Closer to fine

Closer to fine
Originally uploaded by Olivia Linkel

Tonight I drove to Asheville by myself. I'll return home tomorrow afternoon. One of the best things about driving by yourself is that you have total control of the driving environment. For me, perfection is the sunroof and windows down and my favorite songs on my iPod blaring through the speakers. It's a mixed bag of music; Bob Marley, Peggy Lee, Fergie and Merle Haggard just to name a few. Of course I am singing along at the top of my lungs and immersed in my thoughts. I know the drive from Kannapolis to Asheville and back like the back of my hand. I know when I reach Gastonia, I am not far from home and I know the Stuckeys means I am headed up Old Fort and that the Swannanoa exit means I am nearly there. The great thing about this drive is that it is beautiful and varied, not like the boring stretch of I40 between Raleigh and Wilmington that I drove repeatedly in college. On 321 there are beautiful rolling farmlands near Lincolnton. And tonights drive was stellar. The irrigation system was on tonight, spraying the green fields and in the distance someone was flying a rainbow colored hot air balloon. And that's only where the spectacular began. The clouds were amazing as I turned west onto 40 and there was even a small rainbow, not the arched kind but one that is a small flash of color on the edge of the clouds. And 10 miles before I hit Marion, I was awed by the steam lifting from the roads and trees that had just witnessed a small rain storm. The sunset was amazing! Every time I come to Asheville I feel as if I am returning home. I love those mountains. I have been in the Sierra Nevada and had the most spiritual feeling in my life and I have seen the Rockies in Colorado. And as I realized on my drive tonight, in less than 1 month we will be headed towards Montana and Glacier National Park and yet, I cannot imagine it being as close to my heart as the Blue Ridge. Luckily, I get to come back with the FunV and the family on Friday for the holiday weekend. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.