A Nightmare Journey

I was upbeat about taking the bus after all yesterday. My body was at peace and I was sure that we would make it safely to Nashville on the Greyhound.

We got there nearly hours before our bus was due to leave with the vain hope of getting onto the earlier bus. As predicted, on $15 tickets there's not much flexibility. We had the option of buying a brand new ticket for $150 each, but that wasn't an option. The Boy ran off to get us some food and I manned the bags.

They started to board the bus and within minutes the waiting area was completely empty. I was absolutely freaking out, as I kept texting and calling him but had no response. He emerged 15 minutes before our bus was due to leave and we rushed through the gate only to find two lines of people queuing to get on buses.

'Are you going to Nashville?' We kept asking people.

'Uh, no, we're going to Chicago/Pennsylvania/New York...'

All the while, I was getting more and more upset, as I had visions of missing this bus, which would trigger immediate miscarriage. (I wasn't thinking very logically by this point.)

Finally, I made the Boy clamber over the barriers to run and find our bus. He left me there, a wailing mess, convinced that I'd start to miscarry because I'd have to take the later bus. Thankfully, the Boy reappeared having found the right bus amongst the half dozen all standing, higgledy piggledy together. As I was running and wheeling my suitcase, my backpack, my handbag and my overflow bag, I had convinced myself that I would start the process off because of stress and exertion.

I slumped into a seat and bawled for a good 10 minutes.

Nashville lifted my spirits. It's a great city with a really laid-back vibe. There seem to be interesting neighbourhoods and the folk are friendly.

Dinner was a treat as we sat in a gorgeous outdoor area next to the fire, feasting on house-cured meats, double cut pork chops, mac & cheese with housemade pasta, shrimp & grits, cheeses, house-baked popovers and southern biscuits. The Boy posted on Facebook about the amazing music, so you can see where our priorities are. I somehow chipped a tooth - it must have been the squidgy pasta - but that seems to be par for the course luck-wise these days; you win some, you lose some.