We packed up the truck (with the help of 3 amazing movers) on Friday, spent the night in the hotel, and left before the sun came up on Saturday. I was too tired to be sad. We drove to Dickson, TN (west side of Nashville) before we finally stopped for the night just in time to see kickoff of the OU-TTU game. Mom, Dad, Jason and I made the drive just fine. It was the two cats (Jack and Jake) that had a problem. And who could blame them. The poor things were stuck in kitty cages the entire drive.
The last time the Fentons made the drive to Texas we let the cats roam around in the car freely. Not smart. So this time the good lady at Petsmart assured us that putting the kids in the cages would be safer for them and for the driver. She even talked Jason into buying this Kitty Calming Spray that you spray in their cages to calm them down. I am not convinced it worked, because our cats were super mad at us the entire time (until they finally wore themselves out). They cried and cried, and towards the end of the day...Jack somehow figured out how to open the cage and escaped David Copperfield style. It was quite impressive for a cat.
What wasn't as impressive was the dismantling of my undergrad Alma matter, Texas Tech, by my grad school Alma matter, OU. Even though I have an advanced degree from the University of Oklahoma, I am in no way a Sooner. I really don't know if it is factual to say I even went to school their. OU has a room in a strip mall (satellite campus) in Washington, D.C. (believe it or not) where I attended classes for a year to get my degree. My parents bought me a plane ticket to Norman so they could come see their baby girl walk across the stage, but other than that one time, I have never stepped foot on campus. I guess you could say I am the step-child of OU. I am, however, a die hard Texas Tech Red Raider fan. I love them with all my heart...so much to say that I will be disappointed if my kids decide to go to school somewhere else.
My dad always tells me that Texas Tech will break your heart. And that night he was right. Riding high off of our winning streak, Tech fans across the nation were slammed back down to earth when we were literally creamed by the Oklahoma Sooners...pretty much ruining our chances of winning the Big 12 South. The only slim chance we have left is if Oklahoma State beats OU, knocking them out of the running and leaving it between Tech and Texas. Since Tech beat Texas, we would go.
But back to the road trip. Day two of driving was a little easier because the west side of TN on into Texas is a lot flatter. Jason and I spent most of the day in the Budget Rent-A-Truck, which was kind of fun. Until we got to Arkansas, where the roads are just as rough as the people (no offense to Arkansas folks who may be reading this).
Around 3:00 we finally rolled into Texas (I swear the sun shined brighter and their were angels singing). We spent our last night on the road in Fort Worth with Jason's parents. The next morning we woke up super early, borrowed Jason's little sister for slave labor, and headed South to Austin. That was pretty much out trip, not to eventful, just really long.
But in the present I am in Texas enjoying the first holiday with my new extended family. I am so thankful to be here, and thankful for all the friends I have both in Texas and in Washington, D.C. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who gave up his career to follow mine all the way back to Texas. I am thankful for my family, who is celebrating in White Deer today. I am thankful for our new house and our huge kitchen. I am thankful for Mike Leach, Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree (even if they did lose last weekend). I am just thankful...thankful for all the blessings in my life and for the plans that God has in store for us here in Texas.
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