After a good nights sleep I tried to sneak out early. Nope... Becki's Grandpa had set the table so beautifully and had coffee waiting.
No problem. I'll sit and enjoy this time since I no longer have grandparents, I never KNEW my grandpa's and... well... I just love old people. They make me smile and feel sad all at the same time.
On the road it was foggy... rainy... dreary... almost like the world was displaying how I felt inside.
What was I doing?
Where was I going?
All this for a man??
I thought back to the adventure's I'd had the last couple weeks... where I had all been... and it made me think of the past 12 years of my life. I have lived a lot in those 12 years.
Bought houses
Travelled non stop
Fell in love, fell out, fell back in
Recorded CD's
Made amazing friends that all impacted my life... whether they were just for a season of it or not.
Was "tight" with God, made some choices where I didn't include him, was reminded... what a life.
And now this, this was a new chapter I was stepping into.
On this car ride, it felt a little forced on me. Which is never good since up until that point I was always in "control".
Once I saw my beautiful man I felt joy... but I couldn't help the sort or mourning feeling that I had inside as well. Melissa Plett would never be who she was 3 days ago...
Fast forward a couple days and this is what I wrote back then.. in the moment:
So I promised I'd come
I promised I'd give it a real good attempt at making my life work in French Land but seriously!!! Could the weather be any worse?!
It's been snowing each morning and raining the rest... it's grey, wet, awful.
If you're already lonesome, down, resistant or anything negative... this does NOT help!
Why wouldn't the sky be all "Hey Melissa, see how awesome it is here! There's wine, cheese, mountains, valley's, rivers, and so much for you to explore! Come on! Get out there! Enjoy Quebec!"
No.
It's more like; "Hey Melissa. Get out of here. We don't want your Mennonite kind soiling our land."
Would you believe the only thing on TV said something negative about the "English in Quebec"?!
And it looked as though they were having an honest fight about it.
The sound was off since it was at the gym (where I fought HARD not to get too... but lost that battle against Keven), but I could lip read "English does NOT belong in Quebec! Leave... LEAVE, LEEEEEEEAVE!!!"
Yup. That's what they said alright.
Thankfully it was at that point when Keven came in.
Smiling, like he always does, and happy to see me... he broke my thought and "saved the day".
Don't get me wrong, it certainly wasn't all lollipops and gummy bears.
I still spent the next week or so crying almost every day, wrote a perfectly depressing song, and fought everyday to accept my potential new "fate"...
A little bit of time working out, a whole lot of love and support from the strongest man I've ever been so lucky to meet, and finally, FINALLY, some sunshine helped me see a bit of potential to the choice I was making...
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
#10
Drive into Chicago and stop a bit or just keep going?
Just keep going.
Quick stop for fuel, got a little route advice from a trucker;
"Hmmmm... trucker.... trucker.... who looks like a tru- Oh! There's one!"
A couple "pick me up's" and we were good to go!
Once the coffee ran out it was time for the "5 Hour Energy" shots!
That's right. We timed it just to make sure they weren't scamming us.
And believe me... they weren't!
A couple hours down the road and a WHOLE bunch of hyper kicked in! Was it the energy shots or just the fact that we'd been on the road for quite some time and maybe... just MAYBE we were gettin' a bit exhausted?
Naw... it was the shots.
A little bit of rain, many miles 'n' hours later and we made it... we were in Buffalo.
I never ONCE thought Buffalo would be what it, well, is.
We started following the very limited signs to "Peace Bridge".
Only AFTER the correct exit did we notice the sign, no big deal, this HWY will loop by the water, I'll take the next exit and make my way back. Right?
Wrong.
I DID do just that and it seemed as though we were heading into an artsy part of the city. Cafe's with flowers painted on them, a life size white horse statue on the street tied to a--- WHAT THE?! There's a life size horse statue tied to a parking meter! We gotta loop back and check that out!!
Another vehicle did the same thing and so we figured it must be more tourists!
As we sat in front of the horse and liquor store looking for our camera... riffling through everything (yes everything, wallets, passports, luggage), with the interior lights on I began to notice the new SUV that looped back was just sitting there... oh wait... someone got out. But there standing there talking to the people in the vehicle... and look... there's a man smoking outside the liquor store... he's looking at us... now the man standing outside the SUV is becoming aware of us...
"You know what Becki... I think we're in the wrong place..."
"Yeah...?"
"Yeah I think we need to go... as in now! Sit down!"
At that I took off before she sat, before the light was off.
It's one thing when you're the only one feeling a little "nervous" but the fact we both started feeling it at the same time...
