Road Warrior - Two Ships Passing in the Night

Traveling for ones job does have its disadvantages. My fiance' and I both travel, sometimes we work together, sometimes not. We try to take advantage of what little time we are able to spend together. This week has been very "trying". We tried to meet up after a long week at our frequent Saturday night spot. "I'll meet you in about forty minutes" he said, "I'll call when I get close". Anxious to meet up with him after a long grueling week, I timed it so I would arrive at our destination in "forty minutes".

I was right on time, but no Tony. After a couple of minutes of waiting I received a call. He had tried to surprise me, thinking we could ride together. So, I drove home and we did drive together. However the same week, Tony was working in Cedar Rapids, I was working in the Quad Cities and would be passing through Cedar Rapids on the way. I thought it would be a nice surprise to wake him and snuggle for a while before continuing on.

I had left early and timed it so I'd have about an hour to spend with my honey. I arrived at the hotel but not knowing what room he was in, I called, twice and got no answer. I waited about ten minutes for him to get my message, expecting him to pop out one of the doors (I was parked next to his van). No response! I finally went to the lobby and had the desk clerk ring his room and she handed me the phone. Tony picked up the phone and hung it right back up. The desk clerk asked if I wanted her to try again. At this point, I felt like a stalker and with my head down and tail between my legs, I left. Later I would find that he thought it was his wake up call and his phone was dead.

On occasion our rendezvous do work out. On my birthday this year, Tony surprised me with a visit while I was working in Southern Iowa and he was working nearby, although "working nearby" can mean an hours drive. The lady at the front desk of the hotel let him stay at no charge and then in the morning, he was on his way to where he needed to be.

Sometimes, our arrivals home can be sweetly, synchronistic! Just a few weeks ago we converged at the same exit, at the same time, we could see each other's vehicles from across the road, what are the chances of that? For the most part, we manage to meet at our Saturday night, dinner spot, within minutes of each other. A few other popular "arriving home" activities are, catching the sunset on the lake or a bon-fire and grilling out (even if it is at 1:00am and there is a foot of snow on the ground).

It is the little things that mean a lot in our relationship. I leave notes and mail post cards from my destinations. Now, having moved up in the world, having added unlimited text and picture messaging to our phone plan, being six hours away from each other doesn't seem so extreme. Tony sends me texts with pics and sound and an occasional 15 second video.

Being on the road, with little time together can be an issue for some couples. I've seen co-workers come and go and listen to them gripe and complain about the situation at home but in the bigger picture, what is more important? Sundays, sometimes being our only day off, the dishes, cleaning, laundry and shopping manage to get done or sometimes not but it is "our" day and we don't make a big deal out of it. Sure, there is a lot to be done around a house but we make the best use of the time we have. Tony likes to sleep in, I am an early riser. By the time I get the dishes and the laundry done, he's awake and I get to spend the rest of the day with him. If he's out doing yard work, I'm getting other things done or taking a bath and reading a book. We don't whine or complain, life is too short! We just make the best of it! And it works wonderfully!

Road Warrior - Closed for the Season

Twenty-five miles West of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, my camera in my lap, ready to shoot, I happened upon an unusual sight. A large Bulls head protruding from the landscape. I classified it as a "must stop" and exited to investigate. It was only 1/2 mile from the exit, not too far out of my way.

"Porter Sculpture Park" was "closed for the season"! It seems a recurring dilemma for me. The same thing happened when I was passing through Mason City, Iowa last year when I went to visit a Frank Lloyd Wright Home; "closed for the season". Ironically, I live right next door in Clear Lake, as of this past weekend.

When I arrived at my destination; Yankton, South Dakota, I checked into my hotel and asked for directions to the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center on the Missouri River. I arrived just before closing and browsed the gift shop before I had to leave. I had passed a fish hatchery and aquarium on my way and planned on stopping on my way back. Unfortunately it had closed about the time I was passing it the first time.

I hope that isn't my luck in the future. Its been weighing heavy on my mind; being too late!

Footnote: I just returned from another trip to South Dakota, this time Pierre, however once again, it was "off season" for Porters Sculpture Park. Someday!

Hope

When we put up the Christmas Tree after Thanksgiving, we had to purchase new ornaments, mine were buried in my storage unit. Aside from them being buried, it just didn't seem right to hang all the old ornaments from Christmas' past. The past was long gone and I had been sadly hanging onto it.

Its amazing how in an instant, the path you are on can fork with a prong that wasn't there before, it just suddenly appears and takes you in a totally different direction. Though unexpected, in November my entire life changed. Work was going great, my son had started college in the fall. Life was becoming "OK" but meeting someone special had made it even better. Things were looking up!

