Traveling Thoughs....

My family moved from WI to CA this week.....somewhat of an epic for a family of 3 (well 5 really, little brother came along and Harvey the cat, who will arrive shortly...more on that later).

Being the 'experienced' traveler....I drove the family car out (packed tightly with the valuables you wouldn't trust a moving company with) and little bro followed in his car behind. Mom and Drew took the plane with Gramma....

I have driven from WI to CA now four times (three times on Hwy 80, and the other heading south through AZ, NM, etc. What I find amazing about these trips (as I type in Reno, on the last short leg of this journey) is how much the world changes. When you drive for 25 hours in two days, you tend to think about anything and everything. My thoughts traveled as far as the car did this time.....

First, technology is amazing. Cells phones and coverage have changed the security, and landscape of long distance travel. Walkie Talkies can now transmit dialogue over 10+ miles....(BTW, if you do road trip with multiple vehicles, invest in these...it makes things more fun and safe).....and you never really need to take a day off work if you rely on a pc. There's cell coverage in Wyoming (yes sir, even cowboys carry them), there's wireless, or high-speed Internet at every hotel, and our cars now tell us exactly how many miles we can travel on a tank of gas. I truly cannot begin to imagine what it was like to travel this way in a 1950's Ford, on a dirt road, where the next gas station may not be for a hundred or two miles.....and should you not make that station...the walk is inevitable. Props to the early travelers for sure....

Secondly, time in the car is great when you are under stress. We are building a home, moving across the country, renting another home, using a moving company, etc... This can weigh on folks fast....trust me on this. Being in the car, thinking about things over and over, one can come to conclusions and debate well. I ran through things time and time again...and always seemed to come to the same conclusion (much thanks to the lady at the BP station in far west Nebraska); We all have way too much to be thankful for to sweat the THINGS in life. I have a beautiful kid who's personality is growing everyday.....I have a spectacular wife who deals with my BS and takes care of us all....and I have a family that will truly miss my bro and I back home. My new house could crumble...the moving company dump my shit somewhere in Nevada's desert, and my car not start ever again, and I will still be winning the race of life. Folks, when you think things are overwhelming, you get bogged down some (not to sound like shitbag Dr. Phil here), really think about what you HAVE....not what you can replace...it's a great motivator.

Moving on.....never say good-bye. Thinking through this in Colorado...I am sticking to my ways. I am not a good-bye person. Good-byes, well they suck. Good-bye to me is, so long...not going to see your ass again. Good-bye is when you say, we'll see you soon, and you are full of shit. I don't say it....hug, hand shake, and a "until next time" works well for me. Leaving a place where you grew up (again), where you built life-long friendships, is not easy....don't add to the difficulty with a shitty good-bye.

Speaking of friends...Clint James...you are a damn good one. I have been blessed with many good ones...and a handful of GREAT. Good thing I have two hands...cuz a new one was added. You always say it big guy...."I owe you one...or more."

Lastly for now (need breakfast soon), Harvey. Harvey is the Skogen family pet. He's a skittish cat, now 6 years old, who spends a lot of his life under the bed, in his self-made hammock (he rips a hole in the box spring cover and settles in. This is also his, "they are coming to take me to the vet or on a plane again!!!! RUN!" place to hide. Harvey found this place at my mom's house and didn't want to make the trip on the plane. To make a long story short....even my "highly experienced" neighbor couldn't help my mother-in-law, wife, and mother to get him in the travel bag. In fact he bit my mom, and refused, angrily, to cooperate. He'll make it out here on a plane, but this time, based on his decision making, he'll be with the baggage. Serves him right if you ask me...if not for my wife, he'd be getting used to WI winters.

All for now...hope you all travel well and think even better....