I had a dental appointment
Monday, and Tuesday was my first day teaching an adult study class … so, I
had slated today with plans to drive to Battleground – but when I checked
the weather app, my "over the mountain and through the woods"
thought (quick trip to Battleground and back, ferrying goodies home)
was stopped in its tracks when I read this weather notation:
For a bit there, I consoled myself with Squatch ... and kept the "joy
juice" flowing 😉
But I kept thinking about
what I wanted; and Albertson’s was the only place I could find any of it (the
stores here just don’t carry any of it).
So, I looked up the hourly weather
forecast for Battleground, and it looked promising. I decided to risk the drive
– the backroads from here to there couldn’t be any risker than the local
backroads here that I will be driving every week (unless they are absolutely
unpassable). I accepted a teaching position for Mondays and Tuesdays … I
will have to drive “ify” rods at some point until Spring 2023: Bob always
wanted me to stay off the roads when ice was in the mix (Bob’s logic: “I
know you can do it, Babe – but it’s the drivers coming at you, that concerns me”);
but there’s just me now, and sometimes risks have to be taken to move forward.
I know Elohim is watching
out for me. I know Yeshua loves me (and is my absolute defense against all
and everything). And I know I have a Guardian Angel assigned to me,
personally (lest I should stub my toe against a rock in my path 😉).
I finished my coffee, and
decided to go.
My guy friends
are always telling me that the Highlander will handle well in adverse weather
conditions; I decided
to test the high-altitude backroads, with their confidences echoing in my ears.
If there were ice patches in shaded sections of the backroads, I would just
have to bull my way through … with a hope and a prayer. That’s what Bob
would have done.
I CAN DO THIS 😊
I thought I’d drive the
short distance from home to Woodland on the freeway (maybe 25 minutes) –
then jump off, and take the backroads from there. But I couldn’t even stand
10 minutes on the freeway: I jumped off at the Kalama River Road Exit. And
I’m glad I did … as I was making the turn onto the exit ramp, I heard police
cars wailing at top speed up the freeway towards Woodland direction. I was
thankful I had made my snap decision, because I would not be trapped on the
freeway for hours behind backed up traffic at the wreak site.
However, I did not totally escape
it:
I found out later, that it
was not a freeway wreak – it was a prank school bomb alert
that had police and emergency vehicles responding {{On November 9, 2022 at about 10:17
A.M., the Woodland Police Department received a call into the office reporting
a bomb at Woodland High School. The caller was transferred to Cowlitz 911 where
more information was obtained. The caller advised there was one bomb located in
a classroom at the school. WHS was immediately notified and an evacuation of
the building of all students and staff was conducted.
Additional
assistance was requested from the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, WSP, Kalama
PD, and Clark-Cowlitz Fire & Rescue to assist at the scene.
Officers
conducted a thorough check of the interior and exterior of the building over
the ensuing hour. After completing a search of the school, the school was
turned back over to WHS staff.
The
origination of the call is being investigated in an attempt to locate the
person responsible for making the threat.
Due
to this threat and the previous one on October 10th, the FBI has been contacted
and will be assisting in the investigation.}}
GPS was also rerouting me to
go around the congested traffic. GPS led me on a merry goose-chase ☹
I was glad I topped the tank before leaving Longview!
Why on earth GPS led me up into the clouds is a mystery!
The normal route was perfectly clear to travel, as I found out when I
eventually dropped back down off the mountain top and found myself staring at
the very road I needed.
But the unnecessary side
trip did solve a 2-year contemplation: that itch was scratched, and I’m cured
of the “I wonder …” concerning that road 😉
In that sense, the loopy,
steep drive, was worth the risk.
Passing through La Center, I
pulled over at the Bakery and grabbed some chocolate eclairs to toss into the
freezer for a welcome treat some cold night, when I’m sitting cozily by the
fireplace reading 😊
The rest of the drive went
smoothly.
The strip Mall is small, and
that’s fine with me. I snagged a prime parking spot at Albertson’s 😊
I didn’t find what I
primarily went for … but I found a good alternative. I grabbed a dozen eggs so
I can bake cookies (the type of ‘clean’ eggs I want), and I did some odds-n-ends
grocery shopping (things I do not have laid away in my 6-month food cache;
things only found at Albertson’s). Proverbs
31:14
I stayed on budget.
And a.g.a.i.n. traffic was
rerouted … and again, GPS went faaaar afield – but I remembered what
Bob had taught me about homing direction, and managed to get myself headed in
the correct direction: calmly 😉
The risky guess paid off.
I saw more new countryside.
I'm getting better at handling Life's unexpected hiccups.
What a day of adventuring;
all I wanted to do was get some food stuffs, when I set out this morning! I was
glad to park the Highlander at home. Too tired to cook, I reheated some lentil
mixture and had a couple Lentil Tacos for Supper. They hit the spot; and will
be a repeat recipe.
Now, I’m going to relax with a hot cocoa, and a vintage black-n-white
movie.
