deep breath Charissa).
I’ve noticed this before. When Cindy sees someone else is stressed or depressed she snaps out of whatever funk she might be in to sympathize and offer help.
Looking over the weather forecast across the country, apparently we are the harbinger of cold temperatures, seldom seeing temperatures above freezing. For a woman that apprehends the cold more than anything else that’s not good news. Perhaps if I shiver uncontrollably at times she will forget the cold with resolve to keep me warm.
You family sounds great as does your trip. By the way I’m Kirks brother in Southern California.
Thanks, Kevin. We were extremely glad to have your brother with us at the end. Perhaps we’ll connect some day.