Wednesday, June 16, 2021

MARCY'S FLIGHT NUN TRAVEL BLOG- "RETIREES ON THE ROAD SERIES" PART 12- HISTORY AND HUMILITY!


For those of you just joining the series, back in 2008 my friend Diana and I celebrated our retirements by taking a 65 day road trip. The plan was to  take secondary roads only from Michigan to Florida and back. It didn't take long to realize there were three personalities in the car!

There was Diana, Myself, and Gertie GPS!

This day found us in Fort Pierce, Florida heading to Fort Lauderdale. Our first mis-step was loosing Gertie GPS.  We looked everywhere- under the beds and in the car!  Where was she!  Finally Diana found her hiding under a chair!  With all the fights Diana had with that electronic device, I wondered if Gertie was making a run for it!

On our way to Fort Lauderdale we wanted to stop at Palm Beach to see the Flagler Museum.We headed south on Route 1- passing acres of dead trees along the way! We thought it was due to hurricanes.  The route was so built up we never got into "country". We simply drove from one community to another!

The Flagler Museum was the former home  of Henry Flagler, a railroad baron, built for his bride in 1902. It was something to behold! It had 55 rooms, a central courtyard, and a pavilion that housed his personal rail car!  I grew up in a railroad family- so was fascinated by the railcar and the economy of space that used to be, for it's day, a palace on wheels!  It was truly a "Tiny House" before they became popular!

The home itself was beyond palatial! Marble, art, fine china and silver, statues and high ceilings were everywhere!  The rooms used for music had ceilings designed to provide perfect acoustics.  This was an excellent example of the grand lifestyle of the wealthy during the Gilded Age of America's industry and commerce.

After our museum visit we drove through Palm Beach- where Gertie GPS lost her mind!!  There was heavy traffic and tall skyscrapers on both sides of the street.  At a stop light Diana glanced at Gertie's face- which normally showed the map and the little white triangle that represented us.  We were dead still! But Gertie had us moving down the street, turning left, and making circles!! What?!? Then Gertie chanted "Lost satellite signal!"  After about the 10th chant Diana yelled "Alright already! We heard you!! Now what!?"  Luckily Gertie found us again in short order!  I didn't like the idea of doing donuts in the middle of the street!

On to our hotel in Fort Lauderdale and dinner! We chose GG's- a lovely Italian restaurant with outdoor seating!  We both ordered spaghetti and sat enjoying the beautiful warm weather!

Once our meals were served Diana proceeded to cut hers up!  I winched! Okay, I only have 1/4 Italian blood, but have always "twirled"my spaghetti on a fork! 

 I think I sort of showed off my twirling skills, being a proud (part) Italian! But pride cometh before a fall!  Diana casually mentioned over dessert that she thought I was rather "smugly" twirled my pasta with my fork.  She then directed my attention to my lovely white top and said- next time you want to show off your skills, wear a bib!

There- all over my white top was speckles of tomato sauce! We both started laughing so hard- we almost choked on our coffee!

That was a lesson in Humility! Ha!

And so ended another day in the life of Retirees on the road!

Until Next Time, Dear Readers!

Life Is Indeed An Adventure, Be it Looking Back At History, Or Learning Lessons In Humility!

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