Day 14 - Joplin, MO - Part Three

It's drizzling by the time we get into Joplin.

It's been just over a year since a tornado put Joplin into the consciousness of Americans.

It's crazy how soon we forget the devastation when it isn't in our backyard.

But as we come off the interstate, we do not see much evidence of the tornado.

We've got the process of checking into a hotel down to a science.

We leave my Mom in the car while we get everything from the Front Desk.

There isn't a Holiday Inn Express here so we are staying at a regular Holiday Inn.

It's almost too nice for The Bucket Trip.

Once we have everything, we get back into the Jeep and follow the directions that the Front Desk folks gave us.

We end up having to park in a location that does not have disabled parking AND there is a two-inch lip to the curb that we will have to get past.

""$4,000.00 for every violation we encounter." Jack says.

This Bucket Trip could have been paid for by all of the ADA violations we've run into along the way.

We manage to get my Mom up and over that lip and into her room.

We had stopped at a Cracker Barrel for a big and late lunch so nobody is hungry right now.

But we do get a complimentary adult beverage at the little bar they have at this Holiday Inn.

We get my Mom up onto the bed in her room so that Jack can change her before going out.

In the two weeks that we've been traveling, she is losing more and more ability to help with moving her.

I'm having to be very careful now so that I don't hurt her.

And so I don't hurt myself.

I have her place her arms around my neck and I get into a bear hug position with her.

We now try to move on the count of three.

I can stand her up but I am supporting all of her weight.

I then need to slide her to the edge of a bed and place her in a sitting position.

Then, I can scoop up her legs and place her into a reclined position on the bed.

We have a pad underneath her and we use that to slide her over so that she's not at risk of falling off of the bed.

I leave then for a bit but in no time at all they are ready to go and we are off to the bar.

All of us have our iPhones out as we catch up on what has been going on outside of the Bucket Trip.

We quietly work on our drinks and order a second round when the waiter returns.

Jack gets out a napkin and pen to map out where we are going to go next.

Based on our experience in Denver, they both have concerns about visiting places that are at a high altitude.

The Grand Canyon is out.

My ears perk up though when Jack gets to one city that we will have to pass through.

Roswell.

I get REALLY excited about Roswell.

We HAVE to go there.

The opportunity to see cheesy alien kitsch is almost too much for me to handle.

I will LOVE it.

Jack makes a tentative plan with 5 to 7 more stops left on this trip.

And just when I thought that I all I had left for this trip was the end, I have at least one more THING to look forward to.

My excitement over this lightens the mood at the table.

We are all smiling again. Laughing.

Until my Mom starts to choke on her drink.

She has trouble clearing her throat.

Water went down the wind pipe.

It takes a few minutes but she recovers and tells us she's okay and ready to go to bed.

Jack wheels her back to the room while I stay to finish my beer.

Thie choking on the water could have happened to anyone but I'll be watching her closely at our next meal together.

Tomorrow.