The winner of the 5-lb bag of gummi’s is Michele L. Send your address to me at karenefoley@comcast.net, and I’ll put these yummi gummi’s into the mail to you! By the way….we made it!!

I’ve just begun a three-day, 1,500 mile road trip from the northeastern tip of Massachusetts, where the thermometer now reads a brisk 26 degrees, southward to the sunny state of Florida, where I’m told the thermometer now reads…a brisk 26 degrees!

By the time you read this, I’ll have already been on the road for several hours, working my way through Boston and then west along the Massachusetts turnpike before turning south toward Connecticut and New York. If the weather and traffic conditions are favorable, we’ll reach southern Virginia by dinner.

In the van with me are my 70-year old father, and his ancient golden retriever. I haven’t spent this much time with my dad since I was seventeen years old and we traveled by train to visit relatives in Chicago. At that time, he was younger than I am now. Although we rarely agree on anything, he has always been there for me, no matter what. Even if he never lets me forget it afterwards.

So this will be an adventure for both of us.

My parents usually make this southerly migration in October, trading their New England home for their Florida home on the gulf coast. But this year, my mom had hip surgery and needed to stay in the Boston area to recuperate. So she is flying to Florida this morning on a non-stop flight, while I agreed to accompany my dad for the 3-day drive. Both he and my mom are convinced that he cannot–and should not–make the drive alone, and I’m inclined to agree. We had our first accident last night, before we even left the driveway. While backing up with the driver’s door open, the door caught on a frozen embankment of ice and snow, nearly tearing it from the hinges. We were able to wrestle the door back into place and close it, but it is now wired shut for the duration of the trip and repairs will need to wait until we reach Florida. Three long days from now.

I told myself that at least I had the warm weather to look forward to, even for a day or two, before I flew home. But my dad called yesterday to remind me to pack warm, and to bring my boots, since even Florida is feeling the effects of the deep-freeze we’ve been experiencing. It’s okay…I’m making the trip for him, not the weather. Even if I’ll never let him forget it.

Who would you most like to spend three days in a car with? Who would you least like to make that trip with? Leave a comment and I’ll randomly select one person to receive a 5-lb bag of gummy alligators (guaranteed to last for a 3-day trip). All responses are confidential!

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