Sometimes, It Pours...

Its Weds at noon and I sit in the Niles Library.

We left Florida Sunday morning. Just in time for the thunderstorms. After several hours of windshield wipers splashing the rain away, we drove into Georgia. South of Tifton we ran into the Thanksgiving Travel Rush Hour.

It was stop and go until Atlanta. We got off a few times and drove up the old route 41 which is two lane and goes thru a very interesting poor part of America.

Once into Atlanta traffic flow raced along at 80 mph. We stopped in Dolton--Days Inn for the night.

We really wanted to make it quickly to Vandalia ILL where some really good friends live. I've mentioned them many times before.

Karolyn and I needed a stress relief stop with them. They always do the job and we laugh from the time we get there until we leave.

While having breakfast, we heard that one of friends would not make it as she had difficulty breathing and was rushed to the hospital.

A few minutes later, the news arrived.

Our dear friend LuAnn didn't make it.

LuAnn who met the love of her life only a couple years ago. She and Lynn married late in life but were so filled with love that they couldn't stop smiling.

It just made everyone around them smile too.

Now we are without a good friend. How many do we have in life. LuAnn was truly one of ours. And Lynn's once in a lifetime love.

We were planning to stay but decided to drive to Chicago...250 miles,,,and return for the sevices.

So, this trip that started 5000 miles ago will always be in our minds and hearts. Its still not over.

This trip was not one for the good memories.

It started out with a trip to Disney with our sons family, a magical time,

and continued into an instant nightmare with all the stress of putting Karolyns family into a assisted living home.

Now poor LuAnn.

LuAnn, thanks for all the laughs and good times. We'll miss you.