“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”
― Henry Ward Beecher

So I have made it to my spot in Florida that I have for two months. The trip down was more of an adventure than I was anticipating. I left a day later than I had wanted to, but left New Hampshire with a chapter of my life completely closed.

I had people along the way to help me. Salem, a man with kind eyes helped me on a cold, dark morning, just south of Hartford on 91 south when my camper tire blew out. Fortunately, I kept control of my car and trailer and got it to a small shoulder. I had to pull it forward to get it to a safe place, where there was more than a foot of shoulder on each side. I was not destined to be roadkill that day.

My son’s girlfriend and her family hosted me for a lovely, home cooked meal near Ocean City, MD, where afterwards I continued my journey south on my full size spare tire. I am thankful for the quiet rest area just before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel where I could spend the night tucked into my camper.

I am thankful for Shawna, a lady at Portsmouth Trailer Supply in Portsmouth, Virgina. After crossing the bridge just after sunrise, I was at the shop at opening time with nothing but a hope that maybe they could help me with my trailer tires. An hour later, I had two new trailer tires and my spare was tucked back away where it belonged.

My patent midterm was due the Monday night of my trip. It was a long, cold, and rainy drive through the Carolina’s and I eventually found myself in a corner of a Starbucks drinking hot tea and working on my midterm. I am thankful for the baristas who refilled my tea mug twice.

Upon returning to my car, I discovered that it was naked, and somewhere along windblown, rain-soaked 95, lies my cardboard license plate, as my metal ones had not arrived from the state. Given that there was absolutely nothing I could do, I added the plate information to the backside of the plastic insert of my front plate, screwed it into the tailgate and continued on my way. It’s a vanity plate and the state was going to send the metal ones any day. I am thankful that I had that plastic insert, which held up until my actual metal plates arrived and took their rightful places on my new car.

Over my music, driving in the darkness, I heard a loud crack, but everything seemed to be ok. After a restless night, with poor sleep, almost two days of no meals and just snacks, I reached the first rest area in Florida in the early morning. There was a spot for me to park, I changed into my pajamas, brushed my teeth, took some Sudafed, as I was starting to not feel great and blissfully passed out for about an hour and half.

Waking refreshed, I changed and got ready to continue my southward trek. Then I saw it, the seven inch crack in my brand new windshield. Desperate for coffee and a few sundries from Target, I stopped in Ocala. A brief conversation with my State Farm office in Concord, NH, my windshield was scheduled to be replaced while staying at my campsite at St. Petersburg. My first actual stop where I could breathe and rest. I am thankful for Matt who just took care of everything.

And I made it. Brett, from Glass America replaced my windshield while I was working on schoolwork at my campsite. A dear law school friend of mine lives 20 minutes away and for the first time in several days I simply rested. A walk, a home cooked meal, and finishing the first season of Ted Lasso (courtesy of patent law hypotheticals) was all it took. All the blessings.

Unfortunately, Brett was unable to recalibrate my computer required due to my new windshield, but I am fortunate that I was able to schedule an appointment in Fort Lauderale to get it done, despite the fact that I had to unhitch and unload, making it look like I was either moving into the sketchy parking lot or just kicked out by an angry boyfriend. Brendon got the job done and I was on my way through Miami traffic to my last landing spot before my final destination.

The last days on the mainland were filled with schoolwork, I spent time looking for swamp puppies in the Everglades, and realized that somehow, the iPad I use for any shows as well as for school was completely shattered and I was starting to lose pieces of glass. Juan at the repair place was able to fix it that day, as much as I hemmed and hawed about how expensive it was going to be. Given how much I actually use it, I am thankful it was able to be done.

I arrived and landed on my little piece of asphalt in the Florida Keys on November 1st, I hooked up to the utilities and was done. My body decided I really needed to rest as well and forced me to stay close to my camper as possible as I got dreadfully sick, afraid it was going to end up being a type of pneumonia. I ended up losing my voice completely for the last 3 days of that week long illness. I was alone, I could not connect to my friends in Key West, but I was ok. I am thankful I found a natural food store that had the herbs I needed to make my own medicine, as the conventional stuff was not working. The woman in the store put up with my whispering and reduced ability to communicate. The slippery elm and marshmallow root decoction mixed with honey soothed my throat and lungs that burned with every swallow and cough. It was nice to return to my medicinal roots.

I have more to write, but that is a different post for a different day. I made it down, I am safe. I am ok. I managed to continue to turn in all my schoolwork on time throughout the journey. I cannot thank enough all of my helpers along the way who helped me with my troubles. I have a couple of friends who touched based every day, even if it was just for proof of life. I have since connected with my Key West friends.

There was a lot that happened, yet there were so many blessings. With every hardship, someone was there to help in ways I have never experienced before. The world feels like it is a mess right now. Even as division, hatred, and violence scream on our screens, there is kindness, there is compassion, there is grace for a weary traveler. I am forever thankful to everyone, those who are still in my life and those that briefly touched it to render help and support. You never know how your interactions ripple in someone’s life.

Be good to each other, for then we can all be blessings upon others. Much peace to you all, my friends.