Leaving New York in the Rear-View Mirror

Part One

After living in New York six years, the Texas warmth finally lured Mona back south. 

Still, the daunting task of closing up shop and moving the three cats to the Sunbelt had to be accomplished. Mona decided that the best option  was to get Mom to Niagara Falls and take a Ryder truck together the fourteen-hundred miles from the Falls to Lufkin, Texas.
 

The Greyhound special had been impossible to resist.  For less than one-fourth the cost of the cheapest plane ride, Suzi was able to leave the driving to the very capable bus drivers. 

Taking the bus was actually entertaining, because the bus drivers knew where they were going, which was more than one could say for Suzi and her daugther. The only problem with the bus ride was the lack of sleep.

With fear and trembling, Mona tanked the thermos with gourmet coffee, packed up the cats, conquered the loading ramp, and steered the moving truck toward I-190.  It was her first time driving alone in nine years.

When Suzi left Texas, only clear weather was forecast for the duration of their journey, so it was a big surprise when a mist started flying even before the Ryder truck rolled into Erie, PA.  It was nearly daylight and east of Cleveland, OH, before full comprehension dawned and  Mona made the frightening pronouncement, "It's snowing!"

The last time Suzi had seen snow was in 1990 when the family had flown to Colorado Springs, CO.

Even though her snow-driving experience was sketchy, Mona had had plently of practice in snow-removal.  Consequently, east of Cleveland, she gave her mother a lesson in the art of vehicle de-icing.

Afterwards, there was one near-worst-case-scenario when they had lost track of the interstate south of Cleveland, Ohio, and a snow plow had to clear the side road for them. A Comfort Inn beckoned Mona to snuggle in until the snow melted.

Suzi, however, had faith that "this too shall pass." She was determined to plow on to Nashville, Tennessee, because their room for the night was pre-paid.  As a result, she was quite happy when the Comfort Inn wouldn't accept the cats. Resolutely, they pressed on.

Mischief was not happy.

From Erie to just south of Columbus the going was slow. But then, praise God, just a few dozen miles outside of Columbus the Weather Channel's prediction held true.  The snow stopped!