Hitting the Mother Road

Just like that, my month in Los Angeles was over. Adam and I decided to mix things up for the drive back to Houston and hit I-40 instead of I-10. We gave up the straight shot back to Houston in favor of new scenery and a chance to head the way of the Great American Highway. While getting our kicks on Route 66 we turned yet again to our AAA guidebooks for the history of stops along the Main Street of America. Even though the drive was quite a bit longer (leaving no time for Standin' on a Corner in Winslow, Arizona), I really enjoyed the ride.

Our overnight pit stop took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Despite a late-night interruption from a misguided drunk attempting to find his room, we managed to rest up before resuming the eastward journey. After 18+ hours of listening to audio version of The Help, the book came to a close. The readers for Abilene and Minnie were perfect (I was especially delighted to see the same Minnie in the movie). We turned south in Amarillo to make it to the capitol of Texas by nightfall.

We stopped for a late dinner in Austin with Adam's college roommate Will and his fiance Lynne. Will is excited about law school, and Lynne is planning their summer wedding. By the time we made it back to Houston, we were beat! However, there was little rest for the weary because I had to show up for my new rotation's orientation into Emergency Ultrasound. Before I knew it, I was driving Adam to the airport. My only consolation was a handsome four-legged friend who welcomed me home as if I had never left.