The Long and Winding Road

2052 miles and endless hours of driving.



Ladies and Gents, this is one big country. And there is lots of corn in the middle of this country. genetically modified corn. ethanol corn. high fructose corn syrup corn. acres and acres and acres. But I digress.

the point of this blog was to fess up to the foibles of a city girl living a rural life. Sad to say, my shortcomings are not limited to the housing market.

Getting ready for the drive back to Atlanta, I installed the rooftop carrier on the new used Subaru. Having lost the keys to the carrier (another story -- how can I possibly lose a key chain with everything on it?) I use my handy dandy canvas ratchet strap thingamajigs that I bought from a hardware store because they looked cool and my sons had them.

the departure day arrives and I hit the highway.... there is a funny noise. Now, this is a new car to me so I really don't know what to expect. I don't really notice anything while I am on the dirt road... start to hear something as I near Columbus, MT... get on I90 and really start pondering the issue. Noise is coming from outside the car. Tires? Alignment? Clearly, there is something wrong and I am getting ready to drive 2000 miles. In Billings, I pull into the dealership where I bought the car. The service guy on duty is, shall we say, unmoved. If I can leave it for a few hours, perhaps he can take a gander. I go into the showroom and find the salesman who agrees to ride around with me for a diagnostic exercise. We get back on the highway and, yes, he hears the noise. After a few miles, he opens the sunroof and diagnoses the issue as VIBRATION FROM THE CANVAS STRAPS HOLDING THE ROOF TOP CARRIER.

hmm. I told him that I hoped he was now a shoe-in for dumbest customer story of the week.

The Best Birthday Party EVER

Tonight is my last night in Nye. insert visual image of weeping woman.

Deb suggested a send-off burger at Carter's. NO PROBLEMO.

I arrive at Carter's , the local saloon, to find that it is a surprise party for me! Pappy got all dressed up. Gretchen came. Maxey, Lynn and Tom too. Bill was working but in on the gig -- Suzi and Trudy as well. We all sat at the bar and I had a splendid time. even though my birthday is a week away. Beer and the best burger in the world...what else could I want???

Pappy gave me one of the precious "What would Pappy do?" bumper stickers for my new car. Gretchen made a watercolor with an Emerson quote. Tom gave me note cards from his art -- Deb made cupcakes (with funfetti icing whateverthehellthatis) and gave me an audio book on Buddhism and Maxey passed along a symbolic pan flute.

Trudy brought out the cupcakes -- everyone in the bar sang and Tom passed cupcakes all around. Cupcakes and beer? Yummy!!!

....seriously, this was the best birthday party ever with my Montana peeps.

my heart is full. tear ducts too.

My Achy Breaky Heart

Ginger's Coffee Corral special of the day! Yum....

188,592. I salute you, old friend

1. Ode to a car

My beloved 4-Runner is being retired to Montana. 188,592 miles. In 40 years of driving, this is the first emotional bond I have had with a vehicle. This car and I have been through a lot -- many trips to NC, 5 round trips to MT, a zillion trips up and down my "road" in Nye. Through it all, this car has been trusty and loyal....not a looker, mind you, but a pal. I feel like a cad.... tossing aside the faithful companion for automotive arm candy (a "harvest gold" 2009 Subaru)..... I suppose I will recover and enjoy my new wheels but I am feeling a bit like an adulterer. Rest assured, dear 4-Runner, you will always be my Montana car.

2. Book ends

I arrived in Nye with snow on the mountains and now, there is a new dusting of snow after the summer melt. The evenings are crisp and mornings chilly. If I did not know better, I would be calling a cardiologist. My heart aches right now... I love my mountain house. I love my mountains. I love my wacky little town (it is like reality tv without the commercials). Snow on the mountains is serving as my visual bookends.

3. Warning: if you encounter me over the next few weeks, expect a sullen and grumpy soul. And it had better not be hot in Atlanta.

and the local color for the day: Fried Spam Sandwiches!!!!! Take that you celebrity chefs of the "deconstructed waldorf salad" menus!!