Simple America

I stayed up all night packing and loading the van for the evacuation. My daughter stayed up with me and she was a great a help. AT four o’clock I decided to take a shower. I’d rather start off clean at least.

I have never done this before. Run from a hurricane. When I was youger I would tease folks that ran for safer climes. Now that I have kids the old attitude is not acceptable or to be considered.

Walking through the house one last time is very melancholy. I’m wondering if I will be able to do this again.

I come out of the shower and it is 4:45. My daughter is dozing and I wake her up. I want to leave now. She starts packing the food. I go upstairs and upon the third attemp my son realizes I am reall. The journey starts at 5;15 with Green Day playing. Listen to the entire album twice. I travelled a total of three miles. And that was how I started my day.

When we left home I told the kids we would go to IHOP (International House of Pancakes) when we get to Bryan. I thought my trip might take three hours to complete. It would take me twelve hours and fifteen minutes to arrive in Brenham, TX. A journey of 70 miles. It usally takes me an hour. I averaged less than 5 miles an hour until I left Bellville.

During this time I would see displays of unfair treatment. A small town’s police department made certain their residents had priority where two streams of traffic merged. I though I would never get beyond that intersection. My son had to learn how to pee in a cup, since he refused to go on the side of the road. My daughter and I held our water all the way to Brenham.

The traffic was so thick I dare not exit the highway and get food as I might not be allowed to get back on the road. Fortunately, we packed plenty of food and water. Never had to stop.

In Belleville the driver behind me hit my van with her SUV. It woke my kids up. My daughter asked me what did I do. I gathered my wits and informed her that it was not me. So I got out of the Quest and looked at the rear bumber. Could not really see a scratch on the van. None on her SUV either. I was miffed, but I was fortunate to have not hit anyone myself. I let her off, as I saw no damages. Everyone was under enough stress already. I was so tired I kept nodding. Once I was within inches of the truck I followed. My daughter yelled at me and the other driver pulled up, thus avoiding a collision.

I saw at least a half a dozen emergency vehicles respond to accidents and I suspect stress related condtions, perhaps heart attacks during the day.

We arrived in Sealy at 1:00 and we thought about eating at the Whataburger there, but there was no apparent parking, so I kep on going. The restaurants on the other side of I-10 were closed. Sealy gets my compliments too. They really moved us quickly threw there town and I actually exceeded 30 mph for two miles. Problem was the police did not help the county which was no where to be seen. The 18 mile drive to Bellville would not be completed until 5:00.

The way the trip up to Bellville went scared me a bit. I worried that I would run out of gas. There was known on the road I travelled. Fortunately, I topped off in the morning when I left.

As I left Bellville it felt like the parting of the Red Sea. All the traffic went left and I went straight. For the next 18 miles I travelled at highway speeds. Very refreshing in deed. Went to Whataburger and it was closed. Too make things interesting my son kicked over his cup of pee. You can guess who had to clean up the mess. Fortunately it was not that bad. Burger King was nearby but also closed. McDonald’s is on the other side of the freeway. I need to go to the loo, BAD. So does my girl. We went to Wal-Mart and powdered our nose. They also had a Subway sandwhich and we ate there.

The walk and meal made me tired. I looked at my phone and I saw I missed 13 calls. Damn! I called Preston and he gave me some roads to take that should get me to Bryan. So I kept driving north until I it HW 105 and then FM 50 and finally HW 60 all the way to Bryan. Was a relief to arrive at Preston’s home. I am totally in his debt.The time of my journey’s end is 8:30. I am there just when I thought plus 12 hours.

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