A Slower Day

Today was very slow and relaxing - finally. We didn't have to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn just to drive and drive and drive some more. We took our good ol' sweet time getting up and out, drove around the Branson area for awhile, then had a nice lunch and headed over to the theatre to see "Six". The show was just as good as I remembered from last time, and John really enjoyed it too.

After the show we had a little excitement. We were in the car and about to exit the parking lot when we saw that a lady had fallen down and was lying on the sidewalk on her back. Her 2 lady friends were gathered around her. John's firemen/EMT training kicked in, he quickly stopped the car, jumped out and ran to help. The lady on the ground said she had no idea what happened (flash back to my encounter with the steps at D'Land), but said her hip hurt. John is really great in these situations, was down on his knees at her side, talking to her and checking her out, much like the paramedics did for me. By this time another couple had arrived to help, and John and the other man helped the lady (aged 86) to her feet, but once up, she couldn't stand without support. Someone called 911 and soon paramedics were there and helped her onto a stretcher. They transported her to the local hospital, and her friends followed shortly afterwards in their car. I sure hope she didn't break her hip - what an awful ending to their vacation that would be! So please pray that she is OK, with hopefully nothing more serious than a bruise. Her name is Terry.

During all the activity, the members of "Six" were slowly leaving the theatre to head for home, but each of them stopped to speak to the lady, not one of them just passed her by. They were all very concerned and wanted to be sure she was taken care of. John of course was busy talking to each of them, especially Owen, the one who is the "drummer" (all sounds are made with their voices, and this particular one makes all the drum sounds). We talked to him for quite awhile - he used to live in Orange County and was reminiscing about what he misses about So. Cal. - like In-N-Out, Charro Chicken and Del Taco!

Finally the excitement was over and we headed over to Andy's for another "concrete" - a small this time - and then we jumped on Hwy 65 heading North towards Springfield. But the drizzle that we have been in and out of all week finally turned to a steady downpour with drops about the size of nickels, accompanied by lighting and thunder. So we decided to just grab the first motel and call it a night. Right now we are in Ozark, MO, which is half-way between Branson and Springfield. We will be up early in the morning and driving and driving again . . .