5000 Miles Later...
Before leaving Alabama, Jeremy, Alaina, and I went to the Gulf Coast to get our feet wet in the ocean. It was pretty cool having the sand sucked out from under your feet by the waves. Things are still pretty devastated around there from hurricane Denis last year. Plenty of debris and blown out homes. When we got home Alaina and I had Chinese take-out and Jer had a sub from Subway. I had planned on leaving Alabama at 6am the next morning but that didn't happen since I slept in. I finally got on the road at 7:30am.
After a pretty uneventful drive I arrived in Florida at around 7pm their time. Brian and I enjoyed another pizza together since Carol was still at youth. I did a bit of laundry, but relaxed for the most part because I had to be out the door by 5am the next morning which thankfully happened. I had a little bit of an adventure trying to find the Florida Turnpike and then the Budget Rental place once I got to the airport, but I had my boarding pass in hand and my bags checked with just under an hour before my flight departure time. It was so nice having to wait just 40 minutes to board my plane instead of the hours I had to wait last time.
Upon arriving in Toronto I spent an hour waiting to get through customs and claim my suitcase. There were probably 300 other people waiting to get through customs as well. It was a zoo. I know Dana and Andy were a little worried that I was getting strip searched or something but they noticed the number of flights and people coming in.
It was so great to spend the weekend with them even if I didn't have their full attention the whole time I was there. Friday morning, Dana, Nathan (their 19 month old son) and her mom headed out to their trailer. Andy, Dana's dad, and I followed suit on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon was spent at a 90th birthday party for Dana's grandfather. It was a little awkward being one of the few non family members there so I mostly looked after Nathan to keep him out of trouble. It was nice being out in the woods with Dana's family. The time wasn't long enough to really get settled though. Nathan had a tough time adjusting to the new schedule and all the people being around.
I was pretty sad to step on that bus yesterday. The subject of the oppressiveness of Sudbury came up again while chatting with Dana. This makes her the thrid person to point out to me now how free I seem when I'm not at home... how I seem to thrive and grow. This time though I even saw it myself. My bus didn't leave until 12:30 so I had the morning to digest the idea of me coming back home and well it wasn't a pleasant idea. Of course Andy and Dana want me to move to Toronto with them, but I'm still not sure if a move out of the city is needed. The easiest step I think is to find a place here in Sudbury away from my parents. Then I'll know for sure if I get this oppressive feeling from my parents, the city, or a combination of both.
As I sit here at work, getting back into my daily routine, my memories from the trip seem to be fading away. I hope I can get my pictures developed soon. Those should keep the memories fresh. I'll try and look after my speeding ticket at lunch today and exchange the US money I have left. Tonight I'm going to a farewell dinner for Teresa with the rest of the band so I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions to answer about my trip.
Matthew.
After a pretty uneventful drive I arrived in Florida at around 7pm their time. Brian and I enjoyed another pizza together since Carol was still at youth. I did a bit of laundry, but relaxed for the most part because I had to be out the door by 5am the next morning which thankfully happened. I had a little bit of an adventure trying to find the Florida Turnpike and then the Budget Rental place once I got to the airport, but I had my boarding pass in hand and my bags checked with just under an hour before my flight departure time. It was so nice having to wait just 40 minutes to board my plane instead of the hours I had to wait last time.
Upon arriving in Toronto I spent an hour waiting to get through customs and claim my suitcase. There were probably 300 other people waiting to get through customs as well. It was a zoo. I know Dana and Andy were a little worried that I was getting strip searched or something but they noticed the number of flights and people coming in.
It was so great to spend the weekend with them even if I didn't have their full attention the whole time I was there. Friday morning, Dana, Nathan (their 19 month old son) and her mom headed out to their trailer. Andy, Dana's dad, and I followed suit on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon was spent at a 90th birthday party for Dana's grandfather. It was a little awkward being one of the few non family members there so I mostly looked after Nathan to keep him out of trouble. It was nice being out in the woods with Dana's family. The time wasn't long enough to really get settled though. Nathan had a tough time adjusting to the new schedule and all the people being around.
I was pretty sad to step on that bus yesterday. The subject of the oppressiveness of Sudbury came up again while chatting with Dana. This makes her the thrid person to point out to me now how free I seem when I'm not at home... how I seem to thrive and grow. This time though I even saw it myself. My bus didn't leave until 12:30 so I had the morning to digest the idea of me coming back home and well it wasn't a pleasant idea. Of course Andy and Dana want me to move to Toronto with them, but I'm still not sure if a move out of the city is needed. The easiest step I think is to find a place here in Sudbury away from my parents. Then I'll know for sure if I get this oppressive feeling from my parents, the city, or a combination of both.
As I sit here at work, getting back into my daily routine, my memories from the trip seem to be fading away. I hope I can get my pictures developed soon. Those should keep the memories fresh. I'll try and look after my speeding ticket at lunch today and exchange the US money I have left. Tonight I'm going to a farewell dinner for Teresa with the rest of the band so I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions to answer about my trip.
Matthew.
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