Road Trip – Part 2: Homeward Bound

IMG_0010It’s Tuesday morning and I’ve been in Oxford for five days; counting this morning and Friday night, really, three full days, and I do mean FULL days. Regardless, my mission is done. Julie, rather Juliana (only one ‘N’) has the internet and an iPad.

During my time, here in Oxford I have exposed her to all sorts of new experiences – e-mail, the internet, and iPad apps. Along the way, I have left her a trail of notes and left behind a notebook with screen shots, but I hope, nothing overwhelming. It has been fun to visit, talk, and share. I wish we lived closer so I could visit more often, or she could visit us. However, that is not an option so I’ll have to write, e-mail, and call maybe even face-time.

porchdogs

Sunday was special. We got up early and went to church. Church is her connection point in the community and she has made some incredible friends. After church, we were invited to join the group for coffee and breakfast at the Bottletree Bakery near the Square. My cinnamon roll was huge and slathered with icing. However, the best part was talking with Juliana, her friends, and meeting new ones. After breakfast, we visited Square Books she got the New York Times and I indulged my book addiction and got a few postcards. A visit to Oxford is really never complete without visiting this place. There is something about turning the page of a book or browsing the shelves of a bookstore that is peaceful and calming for me. I came across a book called Porch Dogs and looked through it. The cover drew me in because it has a dog that looks like Ivy. The cover dog was a Springer Spaniel and Ivy is a Brittany Spaniel. The two breeds are often confused – they’re both hunting dogs and are similar in size and markings. I leafed through the book, decided it wasn’t for me, and put it back on the shelf.

Her friends invited us to dinner Sunday evening and it left us time in the afternoon for a few tutorials. We focused on e-mail and how to send one. It was fun watching her learn, it was even more fun (or maybe funner) to see her reaction when she got a reply! I sat beside her coaching and answering questions – pointing to keys or answering where and how questions.

We met in the Square for dinner. We were one of the first groups in when The Old Venice Pizza Company opened its doors for Sunday dinner. Once we settled in and ordered, we picked up where we left off at breakfast. It was fun and as it always is when dining with friends and family, the food was great. It always tastes better when shared with friends. We came home after dinner and spent a quiet evening visiting before I spent an hour or so working on the notebook and catching up.

The time has flown and yesterday I showed her the internet, how to use an app and when an app is better than the internet. I have much of it written down and I am only a phone call away. My brother Warren arrives later this weekend with his two boys and he can show her a few things I didn’t or reinforce the ones I shared. In the meantime, I need to get a moving, shaking, and finish one more tutorial before I pack up and leave.

I am heading home, back the way I came except in the other direction. I am sure what I saw Friday will look slightly different coming from another direction. I snapped four states signs and I’ll get a fifth, the State of Illinois, early this afternoon, right after stopping for lunch at Lambert’s café and crossing the Mississippi river for a fourth and final time. Today is gonna be a great day, I know it and I can feel it so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, one tutorial at a time, and one THROWED ROLL at a time. I just hope I catch it.

   Have you learned anything new lately? Or have you taught someone something new? How did it go?

Below are pictures and postcards from my trip Friday, enjoy.

2 thoughts on “Road Trip – Part 2: Homeward Bound

  1. I’ve learned that I have to listen to my body more now that I am back in training for an upcoming Warrior Dash. Need to ease up on the heavy leg exercises so my stiff lower back heals up quickly! Sounds like you are having a good trip.

    1. Phil – I haven’t been in a gym recently, but there are idiots all over the place. My trip to Mississippi and back was seamless. But today I drove to Michigan and the idiots were all over the place and I mean all over the place. good luck on your training and in the warrior dash. I look forward to reading more.

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