Flippen

We left Daytona this morning, but before doing so, we finally opened our Christmas crackers.  These were supposed to be used on New Year's Eve, and then New Year's Day, but we simply didn't get around to it.  It's an English tradition more than anything, so this was done with Nana in mind, although it's fun for all of us - you pull at them and they pop!  Then you get what's inside, the colorful paper crown, and the gift inside.  There were useful things inside, like tape measure, a bottle opener, measuring spoons and other items.  So these were actually practical gifts, and in fact the tape measure was something Ba-ba was needing!

Anyway, we did that traditional, just as we did last New Year's Eve, and it was fun.  The rest of the morning we were packing, and lamenting the fact that it seemed like we just got here.  It's been a whirlwind sort of week, going up to Tennessee and then down here to Florida.  Coincidentally, a lot of other people from Tennessee were here in Florida to watch their football team play in the Gator Bowl.  Like them, we were all going home, going north today.

Like them, we were all doing just fine until we got to the Atlanta area.  I'll give you one guess what county it was that caused all the damage.  You probably already know.  Certainly if you've read this blog before, you know.

HENRY COUNTY

Madison was cracking up at one town we saw here in Henry County.  It's called "Flippen."  The laughter came when we were talking:  “We’re in the Flippen city limits!  Look, there’s the Flippen Library!  I wonder what the Flippen speed limit is?  I just love this Flippen place!”

We had stopped at the Chick-Fill-A in Cordele like always, and it was great.  And we filled up on gas there too.  We went through a crazy rain storm that had a look about it like it was something from the midwest.  But the traffic started in Spalding and was huge ordeal all throughout Henry County.  We got off at one exit, and just sat there at the Chick-Fil-A in McDonough, wondering how we were ever going to get home!  Daddy decided to try out that route 23 you see above, and right off the bat there was this car accident on route 20 to McDonough that stopped everyone.  But we made it past that, got stuck in traffic in McDonough itself, and finally found freedom with that route 23.  We drove on that one north to I-675, to I-285, to 400, and to freedom.  It took a while - two extra hours today - but we eventually made it home, exhausted from the epic journey.  It wasn't that epic until we got to Henry County, but the weather and the returning holiday traffic made it one of the most brutal traffic situations we've ever endured.  It just kept going on and on.  This little map above shows only a small part of the misery that is that stupid part of the I-75 in Henry County.

But we're home, and we're safe, so all is well.  We read some more from "Prince Caspian" tonight, and said our prayers, thanking God for the safe journey.  We're back, and we're ready for a good night's rest, and even a restful day tomorrow.  It's been a good start to the year.