The long road

I walked around downtown, noticed the glorious sunrise, and went back to the room before the sprinkles got too hard.

Enjoyed worship at the church where I grew up. Before worship, I slipped out and took a look at the sunday school area, which has not greatly changed in the last 60 years. New paint and curtains, but other than that it's all pretty much the same.
Met Jo Beth McCloud, the minister. Very few people that I know, but the congregation was not as tiny and elderly as it was when I was here 5 yrs ago. One friend mentioned that there were probably more Alpine High School graduates in the sanctuary than had been there in many years. Seems a strange thing to say, but AHS graduates generally don't stay after graduation and the new congregation members usually come from somewhere else. There were three AHS graduates from the reunion there, the gentleman who said that and his wife, and three others who live there, so that made 8 in a congregation of about 40 or so.
After worship, I showed off my Smart Car to several interested folks. And then I headed out................ I finished listening to the story on tape (actually on CD) by Dan Brown and then sang along with Elvis, the Kingston Trio, Hits from 1961, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Chicago, Seussical and Big River. I love driving down the freeway with the top down on my little car, it is so airy and cool.
Filled up with gas and stretched my legs at Odessa and Abilene.
Am soooo glad I took the hospital detour to see my friends. It was good for me to walk around and also to see them--and they were surprised to see me.

The drive from Abilene to Arlington was difficult in that the road was FILLED with 18 wheelers. I was surprised that the freeway was so crowded with traffic on Sunday evening. I left the hospital about 6:45 or so and the freeway was packed with trucks and cars. And I'm guessing that 60% of all the vehicles on the road were large truck.s I didn't have any trouble with the trucks, but they do take up lots of room and they were going faster than I do. I go the speed limit, or just a hair below, and they don't.

I got to Arlington at 9:30, having left Alpine at 12:30 I'm glad I went, but boy is my body stiff from all the sitting.