August 20 – “Oklahoma (Not the musical …)”

We did something a little different.  A little impulsive.  A little love-based (Not so much for each other, although that spark is still around).  This one was for a Seasider.

After dinner on the grounds Sunday we rushed back to the house, packed some clothes, got some gas in the car, and headed out of town.  One of our Seasider’s Dad died in Oklahoma, so we decided to do our best to attend the funeral.  We had until Monday at 2 p.m. to get to Atoka, Oklahoma.  Could we make it? 

We began to wonder when we passed a wreck on 61^st street.  GFD and GPD were both just pulling up to assess the situation.  The accident victims were in good hands.  We made our way past and continued on.  Next stop was Bucees in Madisonville for lunch.  It was … not any less crowded than when last we were there. 

Our goal for the day was to get as far as the Dallas area, spend the night and continue on the next morning.  However, when we hit Dallas, Google Siri said it was only an hour and a half further to our ultimate destination.  Chris was on a roll and didn’t want to stop, so we carried on.  We found what is apparently the northernmost Bucees.  That was in McKinney when we realized we really needed some gas.  We crossed the Red River into Oklahoma at 8:52, and pulled into Atoka at 9:35.  For once Google Siri was right on.

We spent the next morning taking in the sights of beautiful downtown Atoka.  No, that didn’t take long.  We did locate the funeral home.  Right across the street from Wyrick Lumber, owned by the family we were there to support.  On one side of the town we drove past the high school.  Their mascot?  Wampus cats.  Very cool name.  I have no idea what a Wampus Cat is, but it certainly strikes fear into my heart.  Anybody know where I can get a stuffed wampus cat for my collection?

We found a Confederate graveyard and museum just outside the city.  The graveyard was pretty interesting.  Some very old graves and gravestones, of course.  The museum, however, was fascinating.  Incredibly eclectic.  It had everything from dresses to dinosaurs, from baseballs to bullets, from Indians to interesting oddities.  It was really a gem of a find.

The funeral was nice.  Very simple.  Several country songs.  A nice poem written by Mr. Littleton’s wife and read by his granddaughter.  It was good to see several members of the Wyrick family and impart to them the itinerant Seaside hugs.

After the funeral we started our drive home.  Well, sort of.  We considered going home by Interstate 35, which would bypass Dallas and take us through Waco.  That was an hour to the west.  Just beyond Wapanucka and the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery.  Oh, and we passed through Mill Creek and Bulldog football stadium.  Watch out Wampus Cats.  Just beyond those in Sulphur we found a National Park Recreation Area, so we stopped in to get our book stamped.  The place was really beautiful.  We even saw some wildlife.  A grasshopper.  Some wasps.  And the highlight of it all … Bambi - a baby deer.  Still had its spots and everything.  Never saw Mama Deer though.  Will not speculate as to where she was.  I saw that movie.

After our little drive through the Rec Area, we changed our minds and headed back in the general direction we came from.  Not exactly the same route, of course.  We ended up in Durant, Oklahoma for the night, but not before we passed a real highlight of the trip.  Right there on top of some billboard supports was the biggest, gigantic, chocolate-covered-with-sprinkles-on-top donut I have ever seen.  It was massive.  We really should have stopped for a selfie in front of it.  I was simply stunned.  Coincidentally, there was a donut shop nearby.  Can you believe that?

Matthew 6:7-8 says, “And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Father, please continue to walk with the Wyrick’s through their grief.  And would you work some healing in their cousin who fell and broke his back and ribs while here?  He’s a long way from home and in a lot of pain.  Amen.