Most of the week I was in Arizona, where I bought a Nissan Quest minivan on Craigslist, part of a scheme for doing some traveling with my girls next year. Next Year?! Look out, 2010 is almost upon us!
I decided the best antidote for the Christmas blues was to concentrate on a plan or two, get out my Atlas and plot a few courses for expeditions in Mexico and later when it thaws out, the US. I have two sisters and a mother* to visit, friends in the Northwest, and antique store owners who have never seen our map guide.
The Quest is the most scaled-down van I've ever seen, hardly bigger than an ordinary sedan, and just as easy to drive. The rebuilt engine has only 35,000 miles on it, so for a 1999 it has plenty of years left. No serious dings on the body, the only paint scratches are on the back bumper, and inside it looks almost new. The plan is to pull out the middle two seats and install a small bed, maybe with storage space underneath, since there's no trunk.
I think I'll name her Blanche. We'll get by with the kindness of strangers and a little help from our friends.
*About Mom: not only is she now able to take half-mile walks around the lake at the assisted living home where she lives, but she can read again! My sister gave her some of my old letters from decades ago. Imagine that: my sis actually kept my old letters. I feel like giving her a big hug.
12 comments:
Nice wheels and good plans.
p.s Blanche was my favourite name of a character in one of my favourite dramas as a kid which was called Tenko. It's probably why I moved to Japan.
I HOPE one of those trips will be to come to San Miguel! Good for you. Moving on.........I still have an airline ticket to Hermosillo that has to be used by February - can't figure out when I can work that in since I'll be gone for most of Dec and Jan - but I'm going to try.....
Glad you had a good time yesterday - you were on my mind!
I'm so happy for you.... A PLAN OF ACTION! The name Blanche is perfect... conjures up the spirit of Blanche in the Golden Girls, so feisty. Did you know Rue McClanahan is an Okie too!!!? She's from Ardmore and graduated with my uncle.
Excellent plan.
If you plan to camp in your van, you might benefit from perusing the files at VanDwellers@yahoogroups.com. The chats themselves can get pretty far afield, but there are good files and photos.
Judie Ashford
Good for you, lady. You're doing everything right.
Good for you, lady. You're doing everything right.
Hey, nice ride! What'cha gonna do with the Ferd?
It may not seem like it, but you have a lot to be thankful for this year! And did we read a trip to the Northwest???
Get yourself a blow up mattress and fold the back seats down and you have yourself a great camper van!!...Congratts.
Felipe & Overboard - Well, you know what they say about life, it's what happens to you while you're making other plans.
Babs - Por cierto, I want to come to SMA. It's way up at the top of my Mexico expedition list. Now don't you show up in Hermo when I'm headed your way.
Cyn and Mike - You read right. Between boaters and bloggers, I have at least a dozen friends up that way, plus there are customers to tend to and scenery to ogle. Can't wait!
MexTrail - If only!
Judilyn - Wow, thanks for the lead! I'll check it out.
Anonymous - I have yet to find an air mattress at any cost that would hold the air more than a day. If you know of one, clue me, please.
Jay - Sell it, to defray the cost of the new ride. But if you come visit you can drive it while you're here.
Overboard - I was thinking of Blanche Dubois, so you'll have to fill me in on the other Blanche.
jomamma - Right, I forgot about that Blanche. She did have a lot more moxie than the "Streetcar" lady. Good role model.
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