I haven't done a lot of solo traveling. I'm always with Will and the kids or I'm flying to meet family and instantly with them. I've only rented a car on my own two or three times. I like doing it. I feel grown up and responsible. Navigating around (with GPS or my phone) making my way and making decisions all by myself is awesome. To save some money/miles I flew into Manchester, New Hampshire and had about a three-hour drive to Camie's house. I got the rental car but had to gas it up and stop at Target for an item or two. I ended up leaving about an hour later than I expected and now I wasn't going to be at Camie's house until nearly 11:00 pm.
I was confident and enjoyed the quiet drive with myself and my plans. I stopped at McDonald's for dinner and caused a mess because I pulled past the first/paying window. The stop added more time. I also ended up unintentionally taking the longest and most out of the way route to Camie's house. So I was really behind schedule. I pulled onto the long dirt road that leads over the mountain to her house at 11:00 pm. I had no cell coverage and it was dark, dark, dark. Fortunately, my map had loaded before I lost cell coverage and I followed the marked route. Unfortunately, I had put Camie's address in wrong (just off by a couple of numbers) and my destination dot wasn't actually at a place.
I followed the road praying I was on the right track. I came to what I thought was my sister's driveway (even though the map said I missed it) and pulled in. It has been years...like ten or more since I was last at Camie's house. I pulled in wishing I remembered what kind of cars she drove. I also thought: I don't remember them having a shed? I parked anyway and took an armload of my crap inside. The door was unlocked and the inside of the house looked sort of like what I remembered.
I made my way to the bathroom. Camie and Travis had gone to bed, they get up very early for work in the morning and couldn't wait up once I was so far behind schedule (understandable!). I had to pee like crazy. I sat down and started using the facilities thinking, I thought her washer and dryer were on the left and the shower on the right, weird? As I was glancing around I wished I had paid attention to family photos on the walls to know if I was in the right house or not...
Mid-pee I was observing the open shelves neatly full of bathroom stuff. I eyed a stick of Secret deodorant. Camie wears the same deodorant that I do, Native, an organic stick that you have to order on the internet. In my head I started screaming: "SHE DOESN'T WEAR REGULAR DEODORANT! I AM PEEING IN A STRANGER'S BATHROOM! IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS! THESE PEOPLE HAVE GUNS! I AM PEEING IN A STRANGERS BATHROOM!" It was wild, internal panic. I was certain I was going to be shot if I didn't get out of there ASAP. While I was trying to wrap up my business and flee my eye caught a label on a bathroom drawer "Paige". Next to that drawer was another label "Silas" and "Owen". These are the names of Camie's children, my niece, and nephews. The panic disappeared. I was in the right place...and safe to finish peeing.
So I put the address in wrong and was super late. I ended up in the right place, after a split second of terror. Maybe I cannot be trusted to travel alone?
So I don't forget. On my last full day in Maine, Camie, Travis and I toured the Portland Headlight and got Italian sandwiches. I love the Headlight so much! I love the little cove there and the smell...oh the smell. It was delightful to get to be there again. We took the kids last month when we were in New England but I can never get enough. I also can't get enough Italians and Whoopie Pies. Yum!
I also got to spend Sunday night with Owen and Silas. They showed me their knives and various cool stuff they've collected. I wish our kids got to see them more. I slept in the boy's room while I was at Camie's house (the boys were with their dad). On the last night, the boys were home and decided to sleep in the living room so I could stay in their room (total gentlemen). As soon as I turned out the light a firefly started lighting up the room! It was cool and freaky. I'm pretty scared of bugs...even ones with lights in their butts...and I'm scared of the dark. It was kind of a mess. I think there were two fireflies. I ended up cowering under my covers until I fell asleep. I am a grown up.
Monday morning I stopped at a cool nicnack shop in Camie's town and loaded up on souvineers for the kids. I made my way (with better directions) to the airport and home. All was well.
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