Monday, July 16

A 'Quick' Trip

We were in the car Saturday, wending our way to our son's home 80 miles away. My daughter called my cell phone, and as usual, said "Where are you?" I replied that we were sitting in a huge parking lot otherwise known as Route 40 West.

Last year, road crews supposedly finished the last 20 miles or so of re-paving and additional lanes to a stretch of Route 40 that reaches from the Raleigh-Durham airport to beyond Chapel Hill. Commuters everywhere cheered and looked forward to shorter drive times, and their joy was cut short almost immediately by the announcement that the just laid pavement was chipping and buckling because the wrong materials were used. Millions of dollars had gone up in smoke right before our very eyes. Then the redo began. Mr. kenju and I don't travel that area often, so we are unfamiliar with the new traffic patterns. Four and five lanes narrow to three, then two and eventually one. For at least 10-15 miles, there is only ONE lane open to do the work of four. Can you imagine the back-up? It took us 3 and one-half hours to make the trip that usually is completed in 75 minutes.

We might have chucked it all and gone back home, but we were delivering a small granddaughter (who had been with us for 3 days) to her cousin's home for a visit. Her parents are celebrating 3 years of marriage and my daughter's birthday, and will be away for 3-4 days. As much as I love that little girl, I was determined to leave her with her cousins! Having been under the weather for a week, I was exhausted by her very presence. So, we persevered, arriving later than we'd planned, tired and hungry.

I had no more than entered the door, when the clarion call came and I had to rush to the bathroom. I thought that my illness of the previous 8 days had abated, but nooooooooooo, it had roared back full force. I will not bore you nor embarrass myself further with the icky details, but suffice it to say I spent the better part of the next 2 hours in my daughter-in-law's bathroom. She was kind enough to prepare a pan of plain, white rice for me, in addition to the nice dinner she made for the family. After a while, my stomach settled down and I was able to sleep well.

Sunday, I didn't want to brave going to their swim club with them, so I stayed on the couch with the TV remote, a blanket and two chihuahuas to keep me company. Eventually, we drove back home, and luckily, the eastbound traffic was fast moving. We arrived without incident and were welcomed by two kitties who didn't know whether to act happy to see us - or be mad because we had left them alone for a night!

Edit: I have a story at Ronni's site today as well. See it here:

http://ronnibennett.typepad.com/elderstorytelling/2007/07/old-friends-cam.html

On a lighter note (pun intended) the scale shows I have lost seven pounds! There's a silver lining to every cloud - it you will but look for it!!









13 comments:

Michele said...

Aww, sweetie! I am sorry for your not-so-pleasant weekend. Although, I adore that you looked for the silver lining, because, yes, there is always one there.

Thank-you for visiting the "post of the week." I read your comment there and must tell you that I agree: I am also crazy about him when he writes from a personal rather than political slant. The only way for him and I to maintain out friendship is for me to NOT read his political postings. I think you understand exactly what I am saying...

Now, please take care of you!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Oh Judy...I am so sorry you are having such a tough time with your tummy...And I love that you see that 7 pound loss as a 'Silver Lining'...I agree with you...it is a great but terrible way to lose unwanted pounds!
Hope this problem subsides very very soon.

rosemary said...

Oh my goodness....you need to fully get better not half way. Trust me...and you know this....the cats were mad.

Duke_of_Earle said...

That particular silver lining, IMHO, does not BEGIN to make up for the darkness of the cloud. But I guess it's better than gaining weight during that kind of experience.

John

utenzi said...

I feel your pain, Judy. Similar problems were why I was making and eating so many muffins this weekend. Quickbreads seems to help settle my "stomach". I wonder if that would work for you too...

Anonymous said...

I've suffered from stomach ailments all my life and I can really sympathize with you! So glad you're feeling better!

I bet the kitties are easier to deal with then the little kiddo...darling as she is, LOL.

Don't forget to drink extra fluids to replace what you've lost! good luck, Judy, hope you're in top form soon.

brendalove@gmail.com said...

Judy that stretch of 40 is murder. I think some lawsuits have been filed.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

Sorry to hear of your yucky stomach on your travels. I don't know of anything that could be worse than that (as ailments go).

I hope the kitties got over their madness (did you come home to rolls of TP strewn out thru the house???). LOL.

Kay Dennison said...

Hope you're feeling better soon, Judy!

Anonymous said...

I hope you're feeling better & if not yet, soon!
I can't believe they're still doing roadwork out that way, they were working on that road back in 1993 when I lived with my ex's dad & stepmom for 3 weeks in Cary NC.
(The area was ok, the hostess was not!)My ex & I, when we'd go visit his dad in the next few years, from here in VA, would make bets as to how much they'd finished, they were always way behind our wishful guesses.

Babette said...

Sorry to hear of your tummy troubles!

P. S. You are a romantic, what with your Chopin and Rachmaninoff tastes! I wish you could hear my 19 year old daughter play Chopin's Andante spianato in G major and Rachmaninoff's 2nd concerto.

Peter said...

Ah the joys of traffic congestion and other digestion Judy, get well.

joared said...

Sorry you felt so bad, and then to have the road problems. Enjoyed your story over at TGB.