The Exit-Taking Strategy

Feb 20, 2021 ~Mary Sims

The Good: I could tell by the road conditions on our way home that we were wise to stay a few extra days in Alabama. There was snow everywhere along our journey. On the way back to Swinkey, we went a little different route and went through Memphis. We ended up staying in a Holiday Inn Express just south of there. It was getting a little stressful because it was close to 6:00 pm and we had checked about 3 hotels already and all were booked solid. I was beginning to think we would have to get back on the road to travel for another hour to get through Memphis and stay somewhere on the other side. It was dark and there was snow everywhere, so I was just ready to be done. Just as I was about to give up, I saw the green Holiday Inn Express sign lit up off the beaten path and there was a Fazolis near by! Perfect! Thankfully, they had a few rooms left and although it wasn't handicap accessible, the room was plenty big to accomadate us. I can't say enough good things about this hotel. It might be that I was just so happy to have found a place, but overall it was great; clean, functional and had good service.

The Bad: Our not so satisfactory experience of the drive home occured at lunch time. Usually when I travel with Kimberly alone, we go through a drive through. I park in the their lot and feed Kimberly and I before getting back on the road. Sometimes, I just get myself something and she eats lunch through her feeding tube and we get right back on the road. What I hate most about the lunch time experience is the pressure of trying to be as effecient as possible and not wasting time by unknowingly taking an exit that is hard to navigate. You want to see the food options on the sign and then see that it's an easy on and off the interstate before taking the exit. Surely, I'm not the only one who feels this way. Anyhow, Kimberly and I saw a sign with Whataburger and decided that's what we really wanted. We do not have these close to home and it's always fun to eat at places you don't have access to. The corresponding exit seemed to check all the boxes for an acceptable choice. Unfortunately, when we pulled into the lot, we could see that the restaurant was closed. We noticed a couple of other choices around; a Burger King, a McDonalds, but we weren't ready to give up on our Whataburger dreams, so I looked in the Garmin and saw that there was another Whataburger 30 minutes away. Yes! So we got back on the road and listened to some music, trying not to pay attention to our growling stomachs. My first thought as we neared the exit was, "Uh Oh, this doesn't look like an easy on and off." but by then we were starving and really looking forward to the Whataburger. Regretfully, I let the Garmin lead me to it only to find out it was CLOSED too! I don't know if it was a coincidence, a branch thing or what, but we were very dissapointed. However, one must go on. So, we checked out our choices nearby and decided on a Panera Bread that didn't look too far away. It ended up being part of an outdoor mall that was super crowded, but I was determined to make it work. We could not waste any more time! So, I'm driving through the parking lot, noticing there aren't really any handicap spaces near the restaurant, but I finally found a patch of them and one was available. The first thing I look for is the spot where Kimberly's chair can make it onto the sidewalk. Usually there's a marked crossing from the parking spots that takes you to it and there was here too. Unfortunately, this entrance onto the sidewalk was really quite a distance from Panera and the sidewalk path was litered with outdoor tables and chairs, signs and people. It would be so much easier to just drive in the road right next to the sidewalk so that we didn't have to manuver through the labryinth of obstacles. Of course, that's what we tried to do only to find out there was no other entrance onto the sidewalk. So back we went to take our chances on the long sidewalk. I realize I'm being a little dramatic. It really wasn't a big deal. But remember, I am feeling that stress of being as efficient on our lunch break as possible and failing miserably. Needless to say, the line in the restaurant was long and crowded, but I just pushed on through because by this time we had no alternative. And besides, the food was delicious.

The Beautiful: This takes us back to the Holiday Inn Express and I know I will not be able to get my thoughts and emotions through but I have to try. (Hopefully I don't come off sounding too much like a weirdo.) When I went in to see if there was any availability, I was beginning to feel a little desparate, knowing if the answer was no, we would be back on the road. The receptionist was available to help me and she was perfectly nice to me. Nothing over the top, but pleasant and I was just so thrilled that they had a room. As we were conducting our business, a gentleman came in behind me. When she looked up to see who it was, the look in her eyes took my breath away. The Love and Joy that radiated from them towards this man was from a storybook. All she said to him was, "I'll be with you as soon as I'm done here", but I could tell he was someone very special in her life. Because of the mask she was wearing, I really couldn't tell her age. I'm guessing the man was 25-35. This could have been her husband, her son, her brother. I have no idea, but it doesn't matter. The love she poured out to him in those few seconds was exhilarating. I felt so blessed to have been a witness to it and thanked God for such an experience.

This pretty much concludes our trip to Alabama. Thanks for joining us! We have some big plans coming up so we hope to keep Chairing our Adventures with you.