Tina Stewart Brakebill

Eleven hours later we arrived in Birmingham after enjoying one fifty-song 1980s play list, one six-episode podcast (Dirty John), one Georgia diner lunch, one (not our) car-on-fire delay, one road unexplainably blocked by a crane, and one Eufaula, Alabama history lesson (conducted from the passenger seat by yours truly).

fullsizeoutput_532 BRIEF ASIDE FOR A SLIVER OF THE HISTORY LESSON: Evidence of Eufaula’s wealth (made possible by enslaved labor and its location on the Chattahoochee River) is still abundant in its well preserved historic district. But I found this abandoned motel a more compelling image. Glorifying remnants of the antebellum south challenges my fierce sense of outrage given the current state of our political and cultural landscape.

A few hours later, we arrived at our hotel just out of Birmingham. Exhausted but feeling accomplished! After a couple of beers at the hotel bar and 30 minutes staring at TV, we were out!

Good thing because …

Day Two began even earlier. We woke at 3:45 (which was 4:45 for our still-in-the-eastern time zone frame of mind) so we got up at hit the road. Which meant we got to see this beautiful sunrise over the Tennessee River in Alabama. (Disclaimer: picture does not do it justice. Moving car. Dark. …)

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Much like the day before we had a playlist (50 great songs from last ten years), a podcast (started season three of Serial), road side food, and a lot of bathroom breaks, which included the fanciest rest stop I’ve ever seen. It’s actually on the register of National Historic Places in Kentucky. Fancy!

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But finally, eleven hours after we left we arrived at our interim destination!! And there were boots!!!

AND wine!!!!

And visits with friends and family. And 25 MPH winds. And a wind chill of 35 degrees!!!

It’s been a couple of good days. But tomorrow we hit the road again. This time for a marathon 744 miles.

Can We Do It?!

We’ll see.

Haiku & Other Poetry, Random Rants, Travel, tutto e niente

Calling All Boots

October 17, 2018January 29, 2020 Tina Stewart Brakebill

Today’s prompt from FOWC inspired me (one could say it prompted me) to say a few words about the road trip that begins when my husband and I rise Thursday morning at the beautifully dark hour of 4:30AM and hit the road by 5:30.

“Where ya headed?”

Glad you asked. We are going north to escape the endless summer that has wrapped Florida in its deadly grip. We seek the Fall! Memories of cute boots and scarves and blue jeans and sweaters beckon.

“Come to me!!” They call.

“Wear me.” They tease.

“Wrap me.” They whisper.

I am tingling with excitement.

Oh and I get to see friends and family too. So it’s a win-win.

Of course this road trip includes a giant triangle of driving—South Florida to middle Illinois to Washington DC to south Florida—so it’s possible I’ll change my mind about the win-win. But for now I’ve got the pod casts downloaded and the play lists set.

Here we come autumn!

Updates to follow 🎃 but here’s a haiku to keep you warm till then. It’s not great but … BOOTS!!

As the moon falls low

We rise for a journey long

Seeking boots of fall

Thanks RonovanWrites

Flash Fiction, tutto e niente

Unlock Her Heart

October 13, 2018January 29, 2020 Tina Stewart Brakebill

“To find what you seek, unlock the castle doors. Precious beyond words. But only words will open the way.”

“Open sesame!”

“Abracadabra”

“Shazam”

No luck. Jane’s heart was trapped behind those doors and they’d made it a game. But she was good at games. Think! Hours passed. Then she remembered. Gandalf! Say friend and enter!

“Words!”

And her heart bound out the door.