14 February 2021 – Happy I 💚 You Day, Theresa! I left Yorktown at 7:30 yesterday morning. I drove I-64 to I-70 straight through to Arvada. Rusty, my sweet 16-year-old dog, has been my trusted travel companion. I had so much caffeine that I couldn’t relax, let alone sleep, so we drove until we needed rest at about 4 AM in Hays, Kansas. It was snowing pretty hard, too, so it was good to stop. We stopped at one of the many truck parking areas, snuggled in the back seat for a couple of hours, and then traveled the rest of the way. The entire trip took 27 1/2 hours total. Once we got to my parents, Rusty settled in nicely and fell asleep. I was still too spun up, so I decided to stay awake until bedtime. My parents didn’t freak out when I told them about quitting my job and my new adventure. I could tell by how they looked at each other that they were a bit concerned, but they were supportive. Heck, they’ve seen it play out on hundreds of Hallmark movies. They were also receptive to the fact that I would sell my house in Virginia and spend more time visiting them and traveling. I am thankful for their love and support. Onward and Upward. Here I Go Again!

• Highs of the trip:
  • New Dreams
  • Singing Loud and Proud
  • David Sedaris’ humor
  • Crime Junkie Podcast
  • Power Ballads
  • My favorite songs
  • No traffic
  • Rusty

• Lessons Learned:
  • Get an AWD or 4×4 to travel in ice and snow
  • Semis make blowing snow worse
  • I have lots to learn
  • My parents’ smile when they see me is amazing
  • Too much Coke Zero is a thing