A day 4 years in the making...

We awoke Wednesday to the birds chirping and the skies clear and blue. Maybe it was going to be the perfect day. We cruised the Dart over to my brothers house for a good cleaning. As we have come to expect, we heard "really nice car" from several of the neighbors and passing folks. After it was all prettied up, we dropped the top and headed to a local hot dog stand to meet with my great friend Jack and his kids, as well as my cousin Bill who drove down from the Cape to see us. Thank you both! After we ate it was time to drive out to see Marie, John's mom.

This was the moment that i looked forward to with so much mixed emotion. Since i had not lived in CT for over 22 years my sense of direction was a bit rusty and my trusty navigator, Regina, was working the map program from the Ipad. As we cruised into Thomaston we rode past the garage where the Dart spent it's time while in CT. It was John's grandmothers house. It was here that the tears started. The Dart has proven itself by traveling 2,700 miles across the country to the point of beginning without any problems. A short distance later we were at Marie's driveway. I had to stop at the beginning of the driveway to compose myself before shifting to first and driving up the long driveway to the house. We parked to best take advantage of the light and the view from the stairs. We crested the long stairway up to the house and knocked. Several times. Marie was a nervous as I was. She invited us in and closed the door behind her, not wanting to face what awaited in the driveway just yet. Marie, Regina and I chatted for a while and Richard arrived (everyone remember Richard from early in the story?, good.) Since Richard parked in the driveway he had already seen the car. He and I spoke about the car for a few minutes while Marie was out of the room, then i mentioned that she had not seen it yet. So now the four us us were chatting and after a while Marie stood up and said "I'm ready to go down now."

She walked down the stairs never looking up until she reached the bottom and was standing directly in front of the car. She made it known that she was very proud of what i had done and loved the car. This was our special time to share together. Marie, Richard, Regina and I stood around the car for a while talking.

We returned back to the house to chat some more. Elizabeth and Marie, John's sisters were expected to join us after work. Marie and her husband were the first to arrive, and a short while later Liz showed up. They had both seen the car in the driveway and took the "self guided tour". After dinner at the house we all went down to the driveway before dark. I think we covered every detail about the car and the appreciation from the family was overwhelming. I think we all agreed that John was looking down and smiling upon us. Marie, Richard, Elizabeth and Marie, thank you all so much. As i had said, getting the car to Thomaston only gets me to the start of the entire trip. John always said that he wanted to drive TO Arizona. So for John, the journey begins on Monday, which is the 21st anniversary of his death. Miss you my friend.

Marie:

Marie

 

 

Elizabeth

 

 

 

The car all prettied up at my brothers house. In Arizona we don't have much chance for pictures with flowers, or trees, or even grass for that matter.

 

Back at our accommodations for the night. I sat on a bench behind the car, in the dark, in the quiet. Smoked a cigar and listed to the creatures of the night. Once again the world was in perfect balance. Back in the room i got the best night's sleep I've had the entire trip!!

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