Good Old Boys.

Sweetie and flowers, they just went together.

Greetings from Lafayette, Louisiana, next stop, Pensacola. That is where I'll meet up with my daughters, and the rest of the crew. 

 So far, there have been some fun spots, like learning how to get through some of the intersections of freeway. Only getting lose now and then. Learning to turn down the radio as to be able to listen to the voice prompts along with the visual aids. Helps really, really well.

Tuesday

We got separated on the way here, and I ended up pulling off the highway to wait for my friends to catch up with me, also a good time for a body break, if you know what I mean. 

The hotel was next to a Popeye chicken restaurant, and so we walked over and got some dinner. Brought it back to the hotel, sat in the lobby and had dinner. Talked about what we are going to do in the morning.

 Pensacola isn't that far from where we are, so we won't be on the road very long, which means we will have time on our hands. If we get there too soon, we may not be able to check in. So, what to do. Will figure that and it will be what it will be.

Saving the best for last. After we ate, I headed for a meeting. If this wasn't a movie, I'd say the script was written for one. The meeting place was a half hour away, and it was a men's only meeting. Navigating to the meeting place, I went through some, how can I say this, rough area of town. It was as if I was transported into a movie, where I was in a place that I didn't fit in well. Me and Tweety stood out like sore thumbs. 

I did find the meeting place, a old run down house, with 4 men on the front porch. Pulled in, asked if this was the place, and they said yes. 

It was like no other meeting I've been to before. Imagine an old movie with a bunch of "Good Old Boys" sitting around tables, reading out of the Big Book, one paragraph at a time, and expanding on it. It was wonderful. They were so happy to have a new voice in the conversation, and I was drawn into their world. 

When I talked about Sweetie's passing, one of the men was struck by my telling of my story. He had lost his wife, and for years was angery and could not grieve. His anger wouldn't let him process it. 

We talked, and shared our pain, it was as if I was suppose to be there, that night, that time. 

Driver told me, "If you think that was good, just wait until you see the next time." I'm sure that He has some very good times awaiting me. As I sit, I have Sweetie's ashes with me, and I feel her joy in this trip. It is easier as we travel down this Road to Life, Keeping My Shiny Side Up. C'ya, Luv Ya, and God Bless. Arthur.