Hi Honeys, We're Home.

So the "one time it only took me 10.5 hours" story didn't really pan out. It took us 15 hours to get there and just over 14 hours to get back.

We knew it was going to be a road trip to end all road trips when we were stuck behind a very drunken or very sleepy driver of a big rig for a 45 minute stretch of Rt 58. Yikes, stripes...I know. Then there was the whole Best Western-Blue Bandana Carolinas incident. It was 4am and we couldn't find a 24hr gas station to save my life (and/or dignity). Best Western didn't have a public restroom (or a door not requiring a key of some sort for entry). But darn it, I left that parking lot with an empty bladder and Rus left short his blue bandana. Thanks honey, I love you :)

Over the next few days we had all kinds of crazy fun. Such craziness included a high-speed chase to which, I might add, we were only WITNESSES to, stinky socks, and Bay High alumni. Of all the bars I've never heard of in all the states I've never visited, I walk into the one with Suzanne Grissom pouring the drinks. Good times. It was nice to see a familiar face.

I left Alabama with a new appreciation for the "South" as I've never known it (possibly because that's the first time I've seen it). I left with a fascination of my own boyfriend's lack of "countryness." Someone explain to me how he sounds like a Yankee compared to his brothers who grew up in the same state around pretty much the same time. Crazy.

I left with some new brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, another mom and a new granny, and a whole lot of down home goodness. Mia left with a few bruises from a few toddler-brand accidents, but I'd like to think she's as forgiving as I am :)

I also left with a new found love/attraction/appreciation for Rus. Honestly, I don't if it was just seeing him "at home" or seeing him with his family or maybe it was the jawline facial hair he's been able to grow while on leave. Maybe it was the love I felt from his family. As much as I thought about it on our last 14 hours on the road, I still can't figure it out. Mystery is a beautiful thing.