First Leg

Trey Smith

If all goes according to plan, I'm on the road right now headed toward White Salmon. We have borrowed a friend's Ford Expedition and are taking most of the larger items (e.g., computer desk, stool, computer, etc.) for Della's move. We should arrive at our destination between 2 - 4 pm. Once we unload her stuff, this should leave a little bit of daylight so I can help my wife get a little better oriented to the geography of her new home base.

I am much better than Della at finding my way around strange places. As an object-oriented person, I more readily recall buildings or the look of an intersection with particular streets or routes. Generally speaking, once I drive a certain route, I remember it. Della, who is far more people-oriented, has a lot more trouble in this area. She has to drive a particular route several times before it becomes imprinted on her.

So, we will spend a good deal of this afternoon and early evening helping her to get to know where the AmeriCorps site, grocery store, bank, library, hospital and other important locations are in relation to the house she will be staying at. After spending the night at her new abode, we will drive back home and, along the way, we will trace the route to Vancouver and the ESD 112 office where she will report on Wednesday, January 16.

Hopefully, I will be on the back half of this nasty cold and will be able to do my share of the driving. I have greatly limited my activities the past 3 days, so I could concentrate all my efforts on getting well. No one likes catching a cold, but it sure beats being immobilized with the flu for a week or more!