Hurricanes, Highways, & Hell if I Know (Pt 1.)

Famous last words: I’ll worry about it later. Have a seat and let me tell you the wild ride of how the plan went south.

Imagine if you will, midwest Appalachia start of fall, warm, hot dry day. Leaf’s are starting to change the grass is dead from the lack of rain. I am finishing up my 2 weeks notice at work. My last day a tornado warning was issued. And the entire facility had to shelter in place. Thankfully, the warning expired and all was well. I said goodbye to some great coworkers and walked out the door.

I got home and pitched those awful steel toed boots in the trash. I had a sniff of bourbon and watched it storm the rest of the evening. I played with the dogs and soaked up the thrill of freedom and anticipation of the move. I couldn’t wait to hold my grandbaby and get to know each other.

I’d only given myself a little over one week between finishing up my notice and moving. Brilliant I know. Had I really packed? Nope, I was driving down, so I could only take so much. On top of that I am a champion packing procrastinator. Plus, I would be going back and forth anyways, so I just went with it. Let the chaos ensue.

It had been a long time since I had time to just relax and enjoy being at home. All my PTO was spent on trips to see the grandbaby. So, this was the first real time off in longer than I can remember that I just got to be at home.

My brother at the time wasn’t well, so I spent a lot of time visiting with him and laughing and reminiscing. I enjoyed hanging out with the husband and being at home and practicing my golf swing. (It is still terrible.)

I set on the deck and enjoyed the beautiful night sky only midwest Appalachia can offer. The deep endless dark filled with stars. The woods with all its wonderful early fall sounds.

No, I am not afraid of what is in the Appalachian woods. But also, I don’t make it a habit of wondering into them after dark, either. There is nothing like it, so I soaked it all in.

At the same time Hurricane Helena was tearing through the Carolinas. I knew I would be driving through those states. I didn’t know what the conditions would be like. But I figured I had a navigation on my phone and a road atlas I would deal with it when and if it came to that.

I was power cleaning and in a fight for my life with a stain on a rug when my daughter called. She was a little home sick and had some time off. She wanted to fly home with the baby for a visit. I was more than thrilled to show of the grandbaby to the family.

Kudos to my daughter she is a world traveler and now she was going full boss mom and going to fly home with a 4 month old. She is my hero.

And don’t judge you ever live far away from all your family? It can be rough.

I was happy to push back the move. Anything to show off the grandbaby to the family. She flew home a few days later. My husband picked them up from the airport.

I was waiting at the door when they pulled in. The second I saw them; I grabbed the car seat from my daughter and ran straight into the house. It had been almost 2 month since we’d last seen each other.

I set the car seat down and just stared at my beautiful grandbaby. So perfect and small and asleep. The dogs were immediately curious about what was in the car seat. They got so excited and the big one yelped. Which of course woke up the baby.

The grandbaby locked eyes with me and gave me the most judgmental stare like “Who the heck are you? And what are those furry looking things?” Then that little lip pushed out, the tiny face scrunched up and went into a full blown fit.

For someone so small, they sure had a powerful set of lungs. Wow so loud. The dogs ran off, rightfully so.

Clearly, the baby wasn’t happy, suddenly in a new place, surrounded by furry four legged creatures with long tails. A woman smiling like a maniac staring at them. I could only imagine what was going through that little mind.

But soon, Momma came inside and got the baby calmed down. After a little while the baby warmed up to me and grandpa eventually falling a sleep in my arms. That felt like Heaven. If a baby has ever fallen asleep on you, you know there is no better feeling in the world.

We had planned a party for the family that weekend. Everyone was excited to finally get to meet the baby. I was excited for them to get to meet our little loud bundle of joy.

If you are wondering if I went full blown Lion King and the “Circle of Life” playing when I introduced the baby to the family? I absolutely did. Well, there was a little bear costume and song, not the face paint or wild animals. You get the idea. The baby took it like a champ and hammed up all the attention.

All the while, Tropical Storm Milton was gaining speed. For our own sanity, we decided it would be fine. They would fly home as scheduled and I would drive down the same day. We would figure things out from there.

I was praying for their safe flight, and the storm to turn.

Milton though had other plans. He beefed up, rebranded himself as a hurricane and flights started getting canceled.

And that’s when the real chaos began…

Part 2 next week. Until then. Thanks for making it to the end!!