Our 1-month Wedding Anniversary was 3 days ago ... and I am finally getting the pictures and post together: thanks for being patient with the update, everyone :-)
A little over a year ago, I was attending a small local fellowship, and asked for prayer - I wanted purpose in my aimless life, and needed direction: I didn't know that Elohim was already moving and shaking things in my life ...
Little did I realize Holland was what Elohim wanted to gift me with.
I wasn't looking for romance.
Remarriage wasn't even on MY radar.
But Elohim had other Plans.
So did Holland ;-)
December 28th, 2022 Post: 'Making It Official'
(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/12/making-it-official.html)
I was glad Bob's sister Merry, his niece Michelle, his Aunt Frieda were happy for me - they mean a lot to me, and their happiness for me means a lot to me.
Jan. 4th; Frieda's 'congrats' text.
So, we set out for Reno, Nevada in the dusky morning hours of January 6th: we would watch the sun dawn on the tail-end of Oregon as we drove towards {the goal} via Klamath Falls route. There would be snow in the higher elevations, so Holland had bought and stashed chains in the Highlander "just in case".
Holland had lived in/worked in much of the regions we'd be passing through for much of his life, so I was excited to see those places on our way to building our life together. Now when he talks about those places, I will be able to see them with memory eyes ;-)
Gorgeous sunrise in Oregon; between Lowell & Salt Creek Falls-OR
Highway #58-OR: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Route_58
Salt Creeks Falls-OR; 4,000 ft. elevation.
Chemult, Oregon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemult,_Oregon
We did not need chains at any point.
We felt blessed every minute of the day - we are friends as well as lovers. Elohim has truly worked a miracle in each of our lives ... two lives that will become one, in a matter of hours.
Entering calimexarabia.
Stopped for a looksee, and a quick lunch at Tulelake; Holland spent several years there. It's small-town: I liked it.
Headed towards Susanville; 5,000 ft. elevation.Highway #139-CA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_139
Holland lived in & worked in this area for decades.
Highway #299-CA:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_299#History & https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/northern-california/haunted-rd-norcal/
Not sure if it's an actual Mission building, or a Railroad transfer Station; not sure where I saw it ...
Route #395-CA.Route #395-CA, USA:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_395
Sierra Nevada Mountain Range-CA.
Sierra Nevada Mountain Range:
https://www.worldatlas.com/mountains/sierra-nevada-mountains.html
Rest Area view of the mountains; Karlo Road-CA: the water was so clear, the mountains reflected prettily on the surface.
Little Lutheran Church along the way - the picket fence made it {picture perfect}; Doyle-CA
Snowy peaks ... roads were kept clear of ice and snow.
Nearing Nevada Stateline.
We still did not need to drag the tire chains out.
So, we made Reno as the sun set January 6th - and got married on the fly the next morning because a snowstorm was moving in quickly: NO Wedding Pictures were taken because there was no time to get dolled up :-(
We were up bright and early January 7th to get married and out of town before the storm hit. But we still had a bit of a wait. Immediate Marriages in Reno ARE A MYTH; we had to wait to get a license, just like everywhere else - licenses are not available at the Chapels ... and Courthouse Judges do not perform marriages. Marriages in Reno are a ponzi scheme event. We could have just as well stayed home and gotten married at the local Courthouse, but the roadtrip was fun, and it was Holland's wedding gift to me because he knows how much I love road trips :-)
Reno is only glitsy downtown where the casinos are located; the rest of Reno is not so picturesque.
The Wedding 'Chapel', was downtown in a gift shoppe - there was no street parking; only garage parking - a block away. We walked on crusted icy snow piles both ways, praying we did not take a fall on the ice/snow-packed sidewalks and crosswalks. We did not want to end up on crutches on our happy day.
Despite the annoyance with obvious money-grabbers, and the snowstorm blowing in, our Wedding Trip has given us memories wrapped in love and laughter - even now, I smile and burst into a hooting laugh as I sort through the pictures and videos to share with yu'all :-)
Afterwards, on our way out of town, I messaged my granddaughter with the happy news.
Entering Nevada.
Behind our Motel room.
View across the road from our Motel; the Marriage License Place was directly across from our room.
Wedding Tracks - 'God Knew That I Needed You' song:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ZzZFJ_nAI)
Downtown Reno.
Wedding 'Chapel'; Vows were spoken, and when it was my turn, I added, "l promise to love, honor, and obey". The woman officiating said, "We don't say that anymore" ... and I replied, "I do." Holland laughed, and said, "Yeah; right. That will be the day." And a kiss sealed The Deal ;-)
Now everyone will be happy; friends, family, God, and us.
Jan. 7th; Alyna's congrats' text. It was raining when we left Reno.
Snow began to fall as we moved along towards calimexarabia. Normally I would have avoided calimexarabia altogether, but I was curious to see the places Holland has been talking about; when he talks about living and working in calimexarabia.
Holland had planned more surprises for me: a drive through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge! These were special love gifts, and he truly went out of his way to do this for me - he would have preferred to drive another route, but he was loving on me, and wanted to favor me.
What a guy!
