March 30, 2002
Hi sweetheart,
Thanks for letting us know that you're with us, and probably getting a big kick out of our adventures so far! Imagine my surprise when I opened my vitamin bottle and there was one of your pills--I feel sure it was, and I still have it. Finding it like that, well, I just think you were letting me know that you are with us and it was such a warm feeling! We got stuffed on a continental breakfast and then got underway on our next leg of the trip.
Today's drive was really long and I guess the most difficult part was that I felt so sleepy sometimes. I almost felt like I was nodding off and so I would pull off to get a cup of coffee or to walk around. Billy was so good, really helpful. He would hold my cup for me and even put the straw against my lips so that I wouldn't have to take one hand off the wheel. He's been really patient, too, because he can't watch movies like Kristin and Heidi can.
Well, Rich, I have to say that Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina aren't particularly interesting to look at from Rt. 95. It all looked like New Jersey to me! There were signs all over for historic places to visit--Civil War battlefields in Virginia, South of the Border (a theme park in NC, I think), and there was something in SC but off the top of my hand I can't think what it was. Widow brain. A senior moment. :p
There were a couple of times during this long drive that I thought you might be sending me a song. One was "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" a song I dedicated to you years ago, in 1984, maybe--before we got married. There was another song not long after that, too, but widow brain strikes again. And then came a song that Teddy sent me as a wav file: "I Can't Stop This Feeling". Weird but very nice feelings around it.
There was one unexpected bridge over the James River in Virginia. It wasn't too bad; it didn't go too high and I got over it without a problem. The next time there was a bridge of sorts was at Lake Marion. Now that is a BIG lake and apparently it's the only place where striped bass are landlocked. It seems to be a big retirement community.
We had a few minor glitches when we got here. One was that the toilet backed up and it took forever to get it unplugged because the dingaling at the counter forgot to send the guy (she also forgot the rollaway cot). The other was the kids' fighting. You'd think they would get over that and try to enjoy themselves. But no, Heidi needs to pick at everything, and Billy and Kristin need to do whatever they can to aggravate her. I was so mortified at the diner we ate in.
It was a really nice Tastee Diner. It was really folksy and part of a larger family business. They have two inns as well as the restaurant. They're real strong Christians here because there was a driver's prayer in the menu, the Ten Commandments, and a little parable about Jesus. It's the first time I ever saw anything like that in a menu.
I thought of Teddy then, too, because he said he'd be praying for us on our trip. I called him just before we went to dinner and talked to him a few minutes. He seemed delighted to hear from me and said it was probably a good thing that I did leave for vacation because the kisses left him light headed. Well, I don't know where all this is going. I never even thought about being with another man. There seems to be some chemistry with Teddy, though, and he looks so much like you it's scary!
Tomorrow we go to Kingsland, GA, and hopefully the drive won't be too terrible. I think it's only 3 hours from here. We can chill out a little more, go in the pool or jacuzzi and have a little more fun. This is one of the best vacations we've ever been on, thank you for being with us. The only one that tops this is the days I spent with you at the Poconos.
here's looking at you, kid,
love,
Me