Thanksgiving Road trip
This past week I took a trip to visit my brother in allentown PA. Before taking off for the trip I did last minute things that you do before taking off for any trip. Kissing and holding the cats was important item and so was getting the car washed.
I went to Russell’s car wash in town and I have to tell you I was disappointed afterwards. First they somehow got me to get unlimited car washes for $25. I expected them to do the inside and out (meaning the vacuuming-that’s self serve and for extra money in which i couldn’t be bothered). You have to pull it through so that you get your car sprayed with cleaning solution but on tracks. I guess this is to be expected (you can tell I don’t wash my car often enough).
Later on in the day I discovered that one of my car magnets was gone. The scratches and some of the dirt returned. I was sorely disappointed. I was going to find a place to vacuum it but it was too cold.
When I finally got on the road the sun was fighting with the clouds to stay out and bring warmth. It may have been windy and chilly but more than once I was warm in the car. I was at times concerned that Google wouldn’t know where to direct me but she or it did fine. We hit pockets of traffic throughout the drive down.
Around 2 in the after I stopped at side of the road in Bloomsbury New Jersey getting some coffee by a volunteer group that's serving coffee and donuts and bagels and rolls on this very chilly 43 degree day. I really needed it because more than once my eyes were getting heavy and fluttery (like the sunshine that came out occasionally was too bright)
I finally got to the hotel by 3. I checked in and took around the room. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but it wasn’t great either. I unpacked and then tried to set up my laptop to use but had trouble with it. I didn’t do anything with it it until the next day. I tried to get assistance from the clerk..not helpful.
I went out only a few times that night to run a few errands but came back early. Especially after being lost for like the third time and some idiot accused me of being drunk. In my usual flare I told her off and we both drove away.
I wouldn’t get to see Jim until the next Morning for the brunch. Or for that matter for most of the time I was there. He has a part time Job at Amazon in Breinigsville, PA. The hours usually went from 2 to 10 or he was called in two extra times. Thanksgiving afternoon (after our brunch) and again earlier on Friday. We did get together later on that night after his shift. Ruby Tuesday’s was the only thing open in the area it seemed. We did get a chance to have coffee before I left for home on Saturday.
On Friday I had breakfast with my Nephew James. We went to Trivet Diner a favorite place amongst this branch of the family. We talked for nearly two hours. Even though we spoke at the brunch for a short time (I actually ignored everyone else at the table that day). We had a nice visit. We talked about family stuff and he seemed to understand and not be judgemental of either Liz or myself. It may have been unfair to speak of the strained relationship (but he had said that his Mother and Aunt weren’t speaking until recently) but if I said I hadn’t seen them lately they would need to know. When we parted he made a promise to come up for a visit next spring or summer.
Friday afternoon I made another trip to the post office and finally mailed off a few things to Dr. T. I also had dinner an early supper at Carrabba's again. This time it was sirloin with the Bryan toppings (Bryan topping is goat cheese with anchovies-I had it on chicken my first night).
It was about then I was entertaining an idea to take a ride to Lititz pa to visit Linden Hall. I realized it would be an hour and half ride and dark by the time I got home. I Know it had been a number of years since my last visit and I wasn't eager to get lost and make people worry. So I went back to the hotel and got online (finally after going to the desk clerk 2 or three times by then) and did some online shopping and membership renewals.
That night after sending a few text messages to Jim I started packing up and getting the car ready for the trip home. I put only a few things in the car. Made the effort to chat with the desk clerk before going to bed for the final time.
The next morning I got up got ready and finished packing the car and eventually left the hotel for Wegmans to meet Jim for coffee. He is much like his mother when he hasn’t had coffee. We talked about different things like his impending trip to Kenya (he told me about it earlier in the weekend) in January. He was also talking about his other part time Job as Leader for WW. He did pretty well when I spoke with him later on in the evening.
It was 9 when I left there and had no problems until I got passed Tappan Zee Bridge. I missed the exit to get to the Merritt /Saw Mill Parkway. I tried not to get too anxious I took the route given and got back on. When I got to CT (that’s when the pockets of traffic started again). I was at the house by 12:30.
As I look back at the trip. Could I have done things differently? Yes I chose not to. I don’t go shopping unless I had to. I should have gone to the things I looked up for on Friday. I bet I would have liked the extra road trip to Lititz. I don’t know if people were on campus or not.
Even though Jim and i have a pretty good relationship. I sometimes have a hard time talking with him. I get the feeling he wants me to express myself differently then I do. I think i may try that sometimes.
I do plan on visiting him again for a weekend or soon. Maybe even during the summer.