The Journey Begins!

On the road finally!  What a whirlwind the last week before we left, surreal and rushed.  One minute we were living comfortable in our home in Olive Branch, Savage Manor, and the next we were rushing to move, to store and sell our possessions, and to plan our travels.  The four of us were literally homeless (and still are).  Our daughters, Sofiah and Kaia, jumped from my brother’s house to a friend’s house and then to grandma’s and back.  My wife and I stayed with friends and family as well.  They cooked for us, helped us move, and provided moral support in a way that made us feel loved and wanted.  We were almost sorry and scared to leave.

There were so many loose ends to tie up, especially after living in the Memphis area for most of our lives.  We had to close accounts, forward mail, pay bills, say goodbye to family and friends, and whittle our belongings to such a small amount that we could fit them all in one vehicle.  Driving two automobiles was not an option.  Even though we had two well running, newer autos we wanted one with a bit more cargo space, but mostly we wanted to spend more time together as family.  Taking two cars would be so much trouble!  Coordinating parking, each of us driving for hours without rest, more money for gas…

Honda reluctantly traded our two autos for one, not a deal in my mind, but the salesman was noticeably upset because he made little or no commission.   Our 2011 CRV and a 2013 Accord were traded for our new CRV with the crossbars on top.  We equipped it with a THULE storage box on top which fit more inside than we expected and so we were excited.  Closer by the minute we came to our goal, our dream of leaving the South behind and exploring the country, the world.

Finally, after piling a storage unit to the ceiling with the remainder of our belongings (even after selling so much!) we were ready for the adventure of a lifetime, the stuff dreams are made of.  The four of us, together as family, 24-7, exploring the country, left for Missoula, Montana.  We have a little more than two weeks to get there so we can take our time along the way, hopefully seeing as much as possible, but also relaxing and getting intimate with the best the country has to offer.  Follow us as we begin our adventures!