Late Night Thoughts

I have to say, despite complaints and groans and moans you may have read from my Facebook status in the last few days, I have really enjoyed this trip. I have enjoyed spending time with the kids (mine and my niece) and my sister. I've enjoyed seeing new places and learning more about how the rest of our country looks and lives. I found out that Montana has more mountains than people, Wyoming has lots of flies (we're bringing some home with us in the van!) and that there are oil wells still pumping away all across the midwest! Seriously, I though that was all in Texas. Who knew? I also got a better picture of just how much corn it takes to run this place-- and it's all in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. And I think perhaps we drove past every stalk...

I've got all kinds of new experiences to add to my repertoire. I can now say that I have ridden a steamboat on The Big Muddy (I can call it that 'cause we're now on a first name basis), been legitimately scared of a bear encounter in the dark on the way to the bathroom and seen a Bald Eagle soar through the air over a mountain stream. Never to be forgotten, that. I have also backed up a trailer hitched to a mini-van (mom award for me too!) and peed in a bucket. A lot.

I am so grateful to the Lord for protecting us and guiding us and giving us good weather and (fairly) good health. I think I can safely say that I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It has been quite an adventure and as we begin our final day of driving tomorrow morning, bright and early, I am glad to be going home to my beloved, but also just a wee bit sad to be done a'wandering. I find the Took and the Baggins warring within me...

But the gentle waves of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the sweet ice tea, the biscuits, the Indian summers, the warm southern accents, and even the soft humidity of the South in September is wrapping a warm blanket of familiarity around me and as I settle into my last hotel bed (for now, although I've earned enough Expedia points to get $10 off my next reservation... J, honey??) my thoughts turn fondly to Shenandoah and my sweet, shabby cottage in Virginia, where my lover waits for me...

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea:
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar,
Eyes... Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.