On the Road

Sometimes I skip the airplane and drive. This is one of those weeks.

I have some nursing homes scattered over Indiana and Illinois and there is no easy way to get there. I have been scheduling the two Indiana homes together and flying into Midway Airport in Chicago. I then drive 3 hours to Terre Haute, Indiana and spend the night. The next morning I drive an hour south of Terre Haute to Linton, Indiana for a visit. At the end of that day I drive 3 1/2 hours to Valparaiso, Indiana for the second day. Valparaiso is about 1 1/2 hours from Midway............depending on the traffic. I really don't like Midway if I have to leave the airport. It is in a really bad part of Chicago and I am always a little scared when I have to find the gas station to fill the car up before I return it.

So I decided to try a different approach.

I scheduled those two homes with an Illinois home. I flew to St. Louis and rented the car to drive to Terre Haute (2 1/2 hour drive) on Monday. Tuesday AM I drove the hour to Linton and Tuesday PM drove to 3 1/2 hours to Valparaiso. Wednesday PM (today) I drove to Decatur, Illinois which over 3 hours. My visit tomorrow is in Taylorville, which is a small town about 30 minutes south. The only lodging there is a Super 8 that is kind of scary, thus my decision to stay in Decatur. I will drive back to St. Louis tomorrow night which is about a 1 1/2 hour drive and fly back to Kansas City early Friday morning.

I have logged many hours in the car, obviously, but it's been okay. I have been listening to Julie Andrews biography "Home" and it is pretty good. I also chat on the phone. I know that is considered a 'no no' but when I'm on long stretches of highway it seems actually safer to stay awake and visit than to drift off into oblivion.

There is a wonderful Wind Farm around Kentland, Indiana. I really like Wind Farms! I had to take a detour about 30 miles from Valparaiso. I was on black top roads with some wonderful homes and wooded areas. I was driving along and saw a deer start to cross the road so I slowed down and watched, expecting another one to appear. The first crossed and then stopped and looked back--watching. At that point, I stopped the car completely. Then two fawns, still with spots, emerged cautiously. They looked at me and waited. I didn't move and they finally crossed the road and joined their mother.

Life is good. Never miss the chance to enjoy every day and rejoice in the unexpected.