Another very hot and humid morning......at 8AM!! That is when I walked across the patio, around the pool, and to the hotel lobby for their breakfast bar.....and some hot coffee. After a croissant with butter and jam, I carried my coffee back to the room and by that time, both of our rooms were filled with the activities of gathering together ALL of the things laying around. With valiant attempts, all of these many things from wet swim suits to dirty clothes to all kinds of children's toys were being stuffed into luggage, plastic bags, etc., etc.........all for the trip to the panhandle of Florida. We planned to go to Panama City, Florida, to spend the next week or so.....awaiting the approval of Missouri's various departments on the adoption papers of Max.
Well.....it took mucho longer than anyone thought it would to get everyone ready to go....AND....to get all of the bags and things loaded into the back of the Suburban.....and with all three rows of seats up and assigned to each of the seven of us. Darrel and I worked for quite some time, shifting and juggling the various sizes of bags so that we could all of them to fit inside......WHEW!!!! And....during this ordeal, the dark clouds opened up for a few minutes.....several times......and then sun would return in all of it's heated fury.....and the humidity would be sooooo thick that I felt like I had to cut my way through it just to get back and forth to the room. DAMN!!!!
We finally were loaded and drove out of the parking lot of the Comfort Inn/Suites....and after four brief stops at various locales in the neighborhood....and another 30 minutes, we were finally on our way up I-275......with the plan to take I-10 across part of the panhandle and then drop south to the Gulf and Panama City.
OK........We made one 35 minute stop at a rest area farther up Florida.....time for a rest for all of us, including some "run time" for Meghan and Ava......and I mean that literally. They ran all over the wonderful grassy areas of the HUGE rest area.
Returning to the very, very choked interstate, we later began to move to the right lane to make the merge onto I-10....when Dr. Jeni's phone rang......and without a doubt, her lilting voice in replies to the caller....well, it told me something great had occurred......and I was correct. It was a call from the adoption agency and they called to tell us that the legal forms that had been sent overnight to Missouri.....well, Missouri had quickly approved the adoption papers....and little Maxwell was now able to be taken out of Florida and across other state lines and into his new home in Missouri!!!!!!!
Quickly, as the navigator in the right front seat of the Suburban, I told Darrel to NOT TURN.....and we kept going right on up I-275 northward......and into Georgia. There was now no reason to go to Panama City to just "hang out" until the papers were approved.......it was done....and it was now time to take Max home! Sooooo, we soon crossed into Georgia and drove on a couple of hours and finally pulled over at Perry, GA, to find a couple of rooms and some dinner.
After checking in at another Comfort Inn/Suites, we went to Cracker Barrel for a fairly quick dinner.....and then back to the hotel so Meghan could spend an hour in the pool. I....well, I am sitting here in the room typing this little post, but being constantly interrupted by the beautiful and sooooo creative visuals that the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics are presenting. I always love this part the Games.....as well as soooo many of the different sports that are shown during these Games!!!!
And so.....another day on the road, but not behind the wheel this time!!!! I even took a small nap this afternoon as Darrel.....a race car driver....kept the wheel and oftentimes it seemed like he thought we were on a racetrack.......we were making VERY good time going north!!
And, as the Parade of Nations continues in the Opening Ceremonies.......seeing all of these smiling athletes come together as the world comes together for these Games.........THIS is what the world should be doing ALL of the time. We are all of different races, of different religions, of different Life philosophies.........and seeing this occur in friendship and in competition during the Games......it just underscores that........
LIFE IS SOOOOO INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!
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