Praise the LORD it went so smoothly!

As 10 P.M. approached we looked for somewhere to gas up and rearrange bodies… Just before Erie, John headed to the back row for some sleep, Stewart rode shot-gun, and I took the wheel.  I was feeling a wee bit dozy and had friends praying for our journey.  The fatigue blasted off pretty rapidly ten minutes into my shift as two does shot out from the median!  I felt myself accelerate slightly and reasoned that as small as they were they likely wouldn’t total the van if they hit the side.  While it took me 15 or more seconds to type that, it only took a nano-second to actually occur.  When the collision did NOT transpire I only woke the first few rows of passengers with my, “Thank You, Jesus” praises.

I did NOT wake up Katriel.  There was no chance of that.  You see, it is impossible to wake up a two year old who is Not Sleeping.  That’s right.  She did Not Sleep.  Okay.  So she DID have two ~ 30 minute naps.  But mostly, she sang, pontificated with a turtle, and checked to see who else was sleeping. 

I drove through the balance of PA, and most of Ohio.  Here’s where I put a plug in for Ohio.  It is a Very Gentle state to drive through.  Most of the interstate is 6 lanes; and where one city limit ends, it seems another city limit starts.  This makes for very well lit roadways.  And with the speed limit generally at an even 70, it was a much nicer experience than my normal overnight shift when we drive to Florida.  PA may look like a thin enough state to drive through, but SURFACE AREA of PA is incredible.  Up a mountain, down a mountain, through a mountain…   The van constantly shifts gears and you can’t see around any bend.  Not in Ohio.  Nice and flat. 

Stewart kept me company.  He and I had many a chuckled over Katriel’s mid-night musings.  He code named her, “Cookie,” because he reasoned if she heard us using her name it would peak her interest.  I wondered if he didn’t think a two-year old’s attention would be peaked when she heard the word, “cookie.”  I suggested, “Stroganoff.”  He ignored me.

While he was ignoring me, he texted up a storm with Mrs. Maxfield in Oregon.  With a three hour time difference it wasn’t as painful for her to keep him engaged, and seemingly kept reminding him to talk with me.

At 4 A.M. we found a gas-station and gassed up and switched seats.  I withdrew to the rear bench for two-hours of bone-rattling sleep.  At 6:30 A.M. my handy-dandy cell phone told me we were nearing a Bob Evans in Terre Haute, IN.  Johanna walked into the joint smiling broadly and ordered “Piggy Pancakes” from the first person who made eye-contact with her.  I like a girl who knows what she wants.