And why the heck WAS that horse standing there... in such a shady place with a empty McDonalds cup on his back?!
We raced down the street and a few seconds later came to an intersection. Almost like a dead end but an intersection... where all the houses were trashed... graffiti on all the walls, windows broken... as we became more aware of our surroundings a car raced around the corner;
"GIRLS!!!!"
"We are DEFINITELY in the wrong place"
We took a quick right to get away from the car full of guys and then Becki notice.
"Ummm Melissa this street is called Normal Street"
"You know what Becki, if they have to CALL it normal... you know it's not!"
We kept driving quickly, looking for signs, nothing, every once in a while it said "Peace Bridge" but there weren't any arrows. It felt as if locals took them down just hoping people would get stuck in that hole of a town. We decided to take a sketchy looking street that went under a bridge in the direction of, what looked to be, some old abandoned commercial buildings.
Some how from there we found the awkward, and not at all clear, way to the border.
Yes! Made it!
Becki was so excited she shot a photo of the lights! (Yeah I should was my windows)
I know the guard asked us a couple of the usual questions but maybe 2 questions in I blurted:
"Wow that place is sketchy!!"
His response "Well, it IS Buffalo..."
Turns out Buffalo has the highest gangs per capita or something crazy.
As we stared at him, eyes WIDE open, it was pretty clear we weren't gettin' into trouble and had NOTHING to declare.
He didn't ask much more and let us back into Canada.
Oh sweet Canada!
We made our way to Becki's Grampa's and only then remembered.
"Oh wait! We did have something to declare... a whole bunch of beer for our boyfriends!"
Oops!
Just keep going.
Quick stop for fuel, got a little route advice from a trucker;
"Hmmmm... trucker.... trucker.... who looks like a tru- Oh! There's one!"
A couple "pick me up's" and we were good to go!
Once the coffee ran out it was time for the "5 Hour Energy" shots!
And believe me... they weren't!
A couple hours down the road and a WHOLE bunch of hyper kicked in! Was it the energy shots or just the fact that we'd been on the road for quite some time and maybe... just MAYBE we were gettin' a bit exhausted?
Naw... it was the shots.
A little bit of rain, many miles 'n' hours later and we made it... we were in Buffalo.
I never ONCE thought Buffalo would be what it, well, is.
We started following the very limited signs to "Peace Bridge".
Only AFTER the correct exit did we notice the sign, no big deal, this HWY will loop by the water, I'll take the next exit and make my way back. Right?
Wrong.
I DID do just that and it seemed as though we were heading into an artsy part of the city. Cafe's with flowers painted on them, a life size white horse statue on the street tied to a--- WHAT THE?! There's a life size horse statue tied to a parking meter! We gotta loop back and check that out!!
Another vehicle did the same thing and so we figured it must be more tourists!
As we sat in front of the horse and liquor store looking for our camera... riffling through everything (yes everything, wallets, passports, luggage), with the interior lights on I began to notice the new SUV that looped back was just sitting there... oh wait... someone got out. But there standing there talking to the people in the vehicle... and look... there's a man smoking outside the liquor store... he's looking at us... now the man standing outside the SUV is becoming aware of us...
"You know what Becki... I think we're in the wrong place..."
"Yeah...?"
"Yeah I think we need to go... as in now! Sit down!"
At that I took off before she sat, before the light was off.
It's one thing when you're the only one feeling a little "nervous" but the fact we both started feeling it at the same time...
And why the heck WAS that horse standing there... in such a shady place with a empty McDonalds cup on his back?!
We raced down the street and a few seconds later came to an intersection. Almost like a dead end but an intersection... where all the houses were trashed... graffiti on all the walls, windows broken... as we became more aware of our surroundings a car raced around the corner;
"GIRLS!!!!"
"We are DEFINITELY in the wrong place"
We took a quick right to get away from the car full of guys and then Becki notice.
"Ummm Melissa this street is called Normal Street"
"You know what Becki, if they have to CALL it normal... you know it's not!"
We kept driving quickly, looking for signs, nothing, every once in a while it said "Peace Bridge" but there weren't any arrows. It felt as if locals took them down just hoping people would get stuck in that hole of a town. We decided to take a sketchy looking street that went under a bridge in the direction of, what looked to be, some old abandoned commercial buildings.
Some how from there we found the awkward, and not at all clear, way to the border.
Yes! Made it!
I know the guard asked us a couple of the usual questions but maybe 2 questions in I blurted:
"Wow that place is sketchy!!"
His response "Well, it IS Buffalo..."
Turns out Buffalo has the highest gangs per capita or something crazy.
As we stared at him, eyes WIDE open, it was pretty clear we weren't gettin' into trouble and had NOTHING to declare.
