MEL’S GREAT AMERICAN ADVENTURE started out as a simple trip to visit the relatives for the holidays and ended up being more of an IRC friends search! We traveled 3722 miles and I loved it, as I love all the friends from Barnowl’s I met.

We left Texas December 21, 1996 with the minimal confusion!! That is to say that we managed to get all the kids in the van within a few hours of our scheduled time. This in itself was a feat as we were traveling with five people (hubby, 12 yr. old daughter, 13 yr. old son and 15 yr. old daughter, and myself). We packed into a mini van with untold amount of luggage that resembled the Beverly Hillbillies a bit as we started our adventure! First stop was a small town in Illinois just outside of St. Louis Missouri to visit my family. My family is like living with a crowd, maybe that is why I feel so comfortable in Barnowl’s. We had Christmas Eve with my mother eight brothers and sisters and their 40 some children, that in itself was an adventure. We left there and headed north towards Michigan, stopping for the night somewhere in Indiana when the snow started to fall. I was remembering how much I love snow, but when I want it, I never could control when that white stuff fell. We made it to my In-laws house in Flint Michigan and continued our Christmas celebration with a much smaller crowd and had a great time!

We left Flint December 28, 1996 and this is when the adventure really began. I was equipped with E-Mails, addresses and exit numbers with places to stop and people to see. I have been chatting at the Barn for a long time and although I was anxious to meet all my friends I was a little nervous.

IRC FRIENDS

MaryJ

I called MaryJ, who lives in a little town outside of Flint, and I was amazed. During our phone conversation it was as if I was talking to a dear friend and realized that my fears of meeting my Barnowl’s friends could be put to rest. We scheduled a time and a place to meet. I waited in the restaurant with my husband thinking, will I recognize her, will she chicken out and think I am one of the "puter people" you see on the news (which by the way I am not)? So we wait - OK so I did also worry about the fact that there was a blinding snow storm going on, but that only added to my nerves. FINALLY MaryJ arrived, and she was one of the sweetest people I have ever met!! We sat at the restaurant and talked for hours, we looked through pictures (of IRC Party at Barnowl’s house in Houston) and shared stories of IRC. MaryJ had brought me a present, a lapel pin of an Owl, which touched my heart, and assured me that people, for the most part, are what they appeared in text. Unwillingly we had to leave, as the snow continued to fall. Mary was concerned about making it home safely, so she drove me back to my In-laws house and was on her way.

ShyGuy

We left Michigan, December 28, 1996, and headed towards Canada and to another friend! Well I did not say I had a great sense of direction so the next contact was made from Windsor, Ontario Canada, as we were hopelessly lost and Shyguy directed us on the correct path again. We had plans to

So off we went to Chatham and met Shy and Attitude, and I was not surprised that they too were sweet and interesting people. We talked and talked and Shy was exactly how I had pictured him except taller, much, much taller. We had lunch and enjoyed the company very much, when it was time to leave Shy bought our lunch, to my dismay!! I even learned a new word eh? Spell check does not like it but I think it’s a great word!! We got our trusty maps and Shy directed us to Niagara Falls, and we were on our way once again.

Ron1

After spending two days at the falls, an amazing place, we once again packed up our van and headed to New York. We took out our e-mail from Rampart which detailed exact directions from the Falls down the New York State Thruway. He took great care to direct us to the most scenic as well as shortest route through New York. As planned we called Ron from Syracuse, albeit an hour or so early, and left a message that we were on our way. We arrived in Cortland and yet another restaurant (yes we do that a lot). Have you ever traveled with teenagers - they always insist on eating. Once again I called Ron but still no answer, message two. We had lunch and called a third time, but to my great disappointment we were unable to contact Ron. To this I say SO RON WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO TEXAS?????

email Mel