From Alabama to Arizona: A Geezer and Geezerette Take a Road Trip (Part 1)

Today my Silver Fox (a.k.a. "Geezer," age 77) and I (a.k.a. "Geezerette," about to turn 75) are beginning an adventure we've never undertaken before. We're getting in our car in Decatur, AL after church and will eventually visit Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana during the next two weeks. Oh sure, we've been away from home for two weeks or longer but not without a nailed down itinerary. We'll basically be on I-40 West on our way to Arizona and I-10 East on the way home, with plenty of expected detours to keep things interesting. We want to see red rocks, desert flowers, cacti, cowboys, and Native Americans. We want to eat lots of Tex-Mex dishes (and yes, we packed a big bottle of Pepcid). We want to feel warm, dry air and hear accents other than Southern drawls. Arizona, New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma will be completely new to us. At the end of the trip, we want to return with a deeper appreciation for the diverse beauty of our country while keeping our 54-year-old marriage intact and thriving.

Anticipated Challenges

Three thousand+ miles will put a lot of wear and tear on our car and on our bodies. Steve's disposition gets cranky when he's in traffic. Bless that man! Proposed solutions -- audio books we've downloaded, Advil, and letting me do a lot of the driving.

How long will the smiles and hopeful looks continue?

Unexpected things WILL crop up. We're praying for God to keep us safe on the road and for Him to take good care of our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren (our 2nd great grandson is due to be born in early May) while we're away.

We both have our routines (which we'll need to adjust -- not an easy task for two septuagenarians), and we're spoiled to a good mattress, a hot shower with plenty of water pressure, and comfortable furniture -- all of which are rare in hotel rooms. We anticipate being in 12 different ones on our trip. We'll take our noise machine and hope to goodness for a decent night's sleep the majority of the time.

At home, we can go to our separate studies, or he can work outside while I'm busy in the kitchen. On this trip, we'll be in close physical proximity for 14 straight days. The goal is to laugh a lot, marvel a lot, and enjoy some deep conversations.

Preparations Before Leaving

While I have the task of getting our clothes, snacks, and essentials gathered and ready to pack, Steve is prepping everything outdoors -- putting new plants in the ground, cutting the grass, adjusting the irrigation system and the indoor temperature, etc. He has also made arrangements to miss work and enlist substitute teachers for our Sunday School class.

I have made a FEW advance reservations and scouted out recommended restaurants and must-see attractions.

We're stopped the mail and enlisted a granddaughter to "check on things" regularly. Our closest neighbors know to keep an eye out.

Flying vs. Driving

Why subject ourselves to so much time on the road? Why not book a flight and a rental car?

An airplane will be absolutely essential when we leave the country in July (more about that in the future), but we really want the flexibility of driving and soaking in the scenery at our own pace during our Western Adventure. We want to take as many clothes as we think we might need and pack full-size toiletries without being limited to 50 lbs. and tiny plastic bottles of shampoo.

We don't want a group tour experience, although at times those are good options. We don't want to be stranded in an airport when the airlines make schedule changes. We like the idea of making this trip "on our own terms." When we get back home, I'll let you know if we STILL feel the same way. :)

What Makes It a Real Vacation

For the next two weeks, I will NOT be cooking. Someone else will shop for groceries, prepare and serve our meals, and do the clean-up afterwards.

For the next two weeks, I will NOT be making the bed.

For the next two weeks, I will NOT be doing laundry.

For the next two weeks, neither of us will have to be ANYWHERE at a set time.

I do, however, plan to make regular blog posts with plenty of photos so that any of you who are interested can follow along on our journey and maybe take notes for a future trip of your own, armed with my list of my good, bad, "be sure to do this," and "don't even think about doing that" items.

A key reason for making this Western trek? BECAUSE WE CAN. We've attended way too many funerals in recent months. We've been watching an increasing number of our peers deal with cancer or dementia. WHILE WE STILL CAN are the first words in a lot of our sentences. Just wait. When you reach our age, you'll understand. God has granted us the good health and the opportunity to "taste and see," so we want to grab it.

Day one involves getting the first leg of miles in our rearview mirror, hopefully spending the night somewhere near Little Rock. Stay tuned.

#travel