ADD IsLaNsGiRl xTRCx SandCollector's blog: "Uncle Clarence"

My Dad came and spent the night last Tues and early Wed a.m. we drove to Charlotte on our trek to NJ for the funeral. We got to my brother's in NC and stayed the night; Thurs we drove to Richmond and stayed with dad's childhood friend. They were awesome -- they took us a a party and lets say everyone was hung over the next day.... (except me). Amazing, huh. Anyway - it brought back wonderful memories from my childhood - being in Virginia again. We didn't get a chance to go by my dad's parent's graves though, there in Richmond, so I could take a picture. We drove by Fairfax, VA where I went to Elementary School - more good memories! Then through Maryland where I was born... (Takoma Park area). Past that we hit Delaware and then Pennsylvania - and then into NJ. I saw family from LA, NY, and Australia - it was a family reunion - albeit a sad one. On the way home, my bro, my dad and I drove the first day back through the Shenandoah Valley - WOW - it was so beautiful. I hadn't been there in years. Then we hit Charlotte to drop my brother off; and spent the night. Then Dad and I drove back to Jackson the next day. SO.... I hit 11 states in 5 total days of driving - and we went 2800 miles! Lets see - Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey - then back I hit West Virginia also. What a long trip BUT IT WAS AN ADVENTURE - I tell you!! We use to do the major road trips when I was a kid - back in the day when we could lay down and sleep in the car (no seat belts were required ---it's amazing we survived! ha ha)