Five Favorite Things from the Road, the Last Leg: June 20th

Margarette:

1. Slept great in an unknown town!

2. Reminiscing about the trip as we drove

3. Loved having Jason (the AARP videographer) with us again

4. Picking Dene up at airport in the great big truck

5. The thrill of coming home and having an 18 wheeler in the driveway and my husband in the house

6. The best thing...going back...was when we went into the first nursing home we went into where the people were terribly sick...I said to myself, "Dear God, put into my brain what I need to say to these people" suddenly out of the blue came to me to quote Rose Kennedy. It really spoke to them. I haven't thought of that in some 30 years. It was the perfect thing. I talked about making the most of where you are regardless of where that is.

Annabella: 

1.  Waking up in an unplanned overnight stop and not needing to know where we were, only where we were going

2.  Spending some time reflecting on the trip, going down memory lane while we were going down the highway

3.  Picking Dene up at the airport

4.  Having a blast at the nursing home in Ocala-- great people there and really fun party

5.  Arriving at Margarette's house safe and sound 45 minutes ahead of schedule as we did for the whole trip

Five Favorite Things from the Road, June 19th

Margarette:

1) Taking our time in the morning

2) Bumpy roads of LA that cracked our souvenirs

3) Reflecting about the entire trip last night w Anabella

4) Meeting the people of the Slidell, LA TA truck stop

5) I love sleeping in the truck, it had all the comforts of home...except a restroom. I love peeing between the truck and the cab.

 Annabella:

1) Waking up and hearing Margarette's joy after having slept in the truck

2) Having a quiet day, spending a lot of time in silence then recounting our days out here

3) TA truck stop in Slidell had a perfect steak and eggs

4) Meeting a former Marine trucker in Slidell and thanking him for service with offering to buy him lunch

5) Watching the Panama City police confront the shop owner that refused our truck parking job

Five Favorite Things from the Road, June 18th

Margarette:
1) Texas is a gorgeous state!

2) Meeting Annabella's friend Terry

3) Having some time to rest

4) Meeting a driver whose son went to Orlando water parks as part of Make a Wish right before he died

5) Sleeping in the truck last night. I loved it! Trucking is not for the weak. I was by myself in the middle of a field and slept like a baby

Annabella:
1) Hitting the road to Houston where I would be reconnecting with a long, long lost friend

2) Getting there and seeing my friend for the first time in 29 years. Terry, you look great.

3) Stumbling across those presidential busts while looking for a place to turn around

4) Time to decompress

5) Setting Margarette up to sleep in the truck and knowing she would love it. It is like sharing one's greatest treasure with a trusted friend.

Five Favorite Things from the Road, June 17

Margarette:

 1) Slept until 9:30 this morning

2) Hollered and whooped all day with my friends Annabella and Cass Forkin

3) Going to Pepe's on Ozona, TX, and eating at Pepe's.

4) Throwing three pennies in the fountain.

5) Receiving the truck inspection sheet from the shop at the San Antonio T/A with my name in the driver's spot. I'm going to frame it.

 Annabella:

 1) Enjoying the lively conversation in the truck with Cass and Margarette.

2) Getting off the road for an unplanned lunch stop in Ozona, TX and stumbling into Pepe's. It was a museum filled with the owner's artwork. And the food was delicious.

3) Walking up to the register at Pepe's while a senior was getting ready to pay and telling her we were paying for her and her companion's lunch. She said we couldn't do that and the cashier talked her into it. She started to cry with surprise and gratitude. It melted my heart

4) Pulling into the TA in San Antonio and meeting Vanessa Hernandez, the first woman general manager I ever met.

5) Our reception at the TA here. You guys are great!

Five Favorite Things from the Road, June 16:

Margarette:

1) Nice hotel & breakfast in Tucson. Thank you Viscount.

2) Great party at Armory Senior Center in Tucson.

3) T/A in Willcox. Great reception, gift basket with out of sight stuff, cake and really nice people. Thank you Becky and Ruben for helping me with the dip stick, windows and gas on our new tractor

4) T/A in Las Cruces went above and beyond. Juan-15 dogs, 11 children- awesome man and loved his attitude. He can not fail.

5) Pulling into hotel at Van Horn late at night when all the world was asleep. We bravely marched into the Hampton Inn leaving our partner in crime to sleep on the truck. Good night, Cass.

Annabella:

1) Incredible breakfast spread at Viscount in Tucson. Nice place.

2) Pulling up on sidewalk in front of Armory Senior Center to park rig on their sidewalk for the party. That was cool.

3) Seeing a good friend from PA who had recently moves to Tucson and came to the party. You look great, Ellie. It was wonderful seeing you again.

4) I loved how Ruben at the T/A

in Wilcox, AZ looked atMargarette as she climbed onto the engine to wash the windshield. You could have loaded a ping pong ball in his mouth! You are a wonderful man, Ruben.

5) Meeting Mr. Tubbs, an appropriately named black pug who was born, raised and living on trucks.

Thank you to everyone who works at the T/A's in Wilcox and Las Cruces. You made Margarette's dream experience richer for your kindness. The blessings are flowing so abundantly we can't possibly express our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this wish granting. "Bring it on" she says.