I’m so far behind but for good reason – the trip back to North Carolina was fast and furious and since setting up camp, we don’t have any bars for connecting to the WIFI. We paid extra money for the park WIFI, but it’s not secured – hence why I haven’t posted lately.
Our send-off in Bakersfield was bittersweet – but mostly enjoyable and heartwarming! On Friday the 21st, we drove to Taft to see Dad and take him to lunch. Much to our surprise, when we parked curbside across from All in a Sandwich, Dad was already waiting for us.
We had a relaxing and enjoyable lunch with temperatures on the cool side. The sandwiches are always delicious there, and the service is friendly.
From there, we drove to Dad’s house and visited for more than an hour. Parting was difficult, to say the least. Amidst tears (mostly on my part), it was hard to say goodbye not knowing when we’ll see Dad again. We have plans to purchase a home in North Carolina and have Dad move with us, but he’s not entirely on board with that. I mean, after all, he’s been living in Taft for 60-plus years. Mom is buried there, my brother and sister-in-law live close by in Bakersfield, and he has friends, though most have passed. He’s a member of a nearby church, and he’s busy – probably busier than I am!
On the way back to Bakersfield, I cried off and on, seeing the look on Dad’s face when we drove away. He was also starting to tear up, and knowing he’ll be alone made me feel helpless, and my heart ached for him.
I called Dad once we were back in the trailer, and we talked for a good hour – and at times, I started to cry again. But isn’t life like that? What’s laughter without tears – it’s the moments when melancholy breaks our hearts and joy brings laughter. It’s feelings we were born with!
Late that afternoon and through the evening, it was time for laughter. Cheryl, Ron’s sister-in-law, came over to visit and say her goodbyes, and it wasn’t long before my brother and sister-in-law came over to say theirs. All I can say is I’ve never had a send-off that meant as much to me! It was a time I felt closer to my brother than I have in years, actually, decades.
The following day we were driving out the gates of the Bakersfield KOA at 7:30 a.m. We’re on our way back east to find a home and start the next phase of our lives – at almost 70, no less! Yes, it’s scary, exciting, and challenging!
Our first stop was Quartzite, Arizona, and we were ready to end the day after driving through Los Angeles toward the desert. We camped on BLM property, so we were without power and water – though we did fill our water tank. But it was HOT, and trying to save our batteries meant opening the windows to catch the afternoon breeze! The skies are picturesque; God’s brushstrokes across the evening sky!
On the road again the following morning, we drove toward our next stop, Benson, Arizona. This is a favorite little town of ours, and we always enjoy spending time there. We were not there to sightsee this time; we simply enjoyed time relaxing after another hard day of travel.
The next stop is Las Cruces, New Mexico, for another overnight stay, and as you can see, we were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise the following morning. We stayed at this particular KOA on our trip back east last year and requested a back-in site to enjoy the city lights from our back window. Stunning!
We pulled out of Las Cruces around 8:00 a.m. and headed for our next stop, Fort Stockton, Texas. It’s midway between Las Cruces and San Antonio. Again, Fort Stockton is another place we stayed last year and enjoyed the small RV park just on the east side of town. It’s quaint and, with plenty of trees, a nice relaxing place to spend the night while traveling.
Another day of travel, we arrived in San Antonio for a few days. Our only plan was to visit the Riverwalk and have a great Mexican lunch by the canal. Between the weather and a festival, we decided not to.
We arrived at hubby’s cousin’s home on Saturday, April 29th. They are such a joy to visit, and like last year, they opened their home and hospitality to us without any hesitation. They are the most wonderful people, and you feel right at home!
On our first night, Dee gave us a choice of three different casseroles to choose from – hubby said, hands down, the lasagna! It was delicious and only paled to the company.
We regaled each other with stories and grew closer over the course of time we were there. On our second night, we visited Phil’s favorite Mexican restaurant –for a good reason! The food is absolutely delicious! We even had leftovers for lunch the next day – yay! We grilled steaks the last evening there and sat around the kitchen table late into the evening, discussing various things. We had the best time! Thank you, Dee and Phil! We love you both – and Rowdy too!
Tuesday morning arrived sooner than I would have liked, and it was time to pack up and head out. This time, we’re headed to Shreveport, Louisiana! We’ve been on the road for eleven days and are getting closer to North Carolina!
We both felt the pull to get back to North Carolina sooner than intended. Is this God speaking to us? I like to think so and without further delays, we headed straight back and pulled into Thousand Trails near Lenoir and set up camp on the 6th of May.
After setting up, we met our realtor at one of the homes on our list and fell in love with it! This home met most of the checkmarks for us. I loved the kitchen, breakfast area, living and dining rooms – and my office and the primary bedroom. Okay, I loved the deck and the outdoors, and the community too – you see where I’m going? We both fell in love with this home.
But, there’s always a but isn’t there? With this administration’s new tax law enforcing additional taxes on mortgages over $500K, means the competition is on! People are looking for homes under that amount and there are more buyers than sellers! We bid $22K over the asking price and the buyers went with another offer.
Our hearts fell, but, there’s that word again, the Lord was directing us to new construction, and within a few days of arriving back here, we purchased a new home that’s under construction with a possible move-in date for early September.
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