Sometimes I get stuck in thinking the only valid way to take a vacation is to plan an entire week of exploring places I've never been before. That's a lovely experience and something I enjoy greatly -- but I have to be reminded that a weekend trip, even to an area I've been to many … Continue reading OKC Weekend – Part I
On Friday, I got shot. har har har My second COVID-19 Vaccine shot, that is! I spent most of Saturday feeling like I'd just barely avoided hangover and didn't quite make it. That's good - and today I woke up feeling completely normal. Normal enough for a little bit of driving - so I set … Continue reading Renewal in Osage County
It's odd how the days in 2020 seem to stretch on forever, yet at the same time they become a compressed, jumbled mess in my memory. A lot of that is COVID, sure, but part of that is grief and other stresses. The last few months I've done some scattered traveling but all of my … Continue reading Pieces of the Road
The vast majority of travelers that spend time on Historic Route 66 are familiar with the 2006 Disney/Pixar film Cars. The animated movie tells the story of Lightning McQueen, a race car that finds himself stuck in the small western Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. The town is the home of many colorful characters … Continue reading The Cars Story and Route 66
A few days ago, Tulsa's city council passed an ordinance that requires masks to be worn at all times in public to help curb the spread of COVID-19. As is the case everywhere in this country right now, it was met with a mixture of support and anger. I've wondered how Tulsa dealt with the … Continue reading Tulsa’s Experience: The Influenza of 1918
We had Mom's services today in Barnsdall, Oklahoma. It's the town where she grew up and a place that she dearly loved. About 30 of us gathered together under a small awning at the new cemetery. That's a real small-town direction, isn't it? "It's not at the OLD cemetery, it's at the NEW cemetery!" Most … Continue reading Remembering Lory Martin
I miss a lot of things in the COVID-19 World. I miss seeing my friends, I miss taking road trips, I miss eating out. One of the things I miss most, at least the way it used to be, is grocery shopping. For most of my adult life, it's been an almost spiritual experience. I … Continue reading Comfort Foods
On March 20, 2020 I made an impulse purchase. It had been eight days since Mom's unexpected passing. My brother and I had decided to postpone the services due to COVID-19. Her ashes had just been placed on the fireplace, next to her Dad's mandolin and her Mom's tambourine, where they still wait for interment. … Continue reading Animal Crossing
This is an emotional, personal post. I'm not sure when I'll return to my travelogues, especially considering current events. Just a heads up! On Thursday, March 12th, I learned that my sweet mother passed away. It still doesn't feel real; the news was completely unexpected. We have had to postpone her services due to a … Continue reading Dearly Departed
Originally posted to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association blog on 11/7/19 When it was announced this summer that the contents of Afton Station were going to be auctioned off, I was tremendously sad. Afton Station had been a great asset to Route 66, not just in northeast Oklahoma but throughout all 2400+ miles. It wasn't … Continue reading The Waldmire U-Haul
Rhys' Pieces 