6093-6085

Been away for just over a week. Took trip back to Memphis to visit with my sister and see some friends. Was an eventful trip, almost from the moment of arrival. But the journey began with a long plane ride and associated dislocations. Had to fly to Atlanta and then make a connection to get back to Memphis. 4.5+ hours to Atlanta on a packed flight that, by the way, flew over Memphis. Delta routing.

Once I got to Memphis, I picked up a rental car and immediately got terminally lost trying to get to my sister's home. After traversing most of the roads in North Mississippi, my sister finally had to come meet me and guide me to her place. It was my fault. I just screwed up the directions the rental agent gave me. I wasn't thinking clearly, which was more than evident by the time this trip concluded. My brain just isn't processing very well, but more on that later.

When my sister drove up to where I was waiting for her, the incidental light from the headlights illuminated her face. I'd never thought of my sister's face looking much like our mother, but in that flash of light it looked like our mother was driving up to meet me. A shock went through my system when I saw her face. There was a moment in which I wasn't sure that I wanted to follow this ghost to wherever it was going.

I did follow her and after regressing many of the roads I had already traversed, we came to the house. Big place. An "estate" if it were in California--a modest huge dwelling there in Memphis.

There's much more to relate. The 7+ days there, yesterday and today here, were filled with stuff that dealt with the hurricanes, food (Southern Style), visiting with friends, riding around the area, meeting people, and much more. Will pick up the thread in the morrow and continue the tale--after I return from the beach in the morning. Have to go say hello to the sea now that I've partially recovered from the trip.

Good to be back home--humble as it may be. But may soon be on the road again. Will say more on this as the trip saga is unrolled.