The weather was perfect for traveling. We packed our bags, hopped into the car, entered the destination into GPS and road off. We were headed back to Maggie Valley, to bid a final farewell, to our beloved Mr. Richardson. We vacationed there in 2022, and Mr. Richardson loved it. And he was looking forward to returning someday.
The candlelight vigil was scheduled for Wednesday at 8:45 in the evening. My daughter decided to travel on Father’s Day, in an attempt to keep the girl’s preoccupied. This was their first Father’s Day without their dad.
The drive to Maggie Valley was approximately seven hours. Yay, we would have time to chat, sing silly songs, and tell knock knock jokes; or so, I thought.
Shortly into our voyage, we lost the first Earthling. The younger sibling was bound and determined to stay awake the entire trip. However, about two hours into the trip, the sleep monster claimed her too! Lol.
Now, it was just “lil ole me” and the driver. She was perched high and upright in her seat. She clenched the steering wheel with Wonder Woman’s strength. Her vision/gaze was like that of Supergirl. It was x-ray, keen and focused. Sheena (queen of the jungle) had only one goal in mind, and that was to deliver her people to North Carolina faster than a “speeding” bullet. No pun intended! So, to keep my mind off the rate of speed in which our vehicle was traveling, ya girl busied herself with prayer and taking pictures. A girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do! (insert shoulder shrug emoji)
No, this is not an impressionist painting. It’s a picture of trees taken in a speeding car! Lol! You have my permission to laugh now!
Now, about those prayers. You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You. Isaiah 26:3. For He shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. Psalms 91:11. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalms 121:1 a
As I was getting ready to go into another round of prayer, the Earthlings awoke from their slumber. You already know why, they were hungry!
When asked what they wanted for lunch. The youngest chimed in and said “A biggie bag from Wendy’s.” My thoughts were” God forbid.” The other Earthling agreed. Wendy’s here we come. Thank goodness we had snacks in the cooler.
After lunch we spent the remainder of the trip, admiring the beauty of the country side and the mountainous tree filled terrain. it was breathtaking! I took pictures of whatever caught my eye as we traveled along. I guess photographing houses was a reoccurring theme.
The closer we got to our destination my thoughts drifted towards Mr. Richardson. When I lived in North Florida, the girls invited me to eat with them regularly. I knew the drill. If he was cooking, you needed to eat a snack before you left home; and you needed to bring one with you. If not, you would be a skeleton by the time he finished cooking.
He and I chatted a lot over coffee. Y’all he could make the best coffee ever. And when the conversation was about men, he would brew a whole pot. Lol. He said something to me several years ago that stuck.” Zsa Zsa it does not take a man years to decide whether or not he wants to marry you.” “He knows almost immediately or after a few dates, if you are the one.” That was an EYE OPENER! We talked a lot. If I told you all the things we talked about this would be the post that never ends. Below is one of the last test messages I sent to him. He passed away about two weeks later.
We arrived in Maggie Valley safely. We unloaded the car, got a quick bite to eat, did our evening routines and scurried to bed. It had been a long day. And Wednesday would be here before we knew it.
Wednesday morning arrived quickly. At 8:45 that evening, we gathered with other family members out on the balcony. It was a delightfully cool evening. The weather was perfect for being outside. Auntie Hope designed the beautiful T-shirts. She did an amazing job bringing his personality to life through pictures. Thank you Auntie Hope!
Fireflies darted in and out lighting up the night. In the distance the lights of neighboring homes added a soft glow to the mountain setting. Below is the last entry from my daughter to her late husband.
This post is bittersweet, as it is my last post dedicated to you, Charles. We came back to Maggie Valley, just like you wanted. We laughed by candlelight and remembered you. We told stories, keeping your memory alive. We stood in silence and admired the beauty that you came to enjoy. I’ve done what you’ve asked of me and I’m healing. Tonight, I blew out the candle I held in my hand for you. And now I’m ready for what the future will hold. Love Always, Sheena #gonebutneverforgotten
Now, it was time to move on. We know that’s exactly what Charles would have wanted. The next day we popped into one of Mr. Richardson’s favorite spots in Maggie Valley, The Chocolate box. We loaded up on some of our favorite treats and headed back to the cabin to indulge.
I end this post with our beloved’s favorite greeting, “WHAT”S HAPPENIN?” And a final salute!
Chat soon,
Zsa Zsa
They Call Me Zsa Zsa 
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