It was a ‘Grand’ New Year’s Eve

We’re not really ‘New Year’s Eve’ kind of people. For me New Year’s eve parties are a tiny bit over rated. I usually want to go home by 9:30 or 10:00 and have to try and figure out how to keep acting ‘pleasant’ for 2-3 more hours.

On Dec. 28th we headed off to Salt Lake City bright and early, as it was an 11-12 hour drive. It was snowing as we left, so we’d carefully packed winter gear (sleeping bags, woolly hats and gloves, boots and snacks, well, I should say ‘extra’ snacks) just in case.

The plan was to stay for two days.

Our hotel was right near all kinds of stores.

Oh, my gosh….Barnes & Noble….

Sportsman’s Warehouse….

Best Buy…

Lowes, what do we need? Grout, stop there for sure.

We didn’t go for the stores we went to see My Other Girl and Number 5 Son and our Little Miss. My Loving Spouse needed to bring her a little Teddy Bear for Christmas, just like the one he was given many years ago. There were tears in his eyes, when she got it.

We headed home on New Year’s eve at 6:30 am with lite snow and lite traffic. We planned to be home by 6:00 pm, it was a mere 700 miles and then at 2:30 with only 218 miles left to go, we got invited to a ‘Grand’ New Year’s Eve Party.

“Hwy closed at Le Grande”.

Stuck in Le Grande, Oregon. Check the map, there are no other routes nearby. We filled up the car and secured our spot in the parking lot at the Flying J truck stop, and watched the other invitees roll in. We listened to our book (The Woman in Cabin 10) and mentally recalculated what time we were going to get home. The party had drinks courtesy of the party supply store (Flying J).

The party had a dance floor and everyone did ‘the’ dance. Showcasing their moves as they made their way across the ice and snow when crossing the parking lot attempting to stay upright.

The weather was…cold and got colder. Instead of tracking the minutes dropping until the New Year, My Loving Spouse was tracking the temperature dropping to -17 at the lowest point. I’d unrolled my sleeping bag, but we were fine in our Hybrid car, which ran all night keeping us warm.

We had our own New Year’s Eve ‘ball’ high in the sky…

Which fortunately for us did not fall down.

On one of my trips to the bathroom and the ‘party store’, I bought our traditional New Year’s breakfast item. (32 years now, this has been the staple. Don’t ask me why, because they really aren’t good, but it is a tradition).

We did see the new year in. All night we were wondering, when we could leave and/or when should we leave. At 5:30 am the biggest party goers started up their Semi-trucks and began to pull out. At 6:30 am we said goodbye to our ‘Host’ and crept back onto the hwy. The sun was coming out and as we drove up the mountain we were grateful for a clear road we had all to ourselves.

We arrived home after 28 hours since we started our journey, tired and happy to be home.

Most people wouldn’t plan this kind of trip, but as you know by now, we might not be ‘most people’. Was it worth it?

Absolutely.

The kids were grateful we’d made the journey and happy to see us.

The best part was being able to be a help to them. Sharing the knowledge and experience of our years in the Real Estate business. Assisting them in making a plan, and helping them get ready for their next step in buying their first house.

And then again there was this…

…and we are blessed.

So, how was your New Year’s?