I must say right now that traveling is hard on the body.  It is getting even more so as I get older.  I do not sleep as well in a strange bed, and I have found myself spoiled by hotels instead of catnapping in rest areas on my road trips. 

     My recent drive was to a wonderful school for my daughters orientation.  We packed up the rental car and headed out to Bob Jones University in South Carolina,  even though we are not Southern Baptist, we are southern and we are of the Baptist persuasion. 

     It was a beautiful University, and though a few of my scripture understandings are different, I think my daughter will get a top notch education. 

     It has been a long time since I had headed south from my transplanted home here in New Jersey.  I had forgotten about that true and noticible southern hospitality.  I know I must have made the first few people nervous, because it was shocking how much I missed it, and I ended up with a really goofy smile when they spoke.  I look forward to the drive down in august when my daughter returns to the school. 

   This is where the term bittersweet will apply.  I am going to miss my daughter an extreme amount.  I will cry I know it,  and try to take comfort from some of that southern charm.  I am happy in the knowledge that she already has a friend there to look forward to seeing.  I know already when she comes home she will be different, more grown up and self assured.   Living on your own will do that to you.  I know she will blossom and be more of the woman she is already.  What it all boils down to is, I have more reason now to love the south, more reasons to have the blues when I think of how far away it is.

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