I had always held a romanticized version of San Francisco from my hippie upbringing, even though I'd never been there before; Holland had no such illusions - he'd grown up in Santa Cruz, and worked in San Francisco for decades ... he had some strong opinions about it, as you will hear in the {chosen} videos I have posted. And the six-year gap in our ages was also highlighted, as he had no idea whatsoever who Dionne Warwick or Scott McKenzie were - the songs I mentioned didn't mean zip to him.
Winter storm check point: snow chains were required to move forward.
Boreal Ridge Rd; Soda Springs-CA
We were waved thru because the Highlander is all-wheel; no chains needed to pass.
Entering Sacramento; about 11 A.M.
Coming into the San Francisco area; Holland went out of the way here, to show me San Francisco. He had lived and worked here for decades - HE HATES SAN FRANCISCO ... and that is putting it mildly.
Coming into Golden Gate area ... taking this route for my benefit.
Route #101-CA; Passing thru San Jose.
Dionne Warwick - 'San Jose' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnzTgUc5ycc)
Scott McKenzie - 'San Francisco' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-447NaiBJs)
Making plans already for a Spring Roadtrip to Santa Cruz.
Holland's slip of the tongue. LOL
Holland seriously dislikes San Francisco.
Golden Gate Bridge Entrance ...
Tunnels! I hadn't heard about this aspect of the Bridge.
State Route 1-CA:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_1
Holland cracks me up ... I don't think we'll be back this way, any time soon ;-)
Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.
Golden Gate Bridge History:
https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/golden-gate-bridge
Message to David concerning Holland; Holland is PERFECT for me :-)
We veered off onto #128, for the scenic coastal drive:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_128
We spent our Wedding Night in Fort Bragg: we heard that Washoe County Reno (where we had been married) had been placed on 'emergency status' ... and the weather at Fort Bragg was just as sketchy - it rained buckets of water from the sky, and thunder and lightning rolled over the Motel all night long.
The next morning, we traveled the scenic route, Hwy. 1; what a goat trail! I was happy ... Holland was not, but he wanted to please me (he knows I enjoy I enjoy off route side excursions), so he kept his thoughts to himself the entire 1-1/2 hours it took to drive the 44 miles from Rockport to Leggitt ;-)
When we came into Leggitt, I had to pee after all that hairpin-corner road jostling, so we started looking for a restroom - the only restroom in the backwoods hamlet town was at the tourist trap 'Chandlier Tree/Gift Shop': so, we drove there. The entrance fee was a hefty $15 ... but I had to pee, so we paid. It was the most expensive pee of my lifetime; and the Highlander would not even fit through the tree hole (which was really what the fee was for); modern day cars will not fit; the hole was cut to accommodate 1920's tiny cars and trucks :-(
But it was a fun, scenic route - and we were on our Honeymoon. We were watching the money, but with a {flexible} eyeview :-)
Angry storm waters; Navarro Point-CA.
Wedding Night Memento; Fort Bragg-CA.
James Taylor - 'How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You' song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmFgAHdhONU)
Storm waves at Seaside Beach-CA; Holland LIKES 'Heart' = BIG PLUS!
Heart - 'Crazy On You' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZjEC4WhCvg)
It was raining; we stayed in the Highlander to watch the waves.
We watched incoming 'face waves' from high cliffs - very winding road. Mendocino-CA.
Scenic Route #1 is a snaky goat trail; comes out in Leggitt-CA
LEGGITT: NO DOORS ANYWHERE in the Restrooms. $15 fee a definite rip-off. Established Park in 1922.
Chandelier Tree: http://famousredwoods.com/chandelier/
Confusion Hill is a roadside attraction in Piercy, California: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11301
Fast & furious waves at Humboldt Lagoon-CA
Humboldt Lagoon-CA; making good time. We'd eaten lunch in Eureka-CA
It looked like the storm was easing at Wilson Creek-CA
Getting close to home turf ... I have spent decades avoiding calimexarabia since it became an obamanite strong-hold, and I ended up marrying a cali born native. Elohim has a twisted sense of humor ;-) Klamath-CA.
Trees of Mystery:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trees_of_Mystery
Carved out of a tree stump.
The original Paul Bunyan & his blue ox Babe, were replaced in 1960's; reconstructed largely of wooden beams, chicken wire and stucco.
Made Oregon; Grant's Pass at 3,500 ft. elevation - Hyw Route #199.
Grants Pass/State Route 199-CA & OR:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grants_Pass,_Oregon
We arrived home in Longview-WA, a little before 9 PM.
And the next day, I started taking picture of my own personal {Paul Bunyan}: Holland is 6'4" :-)
Holland said, 'I do not want this picture taken; I don't take good pictures.' I laughed, kept the camera on ... and waited him out ;-)
The "GOTCHA!" shot of my big handsome guy. He eventually {gave} ;-) The Stone Foxes - 'King Bee' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvEtts_67AU)
As I settle into my new life with the man who says he waited a lifetime for me, I am filled with happiness.
Holland at 27 yo.; he had a vision at this age, that he waited 35+ years to experience - ME. Official Marriage License: VISION COMPLETE :-)
My cousin Linda's 'congrats' text, Jan.9th.
Elohim is faithful to fulfill what He has promised!
We are truly blessed.
