love vs distance

On Thursday, August 29th, I sat in my grandparent's living room in Mississippi. Just like usual, my papa & i shared dinner together... steak & corn on the cob! We normally conversate about his bicycle rides, doctor's visits, news, etc. or my school or work. And this day the conversation began no differently. He showed me the article in the news paper about "Obesity in Mississippi," the 1 state for fatness, might I add...then papa said something that sparked my attention! As he walked towards the livingroom cabinet he said, "you know i've been thinkin, it wouldn't be too bad of a drive to meet austin half way.." ALL EYES WERE ON POPS AT THIS MOMENT.. UNDIVIDED ATTENTION! First I must say, the night before Austin & I picked about me driving to Ohio... but NEVER an ounce of seriousness in me, I knew my momms would not be happy with the thought of me driving by myself to Ohio, so I just discarded that thought. Continuing, Papa pulled out the United States Map out of the cabinet.. this meant business! He pointed out the 1/2 way point, Bowling Green, Kentucky and told me it was 7 1/2 hours. BUT, I knew Austin worked 7 days a week, he wouldn't have a chance to meet me half way. So then, Papa started talking "one way trip!" I was excited... my adrenaline was pumping! I was ready to leave right then! And... I DID! I ran next door packed my clothes threw them in the car and papa met me there with a GPS to direct me and a gun to protect me! You might be thinking, you haven't asked your momms yet! Well, I didn't!! After I was on my way, I called her and told her I was going & not to persuade me otherwise! She wasn't happy but knew there was nothing she could do to stop young love!

There I sat, hand on the wheel, radio on, and rain hitting the windshield for about four hours! And I still wasn't out of Alabama! I began to have regrets... that I was never going to get there! But my foot never let off that pedal. I stopped to refill my gas tank and purchase French Vanilla Cappuccino at the Alabama-Tennessee border.. and kept on a truckin'! It was night time now... I made it through Tennessee rather quick! I liked that state a lot!! The width of Tennessee is not too deep! :) Then Kentucky... I hated this state! Just when I thought I had made it all the way to the top of Kentucky in Louisville... I WAS WRONG! The GPS directed me northeast about 200 miles! I wanted to cry.. I stopped for gas in Kentucky around 2 am. I was scared a little, but my baby was on the phone with me! :) Aus stayed on the phone with me the whole time to keep me company! I finally reached Ohio! Cincinatti was the first major city I came to... AND I GOT LOST! yep,yep! That stupid GPS sent me DOWTOWN Cincinatti... it wasn't my fault at all (hehe, believe it!). And I ended up in the parking garage for the Cincinatti Reds. Then the GPS sent me down a ONE WAY the WRONG WAY! YEP.. thank goodness it was night time and there wasn't much traffic on the roads bc I would have been creamed! :( Once again, my Aus came to the rescue.. With tears rolling down my face, he comforted me and helped lead me back to the interstate! : ) About 6am, I could no longer hold my eyes open! I had been awake for 24 hours straight for the first time in my life! :) Couldn't think of any better reason to stay up 24 hours either!! I was headed to see my future husband! So, with daylight breaking I stopped at a Wendy's, crawled into the backseat... and slept!! After sleeping for an hour (which seemed like I had slept for days) I awoke and drove the rest of the way to a town called Stow, Ohio! And it was there that my Austin greeted me at his apartment with a long hug and kiss : ) Then, he returned to work and I slept the rest of the day! That night we ate some wonderful Tai food. I got to share my favorite childhood soup with my love.... it was Wanton! : ) After this we went to Target, where Austin was being so crazy! After getting our necessities, Austin was helping me into the truck and he started speaking (or should I say hollaring) to me in a foreign language!! This caught the attention of everyone in the parking lot! I laughed until my stomach hurt!

Anyways, the next day (Saturday) we both drove to Sweet Home Alabama together! We made some amazing memories : ) The trip back to Alabama was definately better than the trip to Ohio!! We traveled through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, then home to Alabama! Austin drove 99.9% of the way... I attempted to the other .01%, but well he didn't like my driving.. or something like that! So i gave up the wheel.. And I slept : ) hehe.. we stopped in North Alabama at Catfish Cabin.. And ate seafood! I got some good 'ole whole catfish & he ate the usual.. steak! mmm... the food was delicious and that caused me to sleep most of the way home! It's amazing how good you can sleep on a full stomach! Once, I awoke to seeing Austin's eyes close.... and that scared me! So I stayed awake for awhile and kept him company : ) At 3 am we finally arrived @ his apartment in Mobile.

The next day, we traveled to my house in Mississippi, visited his parents, and went to church. Then on Monday, we ate breakfast with his parents and lunch with my family. And that night... my mom, brother, and I took him to the Pensacola Airport where he flew back to Ohio :( I cried.. just a little.. yeah right... a lot!

This unexpected trip to Ohio was definately unforgetable!