Back in Salem VA

Thomas, my son previously know as Jeff, says I need to write AT LEAST once a week to keep y'all coming back.

There was a reason I've been slow in adding to my story.

I left you in MS, as I headed north.

You may have noticed that in the long list of people that I said I would miss, Lesly wasn't mentioned. That's because we didn't say "Good By" that Monday morning. We planned to meet in Garden City Beach, just south of Myrtle Beach,SC just a week later. Lesly, her daughter Jessica and son-in-law Jeremy were going to join an extended family group of cousins.

So I haven't written because we weren't sure if, or how, it would happen. Or if it did, would it be an experience either of us would want to publish.

Two long days of Interstate travel got me to Salem, VA on Tuesday evening, the 8th. I spent a couple of busy days getting the Airstream set up in Salem Village Mobile Home Park, State inspections on the vehicles, renewing PO Box, going to Church on Sunday and catching up with some friends.

Then at 5:30 Mon morning I left on the Honda for SC. The idea was to get most of the way there before the oppressive heat. And it worked. I pulled into the driveway of the house around 1:30 pm. I actually wore a long sleeved shirt the first 4 hours and was comfortable until the last hour.

Lesly's cousin, Lindsay, arranged the huge 6 bedroom rental house, right on the beach. They've done this annually for several years now. They mentioned the possibility of buying some timeshares instead and I had told Lesly that I had three weeks in North Myrtle that I was probably going to sell. But when I told them that my timeshare apartment was almost exactly twice the size of their upstairs balcony, they lost interest.

Here's a picture taken from the beach side -



Counting the kids there were 13 of us. I know because we went to a Japanese Steak House for dinner. The area around the big griddle table seated 12 but since one of ours was a 3 yr old, it was fine. Until we'd had our soup and salad and no chef appeared. After a little while our waiter admitted that their computer was set up for a maximum of 12 per table and he had just realized that when he put the 13th selection in, the computer deleted the entire order. Since we would have been sitting and talking someplace anyway, it was no big deal and turned into a delightful evening. Especially after the embarrassed waiter brought us several bottles of Saki, "on the house."

All worries about me "fitting in" with an established family gathering disappeared quickly. I'm ALMOST crazy enough to fit in perfectly. They really made me feel welcome from the start. Lindsay's brother, Kevin is a chef so we ate like Kings every night. After a strenuous day of going from the house to the beach to the pool to the house to the beach to the hot tub to.......

MANY pictures were taken and I've been promised that they will email them to me ASAP.

Lesly, get them moving, OK???

This morning, Lesly and I really did say, "Good By" for now. I said "Good By" to every one else last night because I made another 6:00am departure.

We don't know for sure when we'll see each other again. But we're shooting for someplace in the mountains in the fall.

Another wonderful and uneventful 330 miles on the Honda and I'm settling back in, getting ready for the arrival of Thomas, Ann, Casey, Sarah and Ben next Wednesday.

And "So Long For Now" to Mississippi

Last Wednesday I left Lizana. Tuesday night Karen played dirty and pulled out all the stops to get me to stay. Not only was her daughter, Ivy there, but her granddaughter Janessa as well. She is an adorable little 3 yr old. I took a couple of pictures but I was using my phone camera and she isn't capable of "holding still." So until Karen sends me some, you'll have to take my word for it.

AND she loves me! Her Mommy dropped her off and she spent the whole night around my neck.

Fortunately no one was around on Wed morning when I pulled out.

Fr Pete, Karen and Glenn, their grown kids, Lindsay, Christie, Tiffany, Darrell, and 11 yr old Ivy really have become like family. I will see them again. Sometime. Just don't know when yet.

I went from Lizana to LeFleurs Bluff, a beautiful campground in Jackson.



I visited Lesly and her cats all weekend. On Thursday, Vince and Lonnie came up from Irish Bayou. On Friday, Ronnie and Ann brought their vintage Airstream that's so shiny it blinds you.

In case you've forgotten, Vince's last name is Saltaformaggio. One of those old New Orleans Italian families. He loves to cook - outdoors over propane - and his food is INCREDIBLE. Thursday for the four of us he fixed Chicken Picata.

Friday for the six we had a catfish fry. He tried the dry batter that Karen sells and pronounced it "Pretty good." Ann made hush puppies that were simply perfect. Lonnie added a wonderful mayo free potato salad. About the best Lesly and I could do to add to that menu was a mini keg of Pecan Ale from the Lazy Magnolia brewery in Kiln, MS. Or, as REAL mizzippi people say, "The Kiln."

Saturday Lesly's friend, Becky joined us for Vince's famous barbeque pork ribs.

OF COURSE we had Ann's cheese and garlic grits each morning. And on Sunday Ronnie produced the world's lightest cinnamon buns - yeast rolls - 4" high - in a dutch oven - using charcoal.

I just got an email from a friend who said she hadn't read the blog as regularly as she should because, 1. It's been a very busy summer. and 2. "I have found that I am often hungry after reading of your adventures."

Sorry, Jul. I guess I just did it again !

But in all fairness, we don't JUST eat.

We drink, too.

Lonnie found a machine called a "Margarator". Which is a "Smoothie" machine that makes a gallon of perfect margaritas - and keeps them frozen AND slushy at the`same time. Not that they keep very long.

And we talk and talk and talk.

And laugh and laugh and laugh.

A LOT.

Even before we start drinking.

It's very hard to leave these incredible new friends. But, as Airstreamers say, I'll "see them down the road."