Arkansas, Oklahoma, Hooters, a Sheriff and the Big Reveal. So continues the Road Trip Across America and back with the Rogue, mid-pandemic, and post divorce finalizing. This episode was a wild ride, full of unexpected twists and turns, highs and lows. Come along on this stretch of the journey!
ARKANSAS
June 21, 2021 – After three weeks in Nashville, it was time to begin the return journey back to California. The Rogue and I drove to Little Rock, Arkansas and spent the night. Nice dinner at BJs. Lots of work to catch up on.
Hooters for Euro Cup
The next morning, we drove to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to a Hooters (haha) to watch the last Scotland-Croatia game for Euro Cup, sporting our Scotland tops. Sadly they lost. Fun bonding experience nonetheless. Overall we are good travel buddies. Get along quite well on the road.
Sirens and the Sheriff
On the way there, we ended up on back country roads. All of a sudden there’s a siren behind me. It’s a small town sheriff pulling me over! Out he swaggers in his cowboy hat. “M’am…” I doubt he’s ever seen a Scottish lad and a California woman on his turf. He never said what I did wrong, but he let me go with a warning. Shwew! (Pretty sure there’s a secret long lost photo of this escapade, but alas can’t find it now.)
OKLAHOMA
Tuesday. June 22. After the Euro Cup loss for Scotland, we crossed into Oklahoma. Dodgy sketchy areas, but also farmland.
Drove to Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Birthplace of my mom. So cool being in her hometown. Walking in her footsteps, and my grandparents’. Saw her childhood home and her grandparents’. Their houses are still there. Grandma’s high school. Her church. It’s a seedy little town now. Sadly the downtown historic parts were abandoned and crime ridden. Could’ve been cute. Hard to even find a restaurant. Finally found a Mexican one, fairly decent. Stayed at a Best Western; hoping car is ok in the parking lot.
Wednesday, June 23 – Midwest City, Oklahoma Wow, what a day. Daughter’s self-tape audition in LA. Worked hard and rearranged schedule to Zoom with her to read lines in the Best Western “business center”.
Driving towards Great Aunt Jean in Midwest City, Oklahoma.
T1 and T2
Ate at a Chilis before the visit. Bombshell text from Ex with no warning whatsoever. He’s “seeing T2”. Old friend of mine, kindergarten moms together. Took our kids to concerts. Out on triple dates. Mind blown. My gut had said it was someone I knew. Betrayal over and over again. Kids have known for a few weeks. Do our mutual friends? Who else? I’m disgusted. In my house. In my things. This goes back to early stages in divorce, living in Quarantine Cottage during lockdown. Loretta and I would go to the family home, which was still half mine, and do our laundry. We would find long black female hairs, a mask with makeup, a female jacket. In my house. She will be forever called T2 since Ex’s original woman had the same name and thus shall be known as T1.
Rogue has been incredible support. I had to quickly regroup, not an easy task, for the mission at hand.
Great Aunt Jean
Journey to the past continues. I had the great pleasure of visiting my last living Great Aunt, Jean (96 years young!), my grandma’s best friend and sister-in-law. (Just so happens it’s the 25th anniversary of my grandma’s passing). She was married to my grandpa’s brother (pictured). They were the super handsome Goodman brothers. Singers, guitar players, played on the radio. Went in the Service together. Aunt Jean told me the stories of when she lived with my grandma while their hubbies were off in the military. Jean is so sharp and together.
She told a story about when my grandpa babysat my son, and my son got mad (probably 4 years old) and said, “I don’t like you very much Grandpa”, and my Grandpa retorted, “Well I don’t like you very much either!” Jean giggled away. She had a stack of ten books next to her; reads ten a month from the local library. (Note to self – read more!). Bonus, I got to see her storm cellar that hadn’t been opened in years (creepy!). Her grandson Mitch who lives with her ripped the door off to show it. He tried to make the Rogue go down in the web covered abyss. Mitch is a distant cousin I’d never met. Road trips and the nomad life give a glimpse into another world. What a gift to get a hug. Felt like I was seeing my grandma again.
(Sad post script – Mitch died soon thereafter, from a medical condition, and just recently Aunt Jean passed as well. I’m so grateful I had this opportunity to visit them in person.)
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