Day 22 August 2, 2009

Sunday morning at 8:00 AM we left Corbin, KY and headed toward Iowa Falls. Sunday traffic was fairly light around Lexington and Louisville and very manageable around Indianapolis. After a quick lunch at McDonald's in Danville, IL we kept the car headed north west and arrived in Iowa Falls at 7:00 PM.

We had a great trip. We drove 3450 miles and averaged 30 miles per gallon and paid an average of less than $2.39 a gallon for gas. Seeing everyone and spending time with them was great. Mom's elbow is recovering well and she is adjusting to the assisted living.

This is the end of our trip and the last of the blog. We hope to do some more traveling in September or October.

Gary and Marilyn

Day 21 August 1, 2009

Saturday August 1, 2009 is Mom's (Edna Zane Huffine) 80th birthday. We surprised her with an open house at Mark and Tammy's. After one of her favorite lunches (tacos), several visitors stopped by to wish her well. Juanita Holden, a neighbor and close friend from where we grew up came by for the afternoon and brought her two daughters Cherie and Vicky and a granddaughter Melissa.

Other visitors included a cousin Patsy Jaynes and her uncle John, Mom's old bosses Gerald and Sue from the Cherry Tree, the church's Pastor Ken and his wife, three ladies who were neighbors at the over 50 complex and Nancy from Erwin, TN where Mom and Dad lived for some time after moving from the country.

There were lots of fruits and vegetables to munch on as well as punch and birthday cake. Lots of laughs and old times were shared and many pictures taken. Mom was showered with cards and gifts and thoroughly had a good time. Many thanks to Mark and Tammy for the use of their beautiful home and there tireless work to make the day a rousing success. Afterward, we took a tired Mom back to Preston Place and got on the road and drove to Corbin, KY.

Day 20 July 31, 2009

Friday morning we drove two hours from Wytheville, VA to Kingsport, TN to visit Mom at the Preston Place assisted living. We went to lunch at a place called Fatz and then stopped at Panera Bread for coffee and dessert. Mom ate chocolate pie and we had a great scone!!

Afterward we spent the afternoon with Mom and then on to brother Mark and Tammy's place to visit a while before going out for pizza. Finished the last minute things for the big 80th birthday tomorrow!!