I had a lovely and perfect outing yesterday, despite a setback. I set out towards the other side of Mobile Bay to attend a quilt show at a sweet Methodist Church. Every Sunday school classroom, office, and even the sanctuary was decorated with  quilts, evey pew draped. I asked one of the volunteers how many quilts and she estimated about 400. That is a stack of quilts. The huge show I saw in Jacksonville, FL had 400 quilts spread out in a large convention hall.

Next stop – Rear tires for the van. I had passed a locally owned tire shop. I dislike the big chains who always seem to squeeze more money out of me for something like a broker geezy wadder that they just happened to find while the vehicle was on the lift. I checked Yelp, and the local shop had great reviews. Okay then. I have been pricing tires and looking at options and was ready to go if the price was right. Bingo, it sounded good and in my budget so we started the paperwork. I felt a bit sheepish and guilty of something when I gave him a permanent mailing address in Florida and an Idaho phone number for a van registered in North Dakota so I could buy tires in Alabama. He didn’t ask and I didn’t offer an explanation. Nice waiting room, free Wi-Fi.

Last stop – Wal-Mart for some sewing needles, a rotisserie chicken, and bread. I started home after 5 hours and a fun outing. I worked my way up to I-10 which would take me across Mobile Bay, through the downtown Mobile tunnel and to the exit for Dauphin Island.  Coming home Tango! Then I realized that this was perilously close to the commuter hour. Well, this might take a bit longer than usual, which turned into the understatement of the year. Thank goodness I used the bathroom before I left.

An accident on the other side of the tunnel shut down one lane on the Interstate through downtown. West bound traffic came to a sudden halt right after I drove onto the causeway. I spent two hours there, sometimes inching slowly forward but most of the time sitting still, surrounded by 18-wheelers belching carbon monoxide. I am not good at sitting and doing nothing unless I am on the beach, so I decided to listen to an Audible book through my phone. Oops. Nothing downloaded on the phone, and I left my Kindle at home, a rarity for me. Next, a bit of surfing and posting on FB. Then, some of that rotisserie chicken. An hour slipped by. I look around, sighed. Then a motorcycle driving on the narrow causeway shoulder passed me on the right. You know how that goes–they squeak by because they can. Some people honked, but I decided I would have done the same thing- it was getting chilly and I am sure he was dizzy from the fumes. Then, a young woman be-bopping to loud music in a small car, passed on the shoulder imitating the motorcycle. Copycat. More honks. A few more renegades pass as the rest of us sit, and I pretend they are women in labor. 

The curved road is the 7-mile causeway

Another hour drags by. During that time, I  wonder how people, unless in labor, rationalize that it is okay for them to pass everyone else. Who gets special privilege? It reminded me of Ivanka Tr— posting instagram photos of herself all dressed up in a metallic designer gown on the night her father banned certain Muslims from entering the country. Special privilege. How could I get some of that privilege right now and get back to island time? I knew Tr— wouldn’t help me get home because I trash talk about him after vowing I would not. Could I stand on my own merit and get special privilege? Yes! It is cruel and unusual punishment to make a newly retired person sit on a bridge at rush hour for over two hours.  I need an executive order from someone, please. Something like this: all retirees will be air-lifted from extraordinary traffic jams (more than 5 minutes). Handsome first responders will float down and grasp the old ladies in their arms while pulling them to safety….

I stop daydreaming for a second and notice an extraordinary scene unfolding. Sunset! I am on the causeway watching a lovely sunset over Mobile Bay and downtown. The SS Alabama becomes a silhouette against a golden sky. At least 4 different birds in small flocks soar up and over the causeway, then back again. Lights flicker on and animate the downtown view. The tallest building takes on a purple glow from special lighting, and the air is cool with a slight breeze. The view is suddenly magnificent and we are moving.

SS Alabama and Mobile Skyline

While waiting patiently I-10 was closed completely and we were rerouted on a detour. The scene was orderly with electronic signs posted at each intersection where we needed to turn. Roads directly leading to downtown were blocked by police cars and we flowed along smoothly. Somehow I ended up on I-65 in an area I was familiar with because I had to fund a fabric store near there a few weeks ago. I knew my way now and was home free. Nearly 5 hours after a drive that takes 1.5 hours on a normal day,  I crossed the bridge to my island.

Perfect? I have indelible images of the sunset, the birds, the battleship, downtown. I also learned to NEVER leave home without my Kindle with plenty of audio books downloaded. I don’t need special privilege to make life wonderful. Just a nice view, a few books, a quiet place to park my home, and a sweet dog who was ecstatic to see me.