During the month of April, I did some soul searching, likely brought on by all the poetry I was writing for NaPoWriMo.
I determined, with some coercion from my sons, I need to get away from certain toxins affecting my life that may be directly affecting my health. Although the toxicity has lifted, the need to get away for a while persists.
My former Western Airlines classmates, former roommates, since - lifelong best friends, live in separate homes in Montana by Glacier National Park. They both fly for Delta now and both are homebound and isolated during this international shut down. Tim just turned 60 and is ready to retire.
These two wonderful people are characters in their own rights, Lori and Tim, whom I also call Quigs, will pepper this thread as time goes by. At least that's the plan. I want to document this trip and share it with you if you care to vicariously journey with me through the desert of Southern California in Ocotillo, up the coast of California to the Pacific Northwest and home again.
I leave this Sunday to drive four and a half hours down to Ocotillo, on the California/Mexico border to stay with Lori in her trailer where we'll be until Tuesday afternoon. We will ride quads in the desert on Monday, take her friend to the doctor to get a shot on Tuesday, then go pick up our van rental. Lori is flying down to San Diego today to wave to her family in SanDiego from the curb. Everyone is super paranoid.
Originally, I planned to drive alone, up to Montana in two days and sleep in my car at a safe rest stop or truck-stop, stay for two weeks in Montana at Lori's house, drive down the main corridor home, and meet up with another best friend and her grown son in Lake Havasu for a day, but Lori called me two days before I was to leave and asked if I'd be game to rent a van or SUV and take a two-week road trip up through the Pacific Northwest.
She wants to keep me for five weeks! I'm coming home a few days after the Summer Solstice, hopefully, fit and trim. It remains to be seen whether I rent a car to drive home or will fly.
I got a stimulus check and the economy needs stimulation, so I'll do my part.

I promise to be safe, I'm taking every possible precaution because I've got too many things to do before I die.
Hopefully, I won't have a problem posting my pictures but I'm taking a different laptop on the road with me because my laptop no longer closes. I haven't tried to upload directly from my phone before, so we'll see how well that goes.
One thing is for sure, it will be an adventure. You won't have as much fun as I will but perhaps there will be a few fun stories to share.
See ya soon.
~Deb