July 09, 2005

Solitary Independence

Woody passing throught the garden gate Crescent Hotel Eureka Springs AR



I put Woody on a plane to California Thursday morning, in the midst of heighthened security due to the bombings in London. He woke up early, excited at the prospect of seeing his childhood gang of friends for the first time in nearly four years, and turned the TV on to the horror. He ran in and woke me, saying " Hoku Hoku, its England's 9-11"

Funny on the day of 9-11, I did the same to him. Woke him after hearing the news on the car raidio as I was leaving for work, ran in to tell him that the world had changed... "we were at war" having been attacked by an unknown enemy...

It was a lovely morning perfect for a drive. Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is about 45 minutes away, way out in the country but you can see that the city is encroaching with new subdivisions and a Walmart Distribution center smack dab in the middle of some of the most beautiful farmland around. I remember when we first landed here thinking that once these simple beautiful farms are plowed up, and the, let's face it, ugly subdivisions and strip malls are built the landscape will be forever altered.

Misty fields near Cave Springs AR


It was surreal listening to NPR talking about the London blasts in the midst of the peaceful country lanes. I kept thanking God for the fact that the English seem so prepared for this disaster... and wondering if the radicals that supposesidly live in the country out our way decided to blow up NWR airport, how would the State of Arkansas handle things... not too well I think.

I took a long way around route into Rogers then stopped in the IHOP for breakfast. As I sat there in the resturant, enjoying the people watching, I realized how blessed that I am to be able to do this. I know that my Mom loved this sort of thing, having a free day to go and drive, and just be alone. She would have loved the drive that I had just taken and was to continue to take this day. As I ate my delicious breakfast (the stuffed french toast with hot apple topping...yum.) I thanks God that I could even be where I was, and prayed for my Mom as she suffers in that nursing home bed...

Not having someone talking at you all day long gives you room to mentally breathe and room to think, It also allows a bit of serendipity. I drove toward home and got gas, and didnt want to end the morning, so I pressed forward then turned on a state road I thought would take me towards home.

Well, then as I drove I saw another road, smaller yet and wall to wall with wild flowers. I thought "Well I will go straight up take pics and turn around and get back on SR90. I pulled off and got out and took some great pics.


wild flowers near Jane Mo yes that is trash there

After a few minutes I drove on till the road ended and realized "hey I should have turned around" But the road dumped me right on a very busy highway so I assumed that this was I71 and Id get turned around.

Well after a bit I realized that I was north of where I had traveled before and ,"oh there is a town I had heard of I can go and see that." and "oh here is a road maybe it will take me towards the highway...

I have a bunch of maps in the Intrepid, but none in my van, after a bit of driving maybe another 30 miles I saw a large truck stop and stopped to get a map. I found where I was... Southwest City Missouri, 50 miles from home and loving it. I rolled out onto the road, fully incontrol of my berings... I knew where I was going..

Where paradise lay...hay farm near Southwest City MO

I was home in early afternoon where I puttered about and made a few calls. The remodel is comming along and I am trying to get things wrapped up so I can start to move in. I cant wait.

I was called for an interview, but its a commission only retail job that is likely more hours than I want to work. I went today and saw the regional Mgr of a nation wide furniture retail chain... Yes I could make a lot of money but Id never be home and that is where I want to spend most of my time, the best part of my time.

I sit tonight and watch the fireflies, in reletivly good spirits, tired and look forward to a good sleep. Mak and Nani are not happy that Woody is gone but they are pretty calm. they will be fine and so will I in this period of solitary independence.