I love to drive!
I always have. It never bothered me to make the drive back and forth when I lived in Evanston. I worked through the BATC and also in Smithfield, attended school at BATC and USU, kept my doctor in Logan and my hairdresser in Richmond after I had moved to Wyoming.
Lately I haven't been able to road trip much, other than when I was taken to Salt Lake to the doctor. It has been over a year since I have made the pilgrimage to Evanston. It's been far longer since I have enjoyed the blues of Bear Lake, so when Callista asked if I could take her for a job interview, I jumped at the chance. Knowing I had business in Evanston, I just figured we could make it a circle and spend the day relaxing and visiting on the road.
We loaded up, Callista, Thomas and me, and headed out, stopping for fuel and breakfast in Logan. The canyon was beautiful and there were rock climbers and campers throughout. It's still a little chilly in the upper levels and the snow along the road was dirty, but still there. White patches gleamed out from under the trees. The river was rushing and the water was pouring out of Logan Cave.
I told Thomas stories about the canyon and the cave. He talked about the litter along the road and how it hurts him. Thomas is adamant that litter needs to be banned and we all need to appreciate Mother Nature and the Earth for all they do for us. He shows some really awesome insights.
As he was talking, Callista started to become more and more amused. She was grinning and trying not to giggle, but he didn't know. Finally, Thomas announced, with great seriousness, "Someday, if I become President, I'm going to put an end to all this litter commotion!"
That was it! Callista busted out laughing and Thomas was quite offended. "I am SERIOUS," he insisted.
"I know, Thomas," she replied, "I'm not laughing at what you are saying. I've just never heard you use the word 'commotion' before!"
One can well imagine, our trip was filled with singing, conversation, giggling and fun with Thomas interrupting on a regular basis to ask questions and make comments.
We stopped in Bear Lake and Thomas soon made friends with the son of Callista's boss. They are similar in age and neither could be referred to as shy! They were down on the beach playing in the water before too long but after jumping on the trampoline and exploring other options closer to the house. When Callista was done, she retrieved Thomas from the beach, coming back covered in water and sand, and we continued on.
We took side trips to check things out, but not many, and looked at the cows and antelope that were prolific along the way.
When we reached Randolph, I decided to check and see if I could find the home of a friend I hadn't seen in years. I didn't realize how many years until I was told she had broken her back three years ago! Some friend I've been... So, yes, I found her house and had a visit.
The good news was, her daughter, who I remembered as a tiny girl who was fighting for her life, is now a mom. That, in and of itself, hit me as a miracle! And what a beautiful little girl she is!
Back on the road we went. I called my ex's "wife" to let her know we were leaving Randolph and arrange a time and place to meet them. We watched for rabbits, antelope, and cattle. We saw horses, antelope, rabbits, dead deer, sheep, goats, and lots of cattle. Bulls, steers, calves, and cows everywhere. Callista questioned where all the cows were coming from the thousands and thousands we were passing! And, I fear, it was no exaggeration!
On the way into Evanston, I made contact with Jennifer, the person I had headed over there to meet with in the first place, and John called me. John lives in Granger, Wyoming, but was in Evanston with his kids. I told him where I would be and he offered to meet us there. Instead, he got lost and ended up finding me at Subway, where we went to grab sandwiches for lunch, and following me to the park. I didn't have a whole lot of time to visit with him, however, as my time was tied up with other things.
Thomas's father, Jim, was at the park with his live-in girlfriend, Annetta, and all the Christmas presents. It was very good to see Annetta and Thomas enjoyed visiting with Jim. They went down to the ice ponds and caught crawdads and watched them in the water. They talked and played and shared Thom's meatball sub. And we opened Thom's Christmas presents. It was the first "Christmas" Thomas had shared with his father since he was four.
And Annetta got to share her first and last "Christmas" with Thom.
That is the downside. Annetta's health is in crisis. Her doctors are telling her four to six months. Her joints, heart, lungs and now liver are all shutting down. I am very sad. Annetta is a good woman, a sweet person, who has taken care that Jim did right - well, somewhat - for my boys. She is open and honest with me and the only real source of communication I have between Jim and Thomas. And she has become my friend.
They are moving to Las Vegas in under a month. Thomas may see his father once more, if I can take him to Evanston on a Sunday between now and then. That will probably be the last time. Annetta won't be there to encourage contact and Jim won't be bothered. It's bittersweet, at best.
After we agreed that I would try and get him over there one more time, we continued on to Jennifer's.
There was, as usual, a crowd at Jennifer's. We spent a little time trying to visit in the midst of preparations for a surprise party. It didn't work so well. I did get to catch up some with my other friend, Reesie, which was nice. I picked up the paperwork I had come to get and we hit the highway headed back home. This time we went through Ogden and stuck to the Interstate route.
I made it back to Sky View just in time to catch Shannon's performance in Pirates of Penzance for Smithfield's Health Days.
It was a great day overall. I was surrounded by my family, good friends, nature and beauty. My heartbreak for Annetta will last awhile. My heartbreak for my son - I'm his mom, it's to be expected.
But far more will be the joy that I shared that one day - and a road trip - with people I love!
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