Checking in from Fort Worth

We left on Tuesday afternoon shortly after 4:30 PM with no hassles. I'm a little bummed that I didn't really get to say goodbye to a couple of people before blowing out of town but that's just the way it had to be. I was very sad as we pulled out of Chandler...I love Arizona and of everywhere I've lived, it's really the place where I feel most comfortable and feel most like "the real me." I could definitely see coming back here to live some day, and I'll most certainly be back to visit. Is it March 2006 yet?

Tuesday was a short night, as we were both tired. We stopped at a janky hotel in Wilcox (I think?), near the Arizona/New Mexico state border. Chalk up night number two in a row of crappy sleep for me. Meanwhile, my driver was up and getting ready by 5:20 AM. He's an early riser. Me...not so much. But he's driving so we're definitely working on his schedule, so we were in the car and on the road by 5:45 AM. The highlight of the morning was definitely the McGriddle sandwich that I scarfed for breakfast. How have I not had one of these before? Absurd. I could practically feel my arteries hardening but it hit the spot.

Through the day, we burned through seven CDs of the audiobook to Ian McEwen's novel "Saturday," about a day in the life of a London neurosurgeon. It's a little dry but well written and entertaining enough. I napped off and on throughout and clearly I didn't miss much. I think that the author went on for a good ten minutes with an in-depth description of the protagonist's fish stew recipe. We saved the last two discs for tomorrow and I'm eager to see how it ends.

I thought that we'd end up stopping early in Abilene but Dad was feeling good and wanted to get to the eastern side of Dallas tonight so that we wouldn't have to deal with AM rush hour traffic there tomorrow. But we ended up calling an audible after a fresh-faced Texas Highway Patrol officer pulled us over, informing us that one of the lights on the tow dolly was out. Honestly, the guy looked about 12. But he let us go with a warning and we decided not to push our luck so we're set up at a Courtesy Inn here in Fort Worth...and with internet access for the first time since we left. Beautiful!

We should arrive in Little Rock tomorrow morning, based on Dad's insane schedule. He's hell bent on getting back to Memphis in time for a good dinner with some good wine with Mom, and man, does he deserve it. He's been absolutely awesome about everything. Me? It looks like happy hour with the Hillises in Little Rock!