He didn't ask much more and let us back into Canada.
Oh sweet Canada!
We made our way to Becki's Grampa's and only then remembered.
"Oh wait! We did have something to declare... a whole bunch of beer for our boyfriends!"
Oops!
Friday, April 8, 2011
#9 - Cheese Anyone?
You know what one of the best parts of waking up is?
That's right, a good cup of coffee.
Mmmmm...
Surprisingly our hotel had just that!
No continental breakfast but fantastic coffee!
Places that SPECIALIZE in breakfast seem to get it wrong and for a hotel to get it right?!
Am I right or am I right?
(I'm right)
Two cups in, we loaded the car up and made a quick detour to the Mall of America.
Remember the whole thing about my trunk not locking?
We found a spot as close to the door as possible, backed the car up to the half wall, got a little close to the wall (Ok, I hit it), then went in and found some greasy spoon diner in the food court!
Naturally we danced to the oldies, met some new people that were eagerly trying to "Get in on our adventure" according to Becki, and then we were served with smiley faces as if we were children!
Becki had to do a little shopping for Anth's birthday and I tried on my new favorite sweater...
which I should have bought... cause it's awesome...
Now... remember the "tire noise" from the night before?
Yeah, it wasn't going away.
A little while down the road I still couldn't seem to narrow down what it was. I FINALLY found a tire store where I had to pretty well BEG the guy to check the tires.
"No no... that doesn't sound like it would be from your tire. Maybe there's something wrong with your engine. We could check that out!"
"Ummm... can we just BRING a gage out there? Just to see. I'm thinking it's a tire... it seems to really act up when I'm going over 100"
"100?!!!!!!"
"Sorry. 60. I was talking in KM..."
Oh MAN you should have seen his face. Ha! Priceless.
FINALLY he gave in and came out with me.
One tire? Fine
Next tire? Needed a bit of air but not that bad.
Third tire?...
"Oh WOW! Yup! That's your problem!"
Turns out I was right, it was the tire. I couldn't help but rub it in;
"See! It helps being a girl from the country! We know a thing or two!"
The tire was bulging so bad he was surprised I didn't have a blowout already. If you looked at it from the side it was HORRIBLE. All the wires, or whatever you call them, were sticking out.
Phew! Good thing we stopped.
Once that was taken care of we were motivated to get on the road so we could check out Chicago nice and early. For some reason, however, those two cups of coffee were long out of our system so we HAD to cross the freeway for a little Caribou. This time we took advantage of the 1/2 price specialty coffee's.
Ok ok, NOW we'll get going...
Moments later Becki screamed out:
"CHEESE HAUS!!"
So that's what happened, we took the quickest exit for Wisconsin's finest cheese!
What was going to be a quick stop lasted well over an hour... they had a "Beer Cave" where we shopped for fantastic local micro brewery beers, had the owner create a cheese plate for us (which they don't usually do), listened to his life story and plans of bed and breakfasts, and enjoyed this goldmine we discovered.
Some local man came in for a quick cheese fix and decided to share his Dill Cheese Curds with us! Mmmmm they were tasty...
On his way out he mumbled something, we said "Thanks for the cheese" and at that he came back and dumped half the bag on our plate.
"No no no sir, these are yours! That's too much!! Thank you though"
He just kept walking away... mumbling;
"No, you girls need to eat them. You're too skinny."
Aw America... porkin' everyone up!
It was around sunset we realized it was probably time we get going.
And that's what we did... until I had one of my epic "Oh no... I gotta pee" moments which got scary. Fast.
Lets just say from THAT stop on we decided it was best I had some paper along...
Needless to say, what was supposed to be quick drive to Chicago, took all day.
By the time we got there Becki had napped and I had lost all energy to go to a blues bar.
We drove around the airport looking for a hotel that WASN'T by the hour, pulled into a Shell Station and asked, what looked to be, the only "legit" guy for directions to a good room.
Becki - "Excuse me sir... do you know where there are any hotels near by?"
Man - stares blankly at Becki
Becki - "Hotels? Do you know where there is a hotel?"
Man - stares blankly at Becki
Becki - "Hooootel. Hotel? Ho-Tell? Hooo-"
Me - "Holiday Inn? Travelodge? Days Inn?'"
Man (Broken English) - "Awww! Yes! Hotel! Follow me!"
Once he lead us to some HOTEL'S we finally checked in. Which is good because by this point we were gettin a little cranky.
We then dropped our bags, apparently got some energy back, and ran around like little girls exploring the hotel. We played in the hotel's gym where Becki tried to teach me a yoga head stand...
