Another Letterboxing trip.

We went on another letterboxing trip yesterday. It was SMOKIN' HOT outside, as in 95º with brutal humidity. Now, this may sound like complaining, but honestly I'm not. Because the fact is, I'm not a winter person at all. In You might even recall this entry from a past Thursday Thirteen;
Friends wanted us to go skiing with them. "Oh sure, let's hit the slopes." Only, I didn't know how. I must have been a silly sight when the ski lift arrived at the top of the hill and I fell out. But I topped that when I skied like greased lightning down the hill, no clue how to break my speed or come to a stop. I was passing others like an Olympic champ, then gave out a banshee cry when I realized I might hit a crowd at the bottom of the hill. They moved out of the way just in time for me to discover a ditch, which I had no way of navigating around or stopping in front of. So I did what any new skier would do. I acted all cool as I flew across it and the front of my skis dug into the other side, dumping me right in the icy water. Pridefully, "I'm good. I'm good. No really, go back to your skiing'. I just lost track of my own speed is all."
See? I'm not complaining about our very hot summer because I dread winter moments such as that.

So, we drove about 45 minutes west and visited three covered bridges. We love covered bridges. We've seen all the bridges of Madison county, IA (twice) and now we're enjoying the covered bridges of IN. And searching for the letterboxes made it even more special. We did find all three. But not without a few Toni moments.


First, as we drove along the state route, Carl thought we might be lost. I was sure we were headed in the right direction, but he asked me to pull out our laminated map and check to be sure. Okay then. 60 mph, windows down, hot as liquid tar and I'm going to fulfill my map reading duties as first officer on this little trip. Now, the timing of this is key. It all happened in a matter of 3 seconds.

"Get the map out and see if we're off course."

"I think we're fine, but okay."

Pull map out and THWOOOOOP! Gone.
Baby was sucked clean out the window.
I was puzzled for an instant, then matter-of-factly stated, "She's gone."
Begin hubby groan sound effects NOW.

Yep, in a matter of three seconds, that map was sucked right out the window and I, realizing it was our only chance to determine whether we were on our way to Greencastle or Greenland, did what any concerned and responsible adult would do.
I. laughed. my. tail. off.

Even Carl realized how funny it was (that is, after he u-turned the van and sent me walking along the highway to reclaim our prized navigating tool).


The plastic container (and contents) with lid is the letterbox. Notebooks, bag of stamps, ink pad and pen are ours.

All said, it was a long letterboxing day and we got back about 10pm, having stopped for pizza on the way home.

Where I then realized and inquired, "Has anyone seen my purse?"

Not a good question after spending hours in the 95º heat with 3 kids and a tired baby. Not a good question when hubs knows he might have to search under covered bridges at midnight. The drive alone would be agony, but to get out there (in the middle of nowhere) and search with a flashlight........Ewwww! Remember those scary stories about the hook on the car door? No way was I going back out there.
Even if it was I who lost the purse (gulp).
Oh, and never mind that our social worker from Ohio was flying in today, which would have meant Carl would be reaaaally tired for her visit if he had to drive back and search for my purse.

I'm happy to say that like an American Express rebel, I dared to leave home without it. We found my purse (eventually, after a crazed 10 minute search) safely stashed away where it belonged. Where I never keep it, yet where it belonged. You know how it is.

Oh, and one more thing. Just in case y'all didn't know, I'm a complete country girl at heart. Before we moved to IN, we lived on 3.5 acres in the country and I miss it tremendously. My soul finds so much peace and respite in the country and it's instantaneous, like a huge weight lifted off my chest. So imagine how I felt when we got to the second bridge and THIS was my view out the other side. Isn't God's creation GRAND?!!!

Toni