Wrap Up!

So, if the Tonight Show is past your bedtime, perhaps you’ve never seen Jimmy Fallon’s bit called “Thank You Notes”, in which (accompanied by wistfully sappy piano playing in the background https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z2…) he thanks random people, places and things. (Example: “Thank you … PopTarts … for being polite enough to assume I’ve actually got the emotional energy to put you in a toaster.” lol)

I’ve decided that a great way to wrap up all of my Big Road Trip stories will be to write similar Thank You notes! Here goes:

Thank You … God … for making such a beautiful world, especially the USA. It was such a treat to see so much of it on this trip. And thanks for the lovely fair weather! Yes, it was HOT … but it was JULY … in THE SOUTH. As I believe I’ve already said, I expected nothing less than oppressive! 🙂 During the 13 days I was on the road, I was driving in rain for a total of perhaps 1.5 hours.

Thank You … Marjorie Henderson Buell … for creating a character called “Little Lulu”. Creating story boards for Lulu on this (and other) trips has been great fun, and often providing hysterically funny results.

Thank You … every person who wished me “safe travels”, “safe driving”, “be careful” — and there were dozens, including many “strangers” — gas station clerks, an Uber driver, etc.! … I attribute my safe travels, in part, to your wishes, which gave me added confidence and blessings.

Thank You … my dear family … for caring enough to miss me, and to worry about me while I was out on the road. The worrying was completely unnecessary, but I understand. As my sister Alison told my dad, “She’s almost 60 years old, you don’t have to worry about her!” (LOL), but I know the concern came out of love! It was comforting and grounding to speak regularly with my Dad, telling him where in the world I was, and where I was going next. Thank you, specifically, John DeMan and Gerard DeMan — for holding down the fort while I was away, and not complaining about my absence. Next year, it’s a family trip! 🙂

Thank You … Sue, Marcie, Angi, Jeannette, Carol , and Vinny… for your friendship, your chauffering, your hospitality, your laughter, your tour guiding, your beautiful faces and spirits, and for being the reason I took this trip. You were my shining stars, the cherry on my sundae, the icing on my cake, and the air conditioning blowing in my face!

Thank You … Eric, Dow, Ken, and Charlie … for your friendship as well, and for indulging your wives’ generosity by inviting their cray-cray friend, Lorraine, into your homes & lives for however brief a visit. You all made me feel more than welcome! Thank you, too, Aidan, Michael, Pete and Fay, for welcoming this fat old girlfriend of Mom’s, and for riding in the car all over Oklahoma City for the benefit of my sight-seeing! It was great to finally meet you!

Thank You … Patsy Cline, Randy Travis, Celtic Woman, Donny Osmond, Anne Murray, Bette Midler & the TV cast of “Gypsy”, David Hyde Pierce & the Broadway cast of “Curtains” and the “Trio” of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris … for providing the music for my journey. You kept sane, AND kept me singing for 3,700+ miles!

Thank You … Zippy … my 2007 Honda Fit … for being a TRUE ROCK STAR. The statistics don’t lie: 15 states and 3,762.8 miles, and you were A-MAZ-ING. Still great on gas mileage, and perfectly comfortable, I can’t imagine having driven this trip in ANYTHING ELSE!

Thank You … people who name towns and cities in America … for the following names: Bucksnort, TN; Chunky, MS; Toomsuba, MS; Opelika, AL; Hurtsboro, AL; Cusseta, AL; Cowpens, SC; Butner, NC; and Dinwiddie, VA … not to mention the obsession with the town suffix “ville” in Tennessee, where I found (both east AND west of Nashville): Lawnville, Crossville, Gordonsville, Hartsville, Cookville, Smithville, McMinnville, Brownsville, Somerville, Lobelville, Centerville and Collierville. You kept me chuckling along my route!

Thank You … License Plate Game … for keeping me distracted and entertained while searching for different states’ plates. You always let me win! (LOL) To my fellow roadsters from 47 states (including DC), thank you for crossing my path during this trip … and for everyone who drives cars from Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho and Hawaii, where the heck were ya??? Next time drive a little more easterly, will ya?!? lol (And, YES!! On my LAST DAY OUT I found an Alaska license plate!!!)

Thank You … US Interstate Highway system … for your efficiency, your cleanliness, your rest stops, and your regular maintenance. Had I decided to take this trip during wagon train days, I would still be on my way to Nashville!

Thank You … “Doyle and Debbie” show at the world famous Station Inn in Nashville … you surprised me by being _the_ most entertaining show, as well as my favorite thing in the city! A good parody is worth its weight in gold, and this one is a GREAT parody of Country Music singers. If you’re in Nashville, GO!

Thank You … Jimmy the Sound Tech, in the “Make a Record” booth at the Ryman Auditorium … for being professional, and cool, and for taking the pictures of Lulu & I inside the recording booth. You made the recording experience really fun and special, and the CD of me singing “Walkin’ After Midnight” is awesome. 🙂

Thank You … Oklahoma sunflower “patch” … for being so breathtakingly beautiful. I have never seen, nor do I think I ever will again, a hundred acres of sunflowers in one place.

Thank You … Oklahoma City … for building the National Memorial. Words will never suffice.

Thank You … National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth, TX … for your “Interactive Bronco Ride” activity. The 22 second movie, featuring me smiling, holding up Lulu, and saying “Oh, I hope I don’t fall off!” while perched upon a completely stationary bronco horse, has become an instant classic, and one of the funniest things EVAH!!

Thank You … Alabama Rte US 80 … for REALLY SHOWING US your state. If you’re ever driving through Alabama, and have the choice, PLEASE choose US 80 over I-20! While it may cost you a tiny bit of extra time to cross the state, you’ll be MUCH happier for doing so!

Thank You … CNN Studio Tour ticket agent … for NOT making me feel like a doofus or an idiot because my ticket voucher was for the wrong date. You gave a GOOD NAME to ticket agents everywhere when you smiled, and just issued me a ticket for the day I was there! You gave me the gift of sheer relief, and let me enjoy the CNN Studio Tour even more.

And finally … Thank You … my Facebook friends & followers, and my blog readers … for following, and reading, and enjoying. When silly or funny or touching or interesting or unusual or hilarious things happened, I couldn’t WAIT to write about it and share with you!!