American Mothers, Inc. National Board Meeting Trip

Hi,

I left Louisville on Thursday for Burbank, CA with a lay over in Phoenix. Nobody told me I was flying directly into a huge tropical storm. YIKES! Our plane came in on a wing and a prayer in Phoenix...and that is where I was grounded.

I spent the night in Phoenix. Thank goodness there is always a good side to every story. Since my dad, niece, brother-in-law and nephew live in Phoenix I thought it would be great to see them. It didn't go quite that way...here is the story.

I get off the plane at 11:30. I board my connection at 12:00. We sit at the gate...we still sit. Burbank Airport is closed...we still sit. Now, Southwest is not flying any flights out of Phoenix. I'm stuck. I thought, "Hey, this isn't so bad ... I can see dad, Brenda, Jordan and Michelle, Robert, ..." I thought wrong. I made as many calls as I had numbers for, but I didn't even have everyone's phone numbers. I called Mark to get some, but still no answer. Finally, at 7:20 p.m. my dad calls back. I am already in a hotel by this point...had to book something. He comes over to the hotel despite the 60 mile hour winds blowing outside. We have a wonderful visit.

My fight leaves as scheduled the next morning and I finally arrive in Burbank to attend the American Mothers, Inc. National Board Meeting. Meetings go well, love visiting with other members and leaders. I decide I need to stay for the Saturday meetings since I came in late missing the Thursday meetings. This means, extending my stay and revising my flight. Done. Saturday's meetings ended around 12:30 p.m. and my flight doesn't leave Burbank until 2:30 p.m. on Sunday...what to do. I know...

rent a car and drive 2 1/2 hours to Ridgecrest, CA - where I grew up from ages 10.5-14. I drove out into the middle of the Majave Desert (there is nothing but sage brush and tumble weeds - no joke). Finally I see a small town down in the valley. It's Inyokern, Ridgecrest and China Lake Navel Weapon's Center. YAHOO! I drive straight to my house...like I still lived there. The people were so nice to let me walk around. I drive to all the places I used to go...church, Rainbow Girls, Johnny's Pizza Parlor, Penny's Pool, Albertson's Shopping Center...oh my goodness. Talk about a walk to remember. It was like I was that little girl again. Then I started to look up people that might still be there. I saw James and Danny Mower (my best friend's younger brothers) and Shirley Turner's (my other best friend) parents. Soon it was time to make that 2 1/2 hour drive back home.

What a great trip down memory lane. Although not all the memories were good, it was so nice to go back, after 30 years, to see the place I lived the longest in my life (before now).

Audios!