Part 1

We had a bumpy start to our journey to Florida.  The Monday before we left Hubby took my car to the auto place because I was leaking oil and my car was giving off a strange electric smell.  The auto shop checked it out, said there was no leak and told him it would be fine to take to Fla.

Christmas morning I got in my car to attend church before we left for I-95 and my car refused to start.  It was dead.  It had power, but made a clicking sound whenever I tried to start it.  I assumed it was my starter and knew that it meant we would be taking Hubby's car.  My van may be old, but it is the luxury model of its brand and very comfortable to travel in.  Hubby's is an old mini-SUV with a definite....um....man smell.  We were bummed to say the least.  (We have since asked around and been sent to a new repair guy who only takes people through referral.  His shop is in an old neighborhood across from a goat farm.  I swear, I thought I needed a special handshake to get in.)

Anywho, we drove through pouring rain into the cold of night.  We thought that everything would be closed since it was Christmas day so we packed a picnic lunch to eat at a rest area.  Up until Sunday, we had been wearing shorts and short sleeves.  Not so Christmas night.  Let me tell you, that picnic was bitter cold!  We inhaled our food and got back on the road.   About 7PM E told us she desperately needed to pee.  It was an emergency!  We looked and looked but we were on a long and lonely stretch of highway through the low country.  Just when we thought E would be squatting on the side of the road we found an open gas station in the middle of nowhere.

Amazingly enough the restroom was fairly clean.  I had been so focused on following E into the store that I hadn't bothered to look at my surroundings.  It was scary!  The owners were blasting what I assume was Gangsta Rap.  I call it that because other than music that I hear booming from the local cars, I have never actually heard Gangsta Rap.  But as I became aware of my surroundings, the singer was beat boxing and rapping about having someone stick a di** up an *ss.  I wanted to just take my hands and cover E's ears.  But then I turned around and what we saw was so much worse!

There, dead center in the store for all to see, was a glass display case.  The case had an assortment of drug paraphernalia.  An entire shelf was dedicated to penis shaped Hookah pipes in a rainbow of colors.  I saw E's eyes go big as I started to drag her out of the store.  Now, I myself am not a stranger to certain illegal activities and I am not really a prude about sex objects.  I do watch Californication and True Blood, after all.  I even know what a Cleveland Steamer is.  I think it is disgusting, but I know what it is.    BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN A PENIS BONG TO E!!!!

So that was the start of our journey.  I myself love the first leg of a road trip because Hubby and I spend a lot of time talking and catching up with each other.  I just could have done without that strange experience.