Day 1 - Louisville, Kentucky

On June 11, Mary and I began a month long journey by car from North Carolina through the western United States. With stops along the way to see family members, we will tour Arches, Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks in the Southwest, visit Melissa and David in Oregon and Washington, and then return along a northern route with a stop at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.

The first leg of our trip took us to Louisville, Kentucky, and an overnight stay with Mary's sister, Liz Curtis Higgs and her husband Bill. We arrived safely after sitting for over an hour on I-64 ten minutes from their home because of a serious accident involving a school bus just a half mile ahead of us. Several children were injured, but the word we got was no fatalities. Arriving at the Higgs estate, we were thrilled to also get their children, Lillian and Matthew and Matthew's wife Beth. It was wonder ful for us and Beth to sit and get to know each other a bit after pretty much just seeing her from afar at the wedding of Matt and Beth four years ago. And, our visit included a belated family birthday celebration for Beth, although I don't think her age was ever actually revealed.

  Matthew, Beth and Lillian

Beth's Birthday Celebration

We also were excited for Bill and his news that he has agent interest in publishing a novel that he has been working on for many years, plus Matt's news that he has just been accepted in the entrepreneurial program at the University of Louisville School of Business. Of course, Liz is still writing, speaking and touring Scotland, putting to bed yet another book the night before we arrived. We also got to meet Jack the cat, and we were spoiled rotten with homemade lasagna for dinner and a full Scottish Breakfast Louavul style.

"I'm alright," said Jack