Thank you again, everyone. It was a tiring and stressful 3 days. We got home just after 6 last night.

The service for Charlie was lovely - simple, respectful and dignified. I'm certain he was pleased with it. I was doing fairly well until they played the Navy Hymn and the bugler played taps - then I lost it.........

The trip that Google claims is 8 hours, was over 10 hours. Maybe it's 8 in the very best conditions and never stopping for anything - otherwise no way! And we had no holiday traffic problems either going down or coming back. I had always taken the train down when I went to visit, so didn't know what to expect as far as driving went. Myndi traveled like it was something she did every day. I put her pillow bed on the back seat and sat back there with her. She would sleep, wake and look around for a while, then go back to sleep, etc. I was truly amazed - and definitely relieved!

When we got there it was a different story - 13 people in the house including 4 kids between the ages of 9 and 14 - dogs barking and somewhat semi-organized chaos (everyone came in from FL and us from DE) - so we all stayed there. My son was holding her and looking at one of the parrots, when the parrot let out with a big "meow" (learned from the cats), and scared the living daylights out of her. She went into a full blown, spazz-out panic attack and proceeded to pee and poop herself on the spot. I thought she was going to have a heart attack and I took her outside and sat with her and calmed her down. I thought for a minute that I would be bringing a dead dog home, but she settled down when she got away from all the confusion and noise. My son and I and Myndi slept in the motor home, so I took her in there where it was quiet and then she was fine - even ate her supper like she was half starved. She did good for the duration - BIG sigh of relief.

So life goes on and I'll get back to the task of getting ready to move - after I have a couple of days to unwind of course. Right now I'm just burned out.

And to Kay - I'm moving to Hickory.