Vacation over. Back to the Hodgepodge routine...

Hello everyone!   I was away on vacation last week so I missed the weekly Hodgepodge questions.  I had a lovely time visiting family in northern Ohio and the weather was about as perfect as it could have been.  No rain.  Temps in the low 80's with low humidity.   Now, I'm back in the humid lowcountry and I'm still catching up on laundry, cleaning, errands, etc.  Question: how can only one week away get me so behind on everything?    

Here are the Hodgepodge questions and my answers.  Play along!

1.   When I look at the sky I feel ________________.  

Here in my part of the world we have beautiful blue skies, called Carolina Blue, and they are gorgeous in color - and expansive.  Sometimes there is not a cloud in the sky.  When I see this kind of sky I think it's absolutely amazing!  I think I'm lucky to live in an area free from smog and pollution.

I thank God for such a beautiful sky.

2.  If you had to run for political office, which would you run for?  Do you have any real desire to actually do this? 

Wait.  I have to stop laughing.     Run for political office??   Not a chance.     But, if I HAD to choose an office, I would have to pick something on a local level.  A city council member or mayor might be a position to consider in hopes of actually making a difference for the better.   State and national political offices are so tainted with special interests, and with nonpartisan stand-offs, that I think I would be frustrated beyond belief - and totally lose faith in my fellowman.  

3.   What scent makes you think of home? 

I have mentioned this before, but I love the smell of my linen closet.   Crisp, clean sheets nicely stacked in the closet… have a fresh smell. I love it!

 I also love the smell of my coffee in the morning as I sit at the kitchen table in front of my computer.   It's a good way to start the day.

4.  How often do you take a step back to think about where you're headed in life?  Do you need more or less reflection? 

Because I enjoy quiet time, and being alone, I feel I reflect everyday.  Sometimes it's in prayer, sometimes it's with a glass of wine on my porch.  Sometimes I reflect in the shower - I do some of my best thinking there!    So, I reflect often.  But, specifically about where I am headed in life?   Not  really.  I'm at an age that I know my life path.  I am content with it.  I am happy to let the days play out…

5.   July is National Ice Cream Month…   besides a cone, what's your favorite food ten to top with ice-cream? 

I don't do it very often, but I have to answer that a piece of warm pie is awesome with a scoop of ice cream on top.  Any warm pie will do.  Apple, cherry, pecan…   with vanilla ice cream on top!

6.  What might your autobiography be called? 

Seriously?  I don't know if it would be interesting to read - and it certainly would not be a best seller!
ha!!    How about "Making a Difference with Love and Kindness"….??   That's what I want to do.    Or,  "Marla Fabian, a life lived to serve.  A life filled with joy."   Sounds like a pretty good title!

7.  Your least favorite mode of transportation?  Why? 

I normally love car travel.  I like going on trips in my own vehicle so I can throw in whatever I want to take.  I can leave when I want…and take roads I prefer (or my GPS suggests!)  BUT, I just returned on Saturday from my vacation in Ohio and I had to travel down Interstate 77 South - through Ohio, West VA, Virginia, into North Carolina.  77 is a road that goes through a few cities but is mostly "in the middle of nowhere."

One would think it would be an easy drive….but NO!  Actually, Ohio wasn't bad this past Saturday.  But once in West Virginia the traffic got heavier (lots of vacationers on the road with me.)  West Virginia turns 77 into it's turnpike so it has three toll booth areas.  It accepts "Easy Pass" but does NOT have a designated booth for it.  This makes no sense to me.  So, I had to wait in backed up lines with people paying with cash. Ugh. The road is windy through there.  And, I can get claustrophobic with high mountains on both sides of me.  Oh, and did I mention it was raining?

There is always an area in Virginia where traffic backs up - even on a good day.  It's near Wytheville - and where 77 and 81 intersect.   Due to all the summer vacation traffic it was a nightmare this past weekend.  We were at a standstill a few times…and when not, we inched along.  It was so bad that workmen were spacing out vehicles going through the tunnels because they didn't want breakdowns in them…or people running out of gas inside, etc.   These were standstill areas.

We finally got to North Carolina and I dropped my daughter off at her home in Raleigh.   Only after that did traffic lighten enough to use the cruise control on my car.   We left northern Ohio at 6:00am and I got home in South Carolina close to 11:00pm.

So….   my view of car travel is not a good one right now.  But, I'm not a big fan of flying either.  When  it goes without a hitch it can be great…but it seems rare anymore.  Weather delays, maintenance issues, too few gates, etc.  All can throw a wrench into a trip by plane.

I haven't traveled by train in years. I took Amtrak once from Baltimore to Miami.  It was an adventure. Yes.  And it was a very long trip!  The train made many, many stops along the way.

So least favorite?     I have a few!!! ha

8.  My random thought. 

My summer has been rather busy so far. It's all been good, but I'm looking forward to a few weeks now with a bit more free time…to golf, read, go to the pool, walk the beach, garden, etc.   These are all  summer activities I enjoy.  So…summer, please slow down.  I want to enjoy you!!!