last segment continued...

Cherishing the memories of the trip just experienced, I watched the last phase...watching the cars(200 of them) being brought out in a very expedient fashion. Excited cries were heard,'that's me!' when one's number was called added to the energy.Finally my beloved, trusty Honda Civic was brought to me-what a joy, it had served me well, my faithful steed. 

On the road again 1-4 homeward bound...and the scariest thing of the whole trip happened then. I was in the left thru lane doing 70 mph when a car pulled out from the center median and did not accelerate very quickly. I slammed on the brake jerking forward and luckily averted an accident. Whew!

In summation ,I traveled 1442 mi. by car and 1610 by rail. I covered alot of territory on the east coast from south to north and back again. Some of the highlights of sights,sounds,smells & tastes I experienced : beautiful homes of the folks who hosted me,best drink-kalua & rasberry vodka, best soup-hot crab & fish chowder(Maria) & cold cucumber soup,best fruit-fig & watermelon,best fish-scallops,best animals-rabbit& reindeer,best birds-hummingbird & goldfinch & doves, best trees-ALL especially crepe myrtle,best veggie-garden tomatoes. I have rich eyes to quote an old friend. I am a changed woman. I've come full circle. I went to Massachusets where I was born & Virginia where I was born again. Time to create the next chapter in the story of my life.As another dear friend always says :next! 

A word about the weather, I left Florida , it was in the 90's. When I arrived in Ma. it was in the 60's, a rude awakening. In Northampton it was 56.Brr!Glad I was headed south again,when I arrived back in Florida it was in the 80's...and this is why I live in Florida...another day in paradise!

Last installment of ''My Fantastic Road Trip Adventure'

The next day was planned by Bob & Carol who live in a grand Southern home in Norfolk, Va. I admired Bob's American Indian collection( his mom was Indian) and beautiful photos. They treated Cousin Barbara & I to a delicious lunch @ the Officers Club: cold cucumber soup, tuna salad with fruit: figs & watermelon, my faves...and after that an afternoon @ Norfolk Botanical Gardens which was a heavenly treat. We took the tram ride around the gardens and partook of the beauty. I surely got my flower fix as we smelled the sweet fragrances of the different varieties.. Just being in that environment was uplifting. On our return home cousin Shirley was back from her Doc appt. and we had a chance to visit. Later Barbara & I enjoyed watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' as we both love dance...and so ended another perfect day. 

And next day it was time to begin my journey home. I left @ 9am and enjoyed a leisurely trip to the Lorton station of the Auto Train. There was one construction slowdown that didn't amout to much or bother me at all especially after all the smooth tree lined roadways I had traveled. I arrived early at the station as I like to do  and signed in trying to get a solo seat but found out they were filled to capacity. Que sera. A few facts about the auto train: it travels 855 miles and is the longest train in the U.S. It holds 486 passengers and 201 vehicles. It has 5 passenger cars and 20 auto carriers full capacity.. This trip was mostlt college kids retuning to school with parents to help them set up. Dinnertime found me sitting with 2 of those moms and a 19 year old student, John.One of my favorite topics arose : Dreams...and talking in your sleep and sleepwalking. We all agreed it was a stimulating conversation. I used some of the downtime before bedtime to brainstorm and write about what's next?creating the next chapter of my life. And then it came-bedtime...: to sleep or not to sleep that is the question. I did a bit of both, I'd say 50-50. At breakfast that consensus was unanimous. 'Our arrival in Sanford will be about 45 minutes late' which won't affect me as I have only to sail home to Home Sweet Home.in Gulfport. There was great excitement as we pulled into the station @ Sanford > People were anxious to get to their final destination in Fl. college students going tpo their new school.

My Fantastic Road Trip Adventure installment #8

We had an appointment to visit Sharon, one of the girlies who could not join us on Saturday, her grandchild's birthday...which always takes precedence :-) Suzi & I had a 1:30 date with Sharon. Bob Crook, Gabrielle's widower was coming in at 4pm from Richmond to see me and I was having dinner with Trish at 6:30...Miss Popularity! I was definitely in demand :-)

I hadn't yet seen Sharon's beautiful waterfront home on the Chesapeake Bay which was said to be fabulous & met all expectations.. Suzi invited Mom along for the ride to join in the girlie fun. Sharon was one of my friends who suffered a terrible tragedy the past year, her adult son who lived with her died suddenly. My friend Sally suffered a similar tragedy losing her 60 year old daughter to cancer.I'm sure there is no more terrible loss in the world. Words fail me. Sharon was going well ,all things considered and we had a good visit. Next on my list was my visit with Bob. Of course we talked & talked

​ about Gabrielle and tried to puzzle out her passing. One year later Bob was still confused, trying to make sense of the events. I gifted him with my memoir'How I Arrived Here' and urged him to write his story as a healing tool. And then off I went to meet Trish. She & I were in singing (Joyful Noise) & performing groups (Cat's Meow) together when I lived in Va. Bch. We reminisced about old times, caught up currently and shared our goals.It was so good to see her. I felt her warmth.

Next morning I left Va. Bch. & headed to Portsmouth for a few days visit with my cousins, the Starcks. I hadn't visited them in 4 years. In the meantime, they had downsized from a big mansion on the river to a mid-sized historic home in Old Towne. It was just as elegant and charming as the former home & out of the flood zone. This house was beautiful & like an art gallery filled with art & artifacts galore. It was a visual delight. Cousin Barbara is one of my favorite people and we had good conversation about buddhism​, racism ( the Fergeson shooting had just happened) and other topics of interest.

She gathered together her siblings for a lovely dinner the first evening and I got to visit with each & every one. Of course a movie was on the agenda as we all just love the movies and we saw the James Brown flick and marveled at the star's portrayal of him.Afterwards we met cousin Rosie for Japanese food, a favorite of us all. I basked in the joy of being with my cousins, my peers.