2004 April Tom, Mom visit Doug in TX

 

Tom, Mom Visits her Great Grandchildren

April 2004

We meet again in Atlanta International airport, Mom arrives from a good flight without mishap. Tom had arrived the day prior in the RV to meet her. The flight had been arranged with assistance to ensure mom would make all the connections and the result at the final stop was unexpected. Tom had identified that all passengers would pass through a particular point regardless of what terminal they arrived upon. As he waited for Mom, he began to get worried then when more time passed he went over to check baggage area and find her there. After greetings Tom asks how did she get over here? She said they took her on an entirely different route missing all the crowds.

Mom said she was a little stiff but ready to continue so we return to the RV and get clear of Atlanta traffic before it gets too busy. Only driving for 1 1/2 hours put us in Tuscaloosa, AL at a discount campground where we gladly stopped and set up. A walk was in order for Mom had been sitting all day and we met interesting people (always fun people in a campground)

Next day we know we must make allot of miles for to spend time with Doug and his children we must get there as quickly as possible and so we had no stops other than for fuel and sleep for two days as we go to Fort Hood, TX. We did have lunch along the roadside that first day and found interesting spring wildflowers to place on the dashboard. Very pretty flowers we enjoyed them and kept a lookout as we traveled for other kinds. The ones in Texas were large poppy style and we didn't expect them to last long yet they did last a week the first time. The last addition was a set of bluebells, this is the only ones seen the entire trip and they set off the arrangement so nice.

Meeting Doug and his family and setting up in the campground on base within a mile of their home was great, the grand children had grown some since Tom had seen them last and this is the first time Mom had seen them at all. After catching up on events happening so Doug could move from Texas we determined that Mom and Tom would take the grand children for the daytimes and set up meals for everyone so there would be nothing to hold up the movers at Doug’s house.

Kendra (Doug’s wife) would spend day and night packing sorting and cleaning and Doug would help when he was not at work. Mom and Tom got to take the kids to the park (one was right inside the campground) playing on the swings, jungle gym, slides and once each day we would pull a leaf from the money tree and go to Walmart for a gift for the kids. The money tree is a flower made of money that Mom had given Tom many years before, its was in return for travel expenses when Tom and Nita visited Mom in Oregon. The kids got a kick out of the money tree and even more so out of the trip to Walmart.

A week of packing, cleaning and finishing items around town and Doug's family is ready to depart. We wish them a safe trip and we shall meet them in North Carolina next month. Mom and Tom go to Dallas, TX (Tom had some work there) as well as some tourist stuff for Mom. Along with the JFK assassination site we enjoyed the larger than life bronze statues depicting a Texas cattle drive.

A restaurant that Tom and Nita had learned over a previous visit was closed on Sunday, so we returned on Monday and it was well worth the stop. We toured some of the other areas in Dallas such as a restored homes and shops from the 1800's, specific shops in other areas with unique names.

Moving on toward Arkansas we stopped over in Texarkana, TX where we were very fortunate to be there while a bluegrass festival was going on. Mom finally found some people to play cards with as Tom wandered the collection of players listening to the different music. No pictures for we did not even think of it we were having such a good time.

Next day we stop during midday in Little Rock, AR to see more 1800 homes, the theme here was Arkansas Territory period. The tour was very nice and informative, but the best part was the host of the Inn who was a fiddler and taught Mom the Virginia Reel.

Much work to be done in Arkansas so Mom departs from Memphis, TN for home.