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Published: December 28th 2017
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Okay, folks....our pilot says you can unhook your seatbelts at this time. We are in a holding pattern.
What’s going on you ask? Inquiring minds want to know!! Can this be for real???
Well, let’s talk. I’ll give you the grueling details. Of course, we have to start at the beginning: THIS MORNING. As you know, when we picked you up earlier, our plan was to leave for Florida today. Oh, we could feel the extreme excitement in the air with all of you. It was going to be a great day for traveling. Even though the sun was shining, it was very nippy outside when loading all our last minute items plus all your baggage. I don’t want to say that you “come with a lot of baggage” but.....just kidding. Temperature this morning was a chilly 1 degree! Brrrrrr. Frozen nose hairs....first clue you are dealing with frigid temps. Poor Cory. It was like he had trekked to the Arctic and back. We had prepared ourselves for a chilly ride. I see some of you thought we were in Florida already: tank tops shorts and sandals won’t do it for the ride down in our rolling icebox. Bundle
Good-bye house
The sun is shining....all’s well in the world up! My traveling garb consisted of: 2 pair of pants, 2 pair of socks (one silver color ones made just for freezing temps), one turtleneck, one sweatshirt, one vest and my winter coat plus hat and mittens. Cory had donned his new long underwear (Sam, you two can dress alike now), sweatpants, 3 pair of socks (one silver pair like mine), one long sleeve thermal shirt, hoodie and winter coat plus gloves and hat. On top of that, we had our two furnaces running inside the RV so all of you would be somewhat comfy. Planning on all the body heat to make up the difference. Lulu wasn’t liking any of this (all she can wear is a hat....she has nothing else to put clothing on)and nestled herself down inside her carry bag after she was forced to pose naked for a parting snapshot.
We checked our departure list twice. Yep...everything done. Good. We are all set to go. Our RV bed is loaded with stuff....too cold to put anything away. Can’t sleep on it anyway. Remember my “Princess and the Pea” mattress layers? Well, some of those layer are made of foam which have frozen into a cement
NOOOOOOOOOOO
Down the road from our house slab! Plus, the RV is winterized so we have no water. We plan to stay in motels on our way down....just like we have always done in the past. We get only one room...we don’t tell them all of you are with us. Mums the word.
We both do one last walk around. RV & car look good. Cory checks his mirrors. Seat belts snapped. Okay, Bucky.....move ‘er on out. It’s 10:20 A.M.
WHOA....WAIT! As Cory inched our rolling cooler onto the highway, our entrance door flew open. He had already noted before departure that one of our locks was frozen but the other one was working...but just not now! That’s special. He stopped in front of our house and fixed that problem: SLAM! Don’t worry, folks....you’re okay....no one will be falling out. Tighten your seatbelts.
WHOA....WAIT! WAIT!! What the hell is that horrible, deafening squealing sound as we head out of town?? Is it our cold and frozen motor home trying to come alive again...screaming in pain? Oh, no! What else could it be? Can this be for real? And yes, Toto...we are still in Shongo! Something is wrong.....very wrong. We have pulled along the side
of the road, again.....barely, walking distance from our house. Cory gets out and makes his way to the back of our RV......kind of like “dead man walking.”
Well, the problem wasn’t with our RV....whew! It was with our car! Rats!! Big time! He returns to the RV to inform me (and you) that the 2 front tires on the car are soft. Geeze....it could be worse. And it was! I got out to look with him. By now, both front tires were flat like pancakes and one had most of the tread worn off. What the hell...excuse my profanity but our frustrations are kicking in. The brakes had locked on our car and we had been dragging it down the road! I would be loudly squealing, too, if I had been dragged down the road! Oh, God. What now? Cory called the repair place we normally take our car and RV to and they came with a tow truck and took our injured car. Been there, done this before....but at that time, it was in Florida, on a major highway and it was our RV being towed away. Remember that horrendous adventure? We have endured some challenging times together,
haven’t we? Nothing to do now but take you home and head to ours. So, the RV is back in our pole barn and we are back in our house....waiting for departure #2.
Our poor car ended up being quite damaged from all this. First and obviously, it needs two new front tires. Cory is having them put four new tires on. A motor mount was broken. Our radiator and some air conditioner part and fan shroud were also damaged. Good grief! Fortunately, by mid afternoon tomorrow, they can repair everything except the air conditioner and fan thing. They said those parts could wait and would be no problem traveling since we are towing the car behind us. Once we get close to our winter home area in Florida, Cory is going to drop our car off at a big Ford dealership we have used before to have the rest repaired...and we shall just continue on to Tropical Palms in our RV. We hope and pray, anyway!!! So, don’t put your stuff away or unpack....we are still good to go...just a few days later than planned. We’ll try to start this road trip over again on Saturday. Haven’t checked
the weather forecast.....hope that doesn’t put a snag in the works. As Cory always says “Just focus on what you can control”. Mother Nature is more controlling than us, however. Rats! Right now, we are eating chocolate chip cookies and potato chips as our refrigerator and pantry are empty. We do have our van IF we have to go out but “Baby, it’s cold outside.“ I’m just happy we are at home where I can watch my 2 most very favorite TV shows tonight: The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. As Forrest Gump said: “Life is like a box of chocolates....you never know what you’re gonna get”. So true but I don’t like jellies and hate surprises.
In past years, we never left for Florida until after today anyway. That was our routine. “Why?” you ask. Today is our first born’s birthday. Our daughter, Lory, was born on this day.....53 years ago. OMG......if she’s that age....how old are we?! We are becoming as old as dirt. We had always stayed here in NY to celebrate her birthday with her and her family. Over more recent years, we have celebrated her birthday earlier and left whenever the roads would permit - anytime after Christmas. This year was no different. We had a celebratory dinner a week ago at a local restaurant, a birthday cake on Christmas Day and more singing and honors last night at a Shongo restaurant. Who would have guessed we could have had more festivities right on her birthday. We talked with her today....to tell her our sorry story.....but probably won’t get together. Happy Birthday, Lory. We love you!
Bringing this day to a close now. And what a day it has been. Who would have thought my first blog would have a beginning like this? Unreal! But never really unexpected.....it’s all part of life - especially one when you take your house with you wherever you go. We have been given lemons before. This is not a new rodeo for us. Just another special adventure to share with you. A week ago, Cory and I were struggling with a couple health issues and I wondered if that might cause a change in our departure plans. Little did I know. My blood pressure was acting up and Cory had a pain in his side. We managed to get resolution on those issues so they were not a hindrance. We were good to go......and still are. See you on Saturday unless we notify you otherwise. Bundle up!
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MIke and MJ
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Geeze Louise!!!!
They say things happen for a reason, but do you two always have to have such "BIG" reasons happen? Such a shame about the car, but don't rush it, be careful and get here safely. As usual, it's been warm in the mid 80's, but now that Mr. Cory is coming, it's dropping down in the 60's over the next week!! I believe this is year three you've made this happen isn't iit Sir? Don't you like us here? We like you. Hope to see you soon, the Mecum Auctions start on the 8th, so no pressure, ha ha . Luv you guys Mike and MJ