Bertie Byrd-Fortney Blog #2

What I Did On Arch's Summer Vacation

Boy, do I feel like a slug!  At the first of March, I decided to try my hand at blogging.  I typed one blog and then my world exploded as only my world can.   I had no time to blog until tonight.   So, I’ve cracked my knuckles, wiggled my fingers, and headed for the keyboard.

Blog.  Am I the only person who finds that word irritating?  Blog.  Blog.  When I say it, I do the same thing with my tongue that I do when I have peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth.  Blog.  Blog.  Where was I?  Oh yeah.

My husband, Arch Fortney, is the principal at Sweet Meadow High School.  Two weeks ago, on the last day of school before summer vacation, my wonderful, dependable, and ever-steady husband made the announcement that as soon as he wrapped up a few reports for the school board, we were going to rent a motorhome and head out on a month-long vacation.

What?!?!

Had Arch been hit in the head with a stray cafeteria tray?  What could he possibly be thinking?

We had two girls—one a toddler and one who would surely be bored to death stuffed into a motorhome for a month.  I had a business to run.  Oh, yeah, and lest we forget Millie Keats and Mavis Fortney the two royal pains in my butt.  I mean . . . two sweet elderly ladies whom I somehow have become responsible for their over-the-top shenanigans.  They have become responsible for the premature gray hair sprouting willy nilly among my auburn locks.

Well, let me tell you, I decided that Arch’s little trip was out of the question, and we would have to break our summer vacation up into several long weekends perhaps camping, renting a houseboat on the lake, or maybe a trip to Wild Adventures, in Valdosta.  But I would have to put my foot down when it came to being gone from the garage, from our cozy home, from Mom and Dad, and from M&M, the dynamic duo of Sweet Meadow for longer than a few days at a time.

Sooooo, two weeks to the day after Arch’s big announcement, the rented motorhome is packed with clothes for him, me, our girls, LoJ and Petey.  There’s enough food to start a soup kitchen for the homeless, if the need arises.  My brother Bobby has taken two weeks’ vacation to help Pop out at the garage and towing yard.  Of course, my very qualified mechanics and tow truck drivers, Linc and Carrie Sue, will be there at the garage every day.  Millie and Mavis took the news that they would be fending for themselves a lot better than I thought.

I didn’t realize I could so easily be replaced, but Arch had it all taken care of before I could think of any viable reason to say no.  In the morning we will be on our lovely way. 

Stay tuned,

Bertie