April 29, 2024.

Greetings, Friends. I hope all is well in your world. It’s been an unusual month on our end, and I have lots to write about. So many things have happened in a short amount of time. Truly, my head spins when I consider the events of just the past two weeks.

When we pulled out of the RV resort on the 15th, our tow-car was packed to the max (because we anticipated being away from it for about a month), and our bicycles were strapped to the bike rack on the back of it. We covered them with what was a rather heavy-duty cover in an attempt to protect them from the elements (which later proved futile), and because the car’s rear lights were thus hidden, flashing magnetic towing lights signaled our behemoth motorhome lumbering its way from the lake to Branson. With pucker factors of 10++, we pressed on for 31 miles through small towns, past Silver Dollar City and on towards Branson, along a mostly 2-lane, shoulderless road, hoping the flashing hazard lights would soften the attitudes and lengthen the patience of the drivers who were behind us. Both Dave and I were very apprehensive about getting the RV to where it would ultimately be fixed, and were so relieved, and very grateful, when we finally arrived. All in all, it was an uneventful trip, which is the best kind.

We headed east, but before going back to Hopkinsville immediately, we rendezvoused with my brother and sister-in-law in Giant City State Park in southern Illinois for a couple of days. We first learned of the beauty of southern Illinois when we workamped at Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, just down the road, many years ago and always try find a reason to come back. It’s a nature-lovers’ paradise. Terri and I hiked most of the trails, and when we were too tired for that, we played cards. Or ate.

While we spent the majority of our time in the park, we still did a bit of exploring. Makanda, pop. 537, is known as Illinois’ most hippie town. It’s quirky and unique, and life there is laidback and peaceful. Most of the time…

Only the week before, this somewhat obscure village and its surroundings were inundated with tens of thousands of visitors who were there to witness the total solar eclipse, just as they did on August 21, 2017. The fact that the two paths of totality crisscrossed directly over this area had many “end times” believers speculating if April 8th was going to perhaps be the end of the world. I’m grateful it was not.

To get to the next tourist attraction, we had to drive by the Smiley Face Water Tower on Highway 51. The bow tie is in memory of U.S. Senator Paul Simon and one-time presidential candidate, a lifelong resident of Makanda.

Next we went to Trip Advisor’s #1 Attraction in the Carbondale-area, Boo Castle Park, formally known as the Jeremy “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park. It’s a 3.5 acre, privately owned park that is open to the general public. A lover of action figures and an avid fan of the role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons, Jeremy was killed in a tragic car accident in 1993 when he was just 19 years old. His family built the park in his honor, never dreaming that it would become the major tourist attraction that it has. It is fabulous, and well-worth a visit if you’re ever near the area, no matter how old you are.

On the 17th of this month we were back in Kentucky, back at the campground in which we stayed this past winter. Our daughter graciously offered to let us stay in her RV when I complained too much about trying to find an AirBnB that was suitable for the long-haul. If truth be told, we much prefer to be away from town and the peace and quiet that comes with it.

Our temporary home is Kate’s 22′ Airstream Bambi. Today is our 12th day in it, and we are adapting to the close quarters. I think it helps that we once lived on a 27′ sailboat. “Belle” has everything we need: full bathroom…comfy, queen-size bed…stove/microwave…fridge…dinette. The only thing we really wonder about is why the toilet sits atop a 10″ high platform. It’s compact, for sure, but it is totally adequate for for the time being. We’re grateful for having this option and for the experience of ‘trying out’ an Airstream to see what the big deal is all about.

Over the past few months, we’ve been talking about what happens ‘next.’ We never expected RVing to last forever. At least, I didn’t. Come to think of it, much of what’s happened in my life since I met Dave almost 46 years ago has not been expected, much less prepared for. In fact, I’ve almost come to expect the unexpected.

Enter the Round House concept.

We first learned about their structural soundness after our house in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

I’ve been looking at potential Zillow houses in this general area only half-heartedly because I really didn’t think Dave wanted to buy another house. At least, not at this point in time.

Only a couple of weeks ago, a “possibility” presented itself by way of email. It was in Eddyville, about 30 miles northwest of Hopkinsville. I showed it to Dave, and to my surprise, didn’t shoot the idea down immediately, but said maybe we could take a look at when we got to Kentucky, if it was still available. I let it go at that.

Out of the blue last week, Kate asked if I wanted to see the house. I suggested she ask her dad because an affirmative answer would be more likely then. I was right.

What’s really great about knowing exactly what you want is that the search is shortened considerably. I think we knew within minutes of seeing this particular house that it was “the one.”

Round houses are designed to be wind, hurricane and earthquake resistant, but it’s really the quirkiness of them that we find appealing. Even though it’s small, it’s got everything we need, and then some. Not much has to be done to it initally, and the backyard is large and woodsy. Kayaking is just 10 minutes away, and Kate won’t be far away. It’s perfect.

In a big way, another chapter of our lives is unfolding. It would be easy to get caught up in the future, thinking of all that will need to be done before we leave next month, assuming things continue happening like they have been. It would be easy to forget the in-between moments…life moves so fast. But the little things are very much worth remembering, so I just try very hard to keep my feet firmly planted in today. God’s in charge anyway, so I’m just along for the ride. It looks like it’s about to get exciting.

Don’t waste your time searching and wishing. Grow and be ready…and you’ll see God will give you a love story far better than you can ever dream of. ~ Gordon B. Hinckley