The Trip

Off to Oregon! I thought to myself, as I got into the packed minivan with Wes, and we headed off down the road, following Deb into the night. Off on an adventure!

The first night, we drove for a few hours to get beyond the pass, because they were going to close it for most of the day Saturday. I still wish that there had been a little more time, and that Deb and Wes could have seen a little bit of LA before we had to leave, but that’s just the way things go sometimes. :/

We drove north on the 405, then north on the 5, until we had passed all the landmarks I was familiar with. And we kept driving, driving, driving, until finally we reached our destination for the night – a place I can no longer really recall, save for the comfortable bed I all but collapsed on, and the 24-hour IHOP were I had pumpkin pancakes and orange-flavored water (which supposedly was supposed to be orange juice) the next morning.

…mmm… pumpkin pancakes…

Anyway, we were all a bit tired so slept in just a wee bit, and didn’t get started until maybe 10ish on Saturday. Friday we stopped a little late, so I called my folks in the morning and left a message telling them I was okay before we headed off for breakfast. Then, refreshed somewhat, we trudged off northward once again. We made several stops for gas along the way, and had sandwiches at one point. We also encountered the horrid, putrid stench of freshly-made fertilizer of the bovine variety – sadly, we didn’t realize that the air conditioner was on “fresh air” instead of “circulate air.” And let me tell you, that air was “fresh” all right. Fresh from the moo-cow’s behind.

Blech.

Wes switched the air settings quickly, but alas it was already too late, for that the nauseating, fetid fumes had already infested the cabin of the minivan with a rank, noisome odor all its own. There was nothing we could do except endure the torment bravely until we had passed the wide, vast, seemingly unending collection of natural organic poo production factories. Once we cleared them, we set about to change the air by rolling down the windows.

Lunch was sammiches, from Guiliano's, which I will miss in the far off land of Oregon. Nummy sammiches, which I thank Keith for, because he went to go get them for me.

On Saturday, November 5^th, at approximately 8:45 pm, I left the state of California. While not the first time I had left the state, this particular time held more significance than the times before. Because this time, it wasn’t just for a short, week-long vacation. No, this time, it was to stay.

It was raining, and driving in the rain at night on a mountain-side while tired… well… let’s just say it was a bit of an interesting ride. We stopped finally at Grants Pass. It was still raining. We had pizza delivered. We watched a little TV while waiting for it to arrive, ate, then pretty much passed out.

Sunday morning – the last leg of the journey. Again started out a little on the late side – this time breakfast was a Denny’s. We then drove off once more, with Deb in the lead and me following behind. It rained off and on, and was enough to make me nervous – and Wes too, methinks. Still we managed to make it all in one piece.

After we unpacked quickly, I called home to let the folks know I had arrived safely. And, hearing the slight quaver in my mom’s voice set off a sudden wave of home sickness. Until then, I had been too busy with everything to really think about it all, and it all hit home right at that moment. It was hard. It still is hard. I miss them so much right now. I knew it was coming, but even so, I didn’t realize how hard it would hit.

I’m okay. Or rather, I’ll be okay – just going to take a bit of time.

Adventures mean some sacrifices and hardships, after all. I just gotta stick it through.