When my son and I went shopping, we decided on the theme of "Hope" for the tree's decor. "Hope" for the new year; that it will be one of new beginnings. How do you convey "Hope" through ornaments you may ask? We covered the tree with butterflies, for new beginnings, musical notes, for the beautiful music that would be made in the coming year and of course, ornaments that said "Hope".

My tree had not been erected for at least four years. It is a large tree and my loft apartment was large enough to accommodate it and besides, I actually felt like celebrating Christmas. While I put it together, my son played the guitar for me. It was a precious memory that I will cherish and recorded with my camera. My son and his fiance' trimmed the tree the following day, they both had a fabulous time of their own.

We celebrated Christmas the week before and the kids and Grand kids were here. They all had a wonderful time and the apartment was filled with joyful energy. Laughter was heard throughout the evening. It was the best Christmas I could recall having since I was a little girl and we were camping at Disney World in Florida.

Come January, the winter had already been harsh. Schedules at work slowed and sometimes canceled due to poor weather. In February, I had surgery and missed more work. It looked for a moment like I was going to lose the apartment. Fortunately I had help from the new beau and income taxes came. I am still paying my bills with my income tax return but there is "Hope" in sight. Work is picking up gradually but with my lease coming to and end, I had to make some tough choices.

I've never lived anywhere but here in my hometown but was invited to live with my boyfriend, three and a half hours away, just for the summer until I could get back on my feet. I sat my son down and we discussed the options and he told me to do what I had to do. And now I am in the process of doing it.

I finally took down the tree this week, three months after Christmas. I enjoyed looking at it and still turned on the lights when I was able to be home. It was melancholy, not just because I am moving again (for the sixth time in three years) but because now my son is angry I am leaving and he is not speaking to me, despite the fact it was only to be a temporary situation and we had already discussed the possibility it might happen.

However, good always seems to come from the bad. I don't know what it is, we never know until we have the hindsight to look back and say, "I'm glad that happened", that's what "Hope" is; the ability to take any given situation and "Hope" it gets better. I still have "Hope" that this will be a great year. Sometimes its our loved ones that make it what it is. It's never as bad as it seems when they are there beside us and supportive.

I don't remember the struggles I've had so far this year. What I do remember is Christmas, being snowed in and watching movies, snuggled on the couch and eating lots of cake, the squeals and laughter of my Grandsons and kids playing and being thankful that my taxes came when they did. I "Hope" my son comes around and realizes that half the battle, half the struggles in life, are with our own attitudes and how we perceive and react to situations.

I love my family and friends. I am truly blessed. I could have the worst year ever this year, but I will choose to remember the best parts!

Footnote: I didn't post this blog after writing it, I had forgotten about it with my busy schedule but with Christmas right around the corner again, I thought it appropriate and the good news is, my son is speaking to me again, and as I suspected, good has come of it! My son has become more independent, I have paid my bills and have been able to build a savings for the upcoming slow season. It was a very good year but it went way too fast!

Road Warrior - Home Visiting the Family

The first visit back home, since I've moved to Clear Lake, IA. We booked a room with a pool and made an afternoon of it...

Road Warrior - Independence Day, 2010

Come with Tony and myself, on our journey to Independence, Mo. to visit friends and set off fireworks. FUN was had many! - Ha!

Making this movie, for Tony, wasn't half-bad either... considering, he knew NOTHING about digital movie production, until a couple of days ago; So, this is his first contribution to Hall-Stras Productions.

Hopefully, you'll enjoy viewing this 'diddy' nearly as much as it was to light up the night sky, on July 4th.


Thanks for watching!


Liz & Tony :)

Quote of the Day

My fiance' made this statement on aging that I thought was worthy of sharing....


"Sometimes I feel like I'm 58 and sometimes I feel 28...that must be what it feels like to be 44."
- Anthony Strasmann

Static

By Elizabeth A. Hall

Matching double beds stare back

from the static screen, of the black TV

as I lay and tap the keys on my laptop.

My day was over hours ago

but the challenge is the night;

sixteen hours of idle time.

The butts in the ashtray pile high.

Distracted, I wait for your call.

I've listened to your doleful message,

repeatedly, there's no response to mine.

Water from a flimsy plastic cup

tastes like strange city.

I don't feel like getting up, instead,

crunch on the ice from the bucket;

drowning the sound of slamming doors

and traffic. Dinner is dispensed

from the first floor vending machine;

the finest cuisine a few coins can buy.

I have to ground myself for fear of shock.

A single setting on the heater; "hot and dry";

generates more static.

© Elizabeth A. Hall, 2010, all rights reserved.