This was one of our last night in Austin.
Austin at sunset.
We set off for our return to the Midwest on Tuesday, May 11th. Need to be in Chicago for Bruno Mars on May 16th, with the daughter and Dutch daughter Amanda.
The weather has been cooperative, unlike our trip down in 2024, when we were broadsided during a tornado in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
Tonight, we are in Okmulgee again, and I took a picture of the Auto Zone store, which I jogged through after we were hit at the intersection as I was looking for a bathroom. While there was no bathroom within the Auto Zone store, I did notice that there were many twist ties, and, after my 2024 red Prius was totaled at the nearby intersection, I suggested we twist tie the damaged vehicle together and attempt to drive the 6 hours to Austin with the car more-or-less intact. When we would be told “Speed zone ahead” I would say, “Act invisible.” It’s still quite the family story that we made it, in time to vote in the presidential election of 2024 (for all the good it did me). I just knew that I’d feel guilt if I did not make it to the polls, and that remains true for the upcoming November 3rd mid-term election, when I’ll be pulling for James Talarico.
Tonight, we have revisited Okmulgee and you can see the Auto Zone sign in the picture if you look carefully—the run through the store that gave me the idea for how we might make it to Austin in time to vote and with all of our stuff still in our possession. There are no car rental agencies in Okmulgee and we had too much in our car to jump ship and take a plane (which would have meant driving quite a few miles to Tulsa, anyway.) Plus, our Triple AAA representative, supposed to come to the Holiday Inn where we spent the night, to check out the damage no showed, so twist tie city it was.
Our 2024 accident in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on the way to Austin, during a driving rainstorm/tornado.
RIP my 2024 Anniversary Edition Prius.
Dallas, en route to Chicago.
Dallas, en route.
