Flashback to Hurricane Irma - Part I The Wait is on (click the link to read)
Weighing the pros and cons, I had to go with my instincts. Saturday morning, September 9, I told mom, "We are leaving today for Missouri..." She gave me that are you serious look. I had already checked for another alternate route. Although we had no hotel reserved until mid week of the wedding date, we would deal with that later. The final packing was done as quickly as possible that we even left behind a few things including mom's wedding blouse.
My car was packed by 7 p.m. and around 7:30 p.m. we were on our way. I'll admit, I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect on the drive taking a different route, what was going to become of Hurricane Irma while we were away from home, and would we be able to make it back into Florida. I prayed for guidance, serenity, healing, protection not only for mom and I but for everyone in Hurricane Irma's path.
As planned, I avoided interstate 75N. Route 41N was my road - a lonely route indeed. Mostly two lanes - southbound and northbound. The towns we drove through were like ghost towns. Everything was closed - gas stations, stores, restaurants... A lot of what ifs playing in my head that I had to keep to myself so I wouldn't worry mom.
An hour or so into the drive, there was a small gas station open. I stopped, thinking I'd put more gas in my car although I had left Tampa with a full tank of gas. Well, there was no gas at all. At least we stretched our legs, and used the restroom. Wasting no time, we were back on the road. I saw a few I-75N signs along the route but it was just too soon to take the highway. I didn't want to encounter traffic jams at all. Almost another 1.5 hours driving, I started thinking and hoping there was a gas station selling gasoline somewhere along the route, and that I was ready to get on the highway with hopes traffic wasn't bad.
Around 10:30 p.m., we were driving through Williston, FL when we saw flashing emergency lights ahead of us. Mom and I thought it was an emergency. As we got closer, it was policemen directing traffic in and out of a gas station. I slowed down, rolled down my window and asked the officer if there was gasoline. Thankfully, I was able to put more gas in my car. One less worry off my head. Gas tank was full and I was ready to get on the highway. Little did I know that within 30 minutes I would come across an I-75 sign in Alachua County. It was perfect. I didn't want to continue on the lonely and dark route any longer.
Traffic wasn't bad at all but there were many cars and trucks parked in rest stops and the gas stations along the highway had long lines of cars. Thankfully we had no reason to stop just yet. There was not much traffic heading southbound. What was visible on our ride all the way to Missouri were emergency vehicles heading south.
I had mixed feelings once we were out of Florida. All I could do was just pray for the best. Mom's shoulder was still hurting. It was already Sunday, September 10. Around 4 a.m. I was getting sleepy. At least mom was able to sleep on and off, but I knew she was uncomfortable and in pain. Finding vacancy at a hotel in Georgia was not good at all. We had no idea Georgia was under hurricane alert as well.
I drove a few more miles before I made a stop at another hotel - Sleep Inn in Cartersville, GA with no luck at all. I asked the front desk clerk, Brook Stephens, if we found an empty parking spot could we park and try to rest. Mom was able to doze off, but I wasn't so fortunate. At least I rested some. The sounds of cars and trucks leaving the hotel kept me from falling asleep. Once I felt mom wake up, we went back into the hotel to thank Brook and wash up. She was very kind in telling us to help ourselves to breakfast and coffee.
A quick lunch stop at Wendy's, gas, and ice for mom's shoulder. I broke down as I was watching the hurricane news report from Tampa. Hurricane Irma was entering Tampa...
Flashback to Hurricane Irma - Part III The Finale (click the link)
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