Not a chance.
Went back up to the room to taste our local beer as we watched reality tv and fell asleep.
Yeah, ok... I fell asleep before Becki... this was evidant since I woke to:
"Melissa! Are you sleeping and changing channels?"
"Huh?! Wha?! Oh... sorry. Well, here's hopin' I don't start talking to you once YOU'RE asleep!"
Lights Out.
That's right, a good cup of coffee.
Mmmmm...
Surprisingly our hotel had just that!
No continental breakfast but fantastic coffee!
Places that SPECIALIZE in breakfast seem to get it wrong and for a hotel to get it right?!
Am I right or am I right?
(I'm right)
Two cups in, we loaded the car up and made a quick detour to the Mall of America.
Remember the whole thing about my trunk not locking?
We found a spot as close to the door as possible, backed the car up to the half wall, got a little close to the wall (Ok, I hit it), then went in and found some greasy spoon diner in the food court!
 |
| PERFECT! |
Now... remember the "tire noise" from the night before?
Yeah, it wasn't going away.
A little while down the road I still couldn't seem to narrow down what it was. I FINALLY found a tire store where I had to pretty well BEG the guy to check the tires.
"No no... that doesn't sound like it would be from your tire. Maybe there's something wrong with your engine. We could check that out!"
"Ummm... can we just BRING a gage out there? Just to see. I'm thinking it's a tire... it seems to really act up when I'm going over 100"
"100?!!!!!!"
"Sorry. 60. I was talking in KM..."
Oh MAN you should have seen his face. Ha! Priceless.
FINALLY he gave in and came out with me.
One tire? Fine
Next tire? Needed a bit of air but not that bad.
Third tire?...
"Oh WOW! Yup! That's your problem!"
Turns out I was right, it was the tire. I couldn't help but rub it in;
"See! It helps being a girl from the country! We know a thing or two!"
The tire was bulging so bad he was surprised I didn't have a blowout already. If you looked at it from the side it was HORRIBLE. All the wires, or whatever you call them, were sticking out.
Phew! Good thing we stopped.
Once that was taken care of we were motivated to get on the road so we could check out Chicago nice and early. For some reason, however, those two cups of coffee were long out of our system so we HAD to cross the freeway for a little Caribou. This time we took advantage of the 1/2 price specialty coffee's.
Ok ok, NOW we'll get going...
Moments later Becki screamed out:
"CHEESE HAUS!!"
So that's what happened, we took the quickest exit for Wisconsin's finest cheese!
 |
| Mmmmmm... |
I tried the smelly goat cheese and Becki decided to shoot my play by play of "Ok,ok not so bad" too...
"The WORST thing I have ever tasted!!"
Becki, on the other hand, LOVED the stuff. "The stinkier the better!"
On his way out he mumbled something, we said "Thanks for the cheese" and at that he came back and dumped half the bag on our plate.
"No no no sir, these are yours! That's too much!! Thank you though"
He just kept walking away... mumbling;
"No, you girls need to eat them. You're too skinny."
Aw America... porkin' everyone up!
It was around sunset we realized it was probably time we get going.
And that's what we did... until I had one of my epic "Oh no... I gotta pee" moments which got scary. Fast.
Lets just say from THAT stop on we decided it was best I had some paper along...
Needless to say, what was supposed to be quick drive to Chicago, took all day.
By the time we got there Becki had napped and I had lost all energy to go to a blues bar.
We drove around the airport looking for a hotel that WASN'T by the hour, pulled into a Shell Station and asked, what looked to be, the only "legit" guy for directions to a good room.
Becki - "Excuse me sir... do you know where there are any hotels near by?"
Man - stares blankly at Becki
Becki - "Hotels? Do you know where there is a hotel?"
Man - stares blankly at Becki
Becki - "Hooootel. Hotel? Ho-Tell? Hooo-"
Me - "Holiday Inn? Travelodge? Days Inn?'"
Man (Broken English) - "Awww! Yes! Hotel! Follow me!"
Once he lead us to some HOTEL'S we finally checked in. Which is good because by this point we were gettin a little cranky.
We then dropped our bags, apparently got some energy back, and ran around like little girls exploring the hotel. We played in the hotel's gym where Becki tried to teach me a yoga head stand...
Not a chance.
Went back up to the room to taste our local beer as we watched reality tv and fell asleep.
Yeah, ok... I fell asleep before Becki... this was evidant since I woke to:
"Melissa! Are you sleeping and changing channels?"
"Huh?! Wha?! Oh... sorry. Well, here's hopin' I don't start talking to you once YOU'RE asleep!"
Lights Out.
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