The Trip in Her Own Words

A Journal of Sorts

Epilog

Well, here I am a most unlikely traveler on my way to Austin to get on a plane and fly to California for the Rose Bowl Parade. When I watched the Rose Bowl Parade, as a child, on black and white TV I thought “wouldn’t it be something if I could see all those beautiful floats and flowers up close. Now at age 59 I’m getting my chance to go and I feel totally ill prepared to do so. I’m still looking forward to seeing the flowers and hearing the bands, but hurting like I do most of the time it is kind of hard. Sometimes dreams are better than reality. I hope this is not one of those times.

The day has been beautiful, the sun has almost set. I feel so sad to be a drag on everyone. Coping with someone like me is a trial. If I intend to make it many more years I need to do something about myself. I’m a mess

The sunset is gorgeous! We stopped for some fried cat fish at Hintz in Sealy. Sure was tasty. I think I remembered everything. Need to call Mom and tell her bye. Lord! I already miss home and I’ve only been gone for 3 hours. Sky is light pink and blue and the moon is already up and just beginning to shine. Got to make those stinking stairs 2 times. Once up, once down. Hope everything does well with scooter.

I feel I’m doing as well as an old fat miserable lady can do at least right no. I hope I sleep tonight. Don’t have much hope however.

Up with the chickens. Had trouble getting to sleep, but slept well after finally going to sleep. Leighann and family running a little late. Wayne antsy as a cat. Tire was low on car and had to put air in. Beautiful cold morning. Got kind of a trippy heart this morning. I prayed so hard everything will go well and as planned. Anxiety over plane trip. Wearing black sweater and pants, feel nice. Wayne needs a shave as usual.

Well, didn’t finish of 30th but here I am in California just having watched the Rose Parade. Simply awesome! Couldn’t have been more perfect. Yesterday was great. Had a little trouble with scooter at end of day otherwise perfect.

Went to Santa Monica and peered at the Pacific Ocean. Had a big black limo all day from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Kids, (Brooke, Kellie, and Case) were really great all day.

Plane ride was really good, had a really nice male flight attendent who made things really fun. Had snacks and cookies and cokes on plane. Flight took 4 hours.

The parade was everything I had hoped for and more. I could smell the roses and the bands and the floats were awesome. Up close the flowers are gorgeous. The animation is great up close. Grand Marshall was Regis Philbin.

“Born in the USA” a 50 foot tall techno was the first float in the parade. He was something to behold. Next great float was a 50 foot tall dinosaur on the “Good Vibration” float.

And thus ends her record of the much anticipated trip to the Rose Bowl Parade. Journals are hard to keep if one considers themselves a bother to the family around them. She seemed to really enjoy the adventure and we often talk about the parade and the floats and especially the grilled hot dogs from a sidewalk vendor after the parade ended.