Hello From The Boondocks

I'm out in the boondocks. Actually, I'm in a motel out in the boondocks. When I called to reserve it, I was surprised they had free Wi-fi. Seriously. It's the kind of town where the grocery stores all close down at 8pm...um, make that store...(singular). Yep, I used to live here - with Mike - when we first met and married. When I lived with my pal Connie.
I just came here for her funeral. I've been hoping I wouldn't run into another piece of my past that I've been running away from for years, who lives in a neighboring town...but, that's another story that doesn't necessarily need to be told...one of the skeleton's in my crowded closet. Somebody from the funeral told me she sees him all the time. It sounded as though she works with him at a restaurant, but our conversation was interrupted by somebody else who butted in to introduce themselves and I didn't want to seem too curious by bringing it up again...I didn't know if I should be too curious. (It killed the cat, you know.) I don't have the greatest track record with curiosity. It bites me, every time.
But, the funeral was as good as funerals get. They had an open mike for people to come and give testimonies to what Connie had meant to them. The place was packed...standing room only...and the only people with a story was Connie's pastor, her mom, her hubby, another girl...and me (as if I could sit there and not say something!). I spoke of how we lived together and how it was a dark time in both our lives and we supported each other. I shared that we should have both been devastated - she was a single mom of three little ones and I had just left a dangerous relationship - but we both marveled at the wonderful life we shared. We were inseperable. I knew that I was who I am because of her friendship, and that she was in heaven and Jesus was showing her the fingerprints she's made on all the souls she's touched...and she gets to share in all the rewards of that up in heaven...and I was confident that she was being lavished with many rewards! I shared that in the book of Hebrews, it talks of the saints of old as "the great cloud of witnesses" who cheer us on...and I believe she's joining them - cheering us on as we finish out what God has for us to do here on earth. Her dad is an evangelist and that brought him great comfort, he later told me...and I was so happy - because my prayer was that I would be able to encourage the family a little bit. Her parents are our dear friends. They come to visit us once in a while. (I've written about them - Pearl and Dale?)
Anyhow, now I'm in this hotel...I need to shower and pack the car and head out on my long drive back. I'm anxious to make the drive ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE STATE...ugh. Long drive! But, because Mike is in Canada, I've had to leave my teenagers alone for two nights. Yep - alone. Granted, the neighbors have all been alerted. (Thank God for good neighbors!) One neighbor offered to be the one on-call to drive them to and from events, if needed. Another neighbor has had them over for dinner both nights. So, they've been at school most of the day and got their homework done (I've called to check). This has been a first, though. Weird...that they're old enough to handle this. Weird.
It was nice to take the computer along, so I could do my work and have something to occupy my mind. I also took my camera and did a little photograpy. Nothing too earth-shattering, but I got out a bit.
Enough rambling. I just missed you and wanted to say hi. :) See you later - when I get home!