A Long Road Trip to Find a New Home

Well, we made it. My daughter Audrey was so kind as to help me to make the long move from Spokane to South Padre Island. As we were on the road, I was feeling pretty unsure. It is a pretty gutsy move for me to move so far away by myself, and as is typical for me, I spent pretty much the whole trip second-guessing my decision. However, my daughter Audrey encouraged me just to go for broke and head to SPI, come what may. "Just go for it. Have your adventure. No matter what happens, you will have had an adventure."

We got to SPI Sunday night, after Audrey found a great Priceline deal on a nice, beachfront motel. Lockdown was in full force. Masks required to go anywhere, even while in a car. Policemen stopped us at a checkpoint just after we crossed the St Isabella bridge. It was late, and sleep was welcome. Audrey welcomed the air conditioning, and in order to reward her for all her days of driving, I didn't even complain. I just got under those covers and drifted off to sleep.

If I still had any doubts, they all left me Monday morning, when I was able to take a glorious walk on the beach at South Padre Island in comfortable temperatures. Amazing.

I got back to the room and Audrey went for her walk, and then we drove up and down the island just a bit, and headed out to the apartment. I couldn't get over the warmth. The feeling of warmth. Finally.

I signed the papers, and we unloaded the car. No furniture, just my clothes, papers, family pics, and my little flat screen TV. Audrey took me back to Port Isabel to get a few groceries for the fridge, and she was back on her way. I'm sure she probably needed to sleep for a week, after driving a rental car from Omaha to Spokane, Spokane back to Omaha, and then to SPI and back to Omaha. Yikes.

And here I stayed in the warmth. Ah . . .