The Adventure Begins

 

I was reminded over the weekend, why I rarely ever travel by plane anymore.

Even though we are blessed to have the privilege of flying at no cost, to enjoy this privilege we must always fly stand-by, which is great when there are plenty of seats available, and not a lot of stand-by passengers waiting to grab a seat on the same plane that you’re hoping to fly on.

Thursday morning began terribly early at 4am, when we all crawled out of our warm, cozy beds to drive through the snow on our way to the airport. We had no problems checking our bags or going through security, and we were given seats and boarded our flight to Phoenix easily, waving goodbye to Jen and Ranchman John who would stay behind to take care of the ranch.

But that’s not where our journey ended. Phoenix is just a connector/hub city. Our destination was Charlotte, North Carolina. And our intended flight was almost full with a long line of stand by passengers waiting to get on.

We sat patiently and waited to hear our names called out, but after it was all sorted out, Jax, Jem and I were still sitting in our airport chairs as the plane departed the gate. Yep. We hadn’t made the cut.

Luckily there was another flight to Charlotte just an hour and half later. And thankfully, there were just enough seats available, and not many stand-by passengers waiting to get onboard. So we managed to grab 3 seats all in a row and we were on our way to Charlotte, NC.

We were supposed to get into Charlotte at 2:30pm, and instead didn’t make it until 5:30pm. We had plans to do a little letterboxing on the way down to our friends’ house and visit our old house in Rock Hill, SC, but after renting our car, we just didn’t have time.(which, speaking of rental cars, when did mid-size cars become so small? Seriously. I’m afraid to know what a compact or sub-compact must be like! And why are the freakin’ windows so dang tiny?! Jax made a comment that he thinks he knows why the car was packed full of airbags. What with the plethora of terrible blind spots, caused by the wide frames around the tiny windows, it’s a sure probability that there are bound to be more auto accidents….hence the excess airbags tucked into every pocket and crevice!)

Yeah…this was our rental car. Looks nice on the outside, but was tiny and cramped on the inside, with itty bitty windows. And if you are vision challenged, especially in the dark, trying to see through the windshield on a pitch black night makes you feel like you are peering myopically from a hole beneath a tree.

      

After renting the car and driving south from Charlotte, NC, we made pretty good time considering it was right around rush hour, and managed to arrive in Rock Hill, SC about 6:30pm. We stopped off at a Sonic for some dinner and then drove just a little further to have a peek at the house we used to call home when we lived in Rock Hill over 6 years ago. The owner was home and it was interesting chatting with her about all the goings-on in the neighborhood, and I was in awe of the how big the gorgeous bright red Maple Trees had grown in the front yard. I didn’t take a photo of our house, as it felt kind of weird for me to be taking a photo of a house that doesn’t belong to us anymore.

But here is an old photo taken about 6 years ago, when we still lived there (For Sale sign in the front yard). That’s my baby Jen out front, too.

  

 

After visiting the house and also Jax and Jem’s first school, just a block down the road, it was getting dark and time to hurry over to our friend’s house for the night.

A small group of my bestest girlfriends had gathered together for a reunion with me to enjoy an evening full of fun, conversation and lots of laughter…..just like we used to have at least once a month during our Homeschool Group’s ‘Mom’s Night Outs’ when I still lived in South Carolina. I had seen Margie and Jessie when they came to visit me in New Mexico 4 years ago, but I hadn’t seen Lora or Christine since we left South Carolina 6 years ago. So I was very excited to see everyone again, as were Jax and Jem, who hadn’t seen their buddies in just as long.

What I love about these very special ladies, among so many other things, is that, no matter how much time passes, when we finally get together, it’s as if we had just seen each other the day before.

It just feels so comfortable and relaxed getting together again. The conversation flows easily (as does the wine!), and the laughter freely bursts out joyfully.

(A photo of two beautiful ladies, Lora and Christine in Margie’s kitchen)

We got a little lost finding our way to Margie’s cabin, because she lives way out in the country, so we didn’t make it until about 7:30pm. But everyone was still waiting for us and excited to see us again.

(This is a photo of Margie’s cabin, taken the next morning. Isn’t it amazing?! I just love it!)

 

Margie and Jessie had prepared some wonderful food, including homemade salsa and chips, pumpkin soup, harvest turkey sandwiches, and brownies. And there was plenty of wine for the entire evening.

(A photo of sweet, lovely Margie standing on her back deck)

After munching and visiting for a while inside Margie’s charming, cozy cabin, we all made our way to the back deck to cozy up to a campfire and take a soak in her hot tub, while Jax and Jem hung out, playing video games, with Jessie’s and Margie’s 4 boys in the smaller cabin, which Margie’s family affectionately calls The BunkHouse.

(This is a photo of the BunkHouse, taken the next morning)

(And another one of both the BunkHouse and the main Cabin)

 

(And another photo of the Bunkhouse beyond Margie’s beautiful garden)

   

We stayed up late into the night…or was it early morning?…laughing, drinking and talking. These wonderful, dear friends often tempt me to move back to South Carolina, but then I remember the hot, swampy humidity, the attacking hordes of mosquitoes, and the creepy, flying Palmetto Bugs (nice name for mouse-sized roaches!). Oooh, but being surrounded by these very special friends would almost make it worth it.

(Fun-loving, beautiful Jessie curled up beside the fire)

 

This wonderful evening was just what some of us ladies needed after going through some challenging weeks, myself included. I haven’t laughed that hard since the last time we got together.

(Yeah, and I might have had just a little too much wine. lol! Don’t ya just love my Madonna “Strike a Pose”?)

But Christine was the silliest of us all and had us all in stitches!

 

While poor Lora was Christine’s Designated Driver and volunteered as the Official refiller of wine glasses for the rest of us ladies. (She still has a wickedly funny sense of humor…even without being liquored-up. lol!)

 

And just check out that hot tub and back deck that Margie’s husband built! (photos taken the next day)

I especially love the awning and fence made from branches and small saplings, just the way New Mexican’s build Coyote Fence and awnings, too. I love the use of natural materials when building.

I fell in love with their chocolate lab, Reeces. She would crawl right into my lap, like she thought she was a puppy. Such a love!

Isn’t she beautiful?

And their super affectionate kitty, who I called “Dresser Cat” for always hanging out on dressers, waiting to reach out with her paw as you walked past, became my cuddle buddy when I went to sleep that night.

Speaking of sleep…..with morning just around the corner and a long day of traveling behind me that began at 4am and ended in loads of laughter and many glasses of wine, I was very ready to take a hot shower in Margie’s quaint bathroom……..

And rest my weary head on the cozy, handmade cabin bed, bundled up beneath warm quilts with Margie, just like sisters. (Margie’s hubby was spending the night at a buddy’s house after an all-night country music jam session. So, we girls had the house to ourselves.)

I had no problem following Margie’s advice, found in her beautiful, cozy decorating style…..

And I found it simply easy to…….

 

 

 

To Be Continued……………………