Ed wanted to avoid the coast due to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and gas being a shortage in many areas.
AVOID...we certainly did. We went wellllll inland and I saw lots of PA and West Virginia before we finally came back onto I 95 South.
In all actuality, it was a nice ride. A little slower on some of the roads he took, but he knows them all well due to his traveling them over the years.
Day 2 found us in the worst part of Jacksonville,Fl some time after 5 p.m. I shit you not!
I programmed my brothers address into the GPS and this is where it took us. Poor Ed didn't know whether to shit or go blind. After many calls to my brother we finally found our way out of that mess and to his place in BALDWIN. He doesn't live in Jacksonville, but his dang mail gets to him if you write Jacksonville on the envelope, ?????? His voice showed alarm when he heard where we were. He luvs me. :0)
What a nice welcome my brother,my sis in law and their daughters, oldest daughters husband and daughter and significant others of his other two daughters gave us and what a meal they prepared for us too. It is here that I will confide in you that Ed has told me in the past that he would be uncomfortable around gay people and right up front I told him of same sex partners in my immediate family ( which I have no problem with). He must have forgot.....as he loved every one of them and has repeated it to his own kids about how great everyone was and is still remarking to me about what hot shits they all were. In the beginning he asked who those other girls/women were and I told him they were my nieces girl friends. Okay...so I omitted the emphasis on girlfriends. :0) Funny how when you are in the mix and don't know all the technical points that you find someones company charming that you other wise might not have. Some day I might clue him in. He needs to broaden his outlook on that subject. My nephew (the one my parents raised since he was 16 months old is gay and he is in my life alot. I'm the only family he has left and he is always welcome in my home. Now I've told Ed he was gay ...let's see if he remembers that when he meets him. On the other hand...Drew is feminine acting so he just might pick up on it. Oh welll! We can't choose our family.... so I say, deal with it!
Day 3 found us on the road at 5:30 on our way to Sarasota. AGAIN, I got us lost. Well....not lost, but I missed the exit I was watching for and we had maybe 8 miles to travel before we could exit and back track. Ed was familiar with hwy 41, but not the directions to my sons. Spent a few hours at my sons and then off to North Port. Unpacked...went out to shop for some essentials...ate out ( can't remember where). We strolled into the Dollar Tree hand in hand and were approached by an older woman that stopped us to comment on how we were still holding hands after all these years. It is so nice when people take time to compliment other people. I need to do it more often myself.
We went to bed somewhere around nine. The election results were just beginning to happen. Ed gets himself worked up over politics. That's his worst fault !
Day 4 found us visiting his old friend Mona in (think it was Punta Gorda.) She and her husband Al( a police officer ) were good friends of he and his wife up North. He met Al and Mona when he was twenty eight. Al now sits in a jar in Mona's bedroom and when she dies she too will be cremated and their ashes will be mixed together....and.....what anyone chooses to do with them will be out of her hands. I like her. She's Polish ;0) ,eighty five and spunky and shoots from the hip. When Ed called her and told her that he was bringing someone with him, she said..."not the same one!" From her tone, I could tell that she did not like Ada. I came away with the impression that she likes me, cause I mentioned that I liked Kohls and she gave me a $20 Cash thingie to use before the 14th of this month. :0) I have one for $10. A shopping I will go, a shopping I will go. :0) Ate at Stephano's. Ed had liver and onions, which included a soup or salad and dessert. I had all you can eat fish. $9.99 It was called Basa. It's a mild fish and was very good. I say very good, because I asked for more three times. :0) Ed couldn't figure out where I was putting it. ;0) When we left, I picked his sweater up, rolled it into a ball and placed it under my shirt. We stop at the register to pay and he struts beside me like a peacock, pass cars that were coming and going and I could hardly contain my laughter. Ed turns to look at my face ( puzzled as to why I am cracking up ) and I practically collapsed in his arms in a laughing fit as I pointed down to my belly. Then the two of us were in stitches. :0) He calls me " a Hot Shit". I've been called "Daffy" ....another term of endearment by a good friend ...and you know who you are! ;0)
Day 5 found us driving to places that Ed was familiar with. He lived in Punta Gorda for two years with his wife in a trailer park. Lots of memories there for him and he hasn't forgot a thing...not even a road. We drove out on Pine Island to the very end. Saw the town of Matlacha ( pronounced matt-la-shea. ) As we began our walk out on the pier a man and two women were heading towards us and the man exclaimed, " you two look happy." We both replied that we were and thanked him. I know we were both laughing as when I alit from the car I farted and Ed said " did I hear squeaky shoes." I told him if I had held the umbrella that sits to my side on the floor I would have been lifted off the ground. ;0)
Mary Poppins has nothing on me. Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon.
It was the first time he heard me fart ( not the first time I have farted since we met ;0) ) ...the Honeymoon is over!!! As he always says when he can no longer hold it..., I rather suffer the shame than the pain.
It was a wonderful day ...each day he thanks me for making his day wonderful and I do the same. He says I have taught him alot. He is learning to enjoy life a different way and loving every moment. :0)
Today ...no plans....except to find Kohls to spend my $30. ;0) Who knows what the day will unfold.
Tomorrow he wants to drive around lake Ocachobee ( too lazy to grab my map and check the spelling ;0) )
SCRATCH THAT!! Son just called. He and his ? ex wife ( they still live together ) are taking us to a dinner and comedy show. :0) Picking us up around 7. Hope I/We can keep Ed awake. ;0) They will spend the night HERE and take us somewhere else tomorrow. Ed is wondering how my son will feel about his mother sleeping in his house with another man. I told him that his generation was DIFFERENT than THIS generation ! Don't know if it put his mind at ease, but we had some real good laughs over it. No squeaking the bed, no walking around nude...hahaha
To be quite honest, I'm going to be uncomfortable being around my son and ex daughter in law and watching how they interact. WHEN they are going to tell me they are divorced is ever present on my mind too.
Looking forward to a FUN NIGHT in more ways than ONE. I shit you not!
Ed's a slow learner, but I have every confidance that we can have a meaningful relationship, without the act of intercourse. One day at a time...slow and steady she goes.Patience is my middle name. ;0)
From home I hear from Jill that her psychologist is urging her to dump Whine Bucket. Go figure!
(((hugs)))
That's All Folks!
