10 year ago today...

i began day 2 of my trip north from Huntington to Bellingham, waking up in Gold Beach, Oregon for the last leg of the drive. my geo tracker was loaded to the gills. up early, i left before dawn. highway 101 was icy. my tracker spun out & i was stuck facing west instead of north. a semi was barrelling down the road close behind me [part of the reason i had been driving faster than i should have]. before i could get the chance to restart my car & move safely to the side, he came roaring around the corner, saw me in his lights & pitched his rig into the side of the road. he hit the back of my tracker, spinning me around but thank god not off the road. all i could do when i saw his headlights was scream, i can only imagine the look on my face if he was able to see me that close.

the cops came. neither of us got a ticket so no fault. i had to beg the AAA tow truck guy to do a quick fix on my bumper so i could continue northward. this wasn't the end of my day. around Portland back on I5 is started snowing! it snowed through Seattle. by the time i made it to the skagit casino, i could go no farther in my tracker. less than 20 miles from my destination, i again begged another AAA tow truck driver to take me the rest of the way & he did. he was even freaked out driving in the storm with his fancy tow truck. once we made it to bellingham & a short push from the gas station to the driveway i was here [for the first time]. that night N & i started dating each other & have been together since. a couple of stat to state moves, cats, cars & more we're still having a great time.

i love you!