Day1

I'm halfway to San Antonio.  I drove 700 miles today and had smooth sailing nearly the whole way.  Despite multiple episodes of gut-wrenching sobs, I've made it to Oklahoma.  Tomorrow's drive shouldn't be too bad, as long as I can see through my continued tears. 

Along the way, I saw miles and miles of barren farmland.  I also saw signs for the "Vacuum Cleaner Museum."  Who would go to a museum about vacuum cleaners?  Just before I hit St. Louis, my sister Lori called.  She suggested that I take a detour to see the Arch.  Here are a few pictures for you, Ree.



It really seemed closer than this picture.

 About 3 hours before I stopped for the night, my niece called.  She informed me that they were having meatloaf and "mashed potatoes to die for" for dinner.  Yummmy!  Of course, that put a hankering for meatloaf in my mind.  The diner I had dinner at tonight had meatloaf and mashed potatoes as their special.  I thought I was in luck.  I guess I should've known better; the restaurant (the only one near my hotel) is in a truck stop.  So, the salad bar, which was included in the price of the meal, had iceberg lettuce, pickles, broccoli, and carrot sticks.  Those were the only vegetables.  It also contained an impressive assortment of mayo-based salads: cole slaw (which my husband calls "cold slop"), macaroni salad, some sort of black-eyed peas salad, and other items which shouldn't be consumed from a gas-station diner.

My drive was made tolerable today because of all the phone calls I received from family and friends.  You can't possibly know how much they all meant to me.  I also was able to keep my mind busy by listening to a book on CD from my friends at St. Joe's, "Unbroken."  It doesn't make the drive any easier, but it keeps my mind from thinking about all I've left behind in Wisconsin.

My heart is throbbing in agony.  I miss my husband so much.  I just pray that this was the right choice for us, that I won't look back on this and have regret.  I know that I need to see what opportunities I will have through the Army for my furthered education.  I know that this is something we spoke about for the past 3 years.  I know that he would've never told me not to go.  He wants me to succeed and capitalize on the opportunities I will have.  It just doesn't make this any easier.  Good night,  my love.  I will dream of you tonight.