ONE JOURNEY ENDS BUT ANOTHER BEGINS

As the days of our Alaskan trip wound to an end, I was surprised at how quickly the time had passed.  It is strange that we look forward to a trip for such a long time and somehow the duration seems so long, how can it end quickly?  But then, as the end arrives, the time is never long enough.  So it was for our trip to Alaska.  

The final days as we traveled through Nevada and back into Arizona, I saw the landscape in a different light.  Perhaps it was the idea that we might never see this land again, perhaps it was a closure of one chapter of our life and the beginning of another.  Whatever it was, it was saddened by the finality of the trip.

But life moves on.  After completing all the needed doctor, dentist and vet visits, we broke camp and headed for the Southeast.  Our route would take us north through Arizona, across New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and end in North Carolina, whew!  It is odd, after living in Arizona for nearly eight years, we have become accustomed to seeing rain seldom.  As soon as we crossed out of Arizona, we found ourselves driving in rain.  That pattern continued all the way into Mississippi.  As luck would have it, we were caught up in a front that was slow moving and carried a great deal of rain. Mmmm, hope this is not a sign of things to come especially since there was flooding all around us.

As is our custom, we traveled three days and rested a day.  While we were looking forward to arriving in New Bern, we wanted to take our time and enjoy the trip as well.  After stops to see family in West Point, MS and Atlanta, GA, we finally arrived.  New Bern has grown a good bit since our last visit here but the old Southern charm remains.  Since the city is the second oldest in the state and the original capitol too, it is full of history and tradition.  As soon as we crossed the bridge over the Inter-Coastal, we both let out a sigh.  At last, we are Home.

Not don’t misunderstand, home has been many places for us over the years.  But Home, well Home is were your roots spread out and ground you.  Home is where family and memories formed us into the adults we have become.  Oh heck, Home is and always will be the South.  For us, Home is not Home without water of some sort.  Here in New Bern, there is lots of water both fresh and salt.  You can feel, smell and taste it in the air.  The wind across the water sings a song of times gone by and times to come.

So, here we are back in the land of cotton, grits and ya’ll.  It won’t be too long before we get settled and when we do, ya’ll come!