I began preparing for my yearly trip to Mt. Airy, North Carolina, last week.
My plan was to drive my vehicle. That plan would change, though.
As you should before any trip, I took my vehicle to get the Oil Changed and to get the Mechanic to check and make sure my Ol’ Truck was road worthy.
The day before I took my truck, my Brakes had started to “Whistle,” which I know is a warning signal to get the Brakes Changed.
I usually use my Cousin on Papa’s side for things like this, but I knew I was leaving in one more day and didn’t think it would be fitting to “Spring” something like that on him.
I pulled into our local “Mom and Pop” Mechanic Shop and told them about the Brakes.
I also told them I was about to take a long road trip to North Carolina, and I needed to make sure it would make the trip.
The Owner changed the Oil and the Brakes.
He then told me that my Passenger Side Front Tire was showing wire.
He advised me not to take the truck on such a long trip until I got new tires.
I thought back, trying to remember when I bought my tires, and I think it was before COVID. So, it was overdue.
—Strike One
I had asked a few people if they wanted to go with me, and it was looking like I was going to Mt. Airy alone this year.
I was okay with that but was pleasantly surprised when I got home and Momma asked if she could go with me after all.
I smiled.
“Yep, you can go. We gotta take your car, though,” I said with a grin.
“That’s fine. You could’ve driven my car even if I didn’t go. You know that,” Mom replied.
I planned to leave on Wednesday but pushed the trip to Thursday due to my truck issues.
—First problem resolved.
With a little help, I got Mom’s car cleaned out. Having two teenage girls can get your vehicle a bit messy.
Wednesday, I spent much of the day slowly packing up the car and taking care of some last-minute things.
The trip was coming together.
The GPS said that I could make the trip from our home to Mt. Airy in Seven and a half Hours.
I set the departure time for 10 AM sharp.
However, Mom and I beat that time and left at 9:30 AM.
At 9:36 AM, we were at my Pharmacy picking up some Medications I had to carry with me on any trip—Emergency stuff that I might need if I got trapped out of state and was sick—when Mom looked at her phone and saw a missed call from her Doctors Office.
Mom is scheduled to have Knee Replacement Surgery this coming week, and she thought it might be surgery related. So, she calls them back.
“Yes, Ma’am, we’ll need you to come in today to have labs done and a Pre-Surgical check. We know it’s last minute and apologize for that, but we must get it done today to get the results back in time for your surgery.”
—Strike two
We point the car to the Doctor’s Office and head over to get Blood-Work and Mom’s Pre-Surgical Check done.
The Doctor’s Office is at the Hospital in the Professional Building.
We used the Valet Parking to help with time and avoid having to find a Parking Spot.
“This must be a good Doctor,” I said to Mom.
The Office was full of Signed Football jerseys and signed Basketball and Baseball shirts.
Players from Alabama and Auburn used this Doctor’s Office, which made me more comfortable about her upcoming Knee Surgery.
Remember, we were at the Pharmacy at 9:36 AM, about to get on the road?
It was now 1:30 PM, and we were getting on the road. —Mt. Airy, here we come.
Before getting on the Interstate, my Diabetic Alarm goes off on my Smart Phone, notifying me that my Blood Sugar is low. I had forgotten to eat in all this.
—McDonald’s, here we come.
At McDonald’s, something unusual happened; Before handing me my bag, the guy looked in my bag to ensure the order was correct. He then opened the window and said, “They didn’t get the order correct. I’m going to fix it. Give me just a minute, please.”
“Absolutely. No problem at all,” I replied.
I looked at Mom. “Wow. That’s the first time someone ever checked the bag for me.”
We get our order and head toward the Interstate.
—Mt. Airy, here we come.
The drive was quiet between Mom and me because I had a “Book on tape” playing on my “Audible” App.
The book was called “Andy and Don,” and is about the Friendship between “Andy Griffith” and “Don Knotts.”
It tells of how they met and talks about their Friendship from the beginning to “Don’s” death.
It’s a good read for an “Andy and Don” fan.
The GPS had us arriving at 10:30 PM EST.
In Chattanooga, the clouds burst, and a downpour came.
Shortly after, traffic came to a standstill. We sat.
Finally, traffic started crawling. I was lucky to hit 10 MPH for a while.
We get out of Chattanooga and begin moving again.
The GPS now says my arrival time is around Midnight.
—Mt. Airy, here we come.
By 7 PM, I’d gained an hour back on our “Travel Time.” The GPS now says we will arrive at 11 PM EST.
The last thirty minutes were the worst. I was about asleep.
I usually am in bed by 8 PM CST. It was 9:30 PM Central Standard Time, or 10:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, and I was give-out.
Around 11:30 PM EST., we arrive at “The Mayberry Motor Inn.”
—More on this trip later.
