We woke up yesterday in a different world. Actually, we hadn’t even left our time zone as yet, but there was one thing about the day that made us certain we had truly exited the welcoming warmth of South Texas. It was … cold. When I woke up it was 48 degrees outside. Cold. If this doesn’t kill those leaves we came to see in their deceased state, I don’t know what will.
And
speaking of a different world, did I mention that the room we were assigned had
an interesting designation posted on the wall next to the door. We would be
staying in the Presidential Suite. You
may bow and curtsy now. It wasn’t really
all that different from other rooms we have had, save for the extra sink and
wall of countertops around it and the kitchen table and four chairs. Everything else was essentially the
same. But hey … “Presidential.”
Oh,
and one other thing. On Thursday night (hear
a background of eerie, foreboding music here), we were just settling in and
relaxing in our room when we heard a knock at the door. Now we were miles from home. We had met no one in the area. Tentatively I reached for the door
handle. That’s when it hit me. It was Thursday night. Surely this was not Lauren and Cathy, come to
haunt us for Bible Study. I turned the
knob and inched the heavy door back on its hinges. And there stood … no, it wasn’t Cathy and
Lauren. It was the lady from the room
next door. She had knocked on our door
by mistake. She was mortified at her bumble,
and apologized profusely.
On
the interstate between Nashville and Knoxville, we had an abrupt reminder of
why we don’t like to travel on interstates. A big truck (not an
18-wheeler, but big, nonetheless) blew a tire all over the car in front of
us. We were able to dodge the bulk of the debris. Guess the truck figured he
had a couple extra tires and didn’t need that one. He never slowed down. At
least he did change lanes. Fortunately, our exit was not too many miles ahead,
so we were off the interstate and back onto the interesting paths of Americana.
And
what should greet our gas-needing little Chevy when we took the exit?
Buc-ees! Of course we had to stop and support a truly iconic Texan
enterprise. Got some gas and snacks and got right back on the road.
Our
next stop was the Manhattan Project #2. We have been to the portion of it in
Los Alamos, New Mexico. #3 is in Washington State. This one was in Oak Ridge,
Tennessee. Yes. That’s where the Oak Ridge Boys were originally from. Together
they did the work that ultimately resulted in the development of the atom bomb
that ended World War II (the Manhattan Project people, not the Oak Ridge Boys).
Oh,
and before we left town, we stopped off at the neighborhood Friendship Bell.
Big ol’ bell hanging in a park. You can even bong it with the big log attached.
We behaved and … didn’t. I still regret it. But someone else did while we were
having our lunch picnic. Sounded just
like those massive Chinese gongs you hear in the movies.
Next
we crossed the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. Chris was driving and we had to go
through a really long tunnel under a mountain. If you know Chris, then you know
… she was not happy. We did make it through to the other side without being
horribly crushed by millions of pounds of rock and dirt, though. We spent the
night in Middlesboro, Kentucky. We had supper at Cracker Barrel. Imagine that.
Thanks again to the ones who gave us gift cards.
While
we were waiting for our food, Chris got a call from UTMB. It was about the
results of her sleep study. They wanted her to come back and do another one.
Told you so. They did backtrack rather quickly when they found out Chris’ doc
hadn’t even talked to her about the options. Now we wait for his office to
call.
John 15:4 says, “Remain in me, as I also
remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Father,
help us with the waiting - the abiding in you while we wait. Amen.
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