Mi Corazon: Arkansas Traveler. . . . . . pt. 1

Mom and I were dropped off at Ontario Airport at 9:30 am, in plenty of time for our flight departure of 11:40. We got checked in and after being turned back to the counter because Mom's drivers license was expired, (She didn't renew it because she hasn't driven for about 7 years or more) we made our way up to the gate and sat down to wait. The flight in front of ours which was also headed for Dallas was delayed, which gave me some concern.....but decided just to wait and see. Spent the time conversing with a nice guy "John" who had moved years ago from California to a suburb of Dallas and was on his way back from a business trip. We finally got boarded "late" around 12ish due to the flight before ours being delayed. We were seated way in the back of the plane and it would have been a great flight except for the 2 people seated behind us who kept up a very loud conversation that was so idiotic in content I considered locking myself in the bathroom for the entire trip. The poor guy next to me kept shaking his head and insisting that we must be part of some candid camera episode. Anyway, when we approached Dallas, the captain told us that due to an overload of planes trying to land in our plane's corridor, we were being rerouted to land from the south and that would be an additional 15 min to our time. I was beginning to get nervous now. We finally landed only to be told that our arrival gate was occupied by a plane needing maintenance and they were going to find us an alternate gate. At this point, Pat called me to ask where we were. I said we were sitting on the tarmack awaiting a gate...she said "no prob, we still have 50 min." It seemed like forever to get to the gate and then to wait as everyone deplaned (we were 3 rows from the back) We got off the plane at gate A21 and asked the attendant for the quickest way to B11. She said go to gate A14 and go upstairs to catch the skylink. I grabbed my Mom by the arm and started running her short little legs off for 7 gates and up to the skylink. Pat called and I said "we're getting on the skylink" She told the guy at B11, he'd have to hold the plane because were on our way. She called back to ask if we had any luggage as the guy wanted to close out flight and he was stepping away and when he returned we better be there. The guy came back and my sister told him we'd be there any minute (and she was hoping we would) just then we came around the corner and jumped on the plane. There was only one flight to Ft. Smith after that one and no vacancies, so we would have been spending the night in Dallas, so I'm thankful that we got to get on....

We arrived in a very short time (45 min) in Ft. Smith (a beautiful airport). Got our rental car, and found a beautiful sight: STARBUCKS! After stopping for a sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte, I was good to go. We drove to Clarksville and checked in to the Hampton Inn. Here is our hotel room:

We were all starving! I hadn't eaten all day, Mom had eaten 1/2 a banana and Pat had eaten a couple of appetizers, so we went in search of a meal. Unfortunately, it was 9pm and this little podunk town was closed up. We did, however, find the South Park Restaurant which is a huge draw for truckers and rv'ers. We went in and had cheeseburgers and fried okra....very yummy! Back to the hotel to sleep.....THE NEXT DAY......
Today was cold and rainy ALL DAY! Pat and I decided to go get Mom something to eat from the continental breakfast and then we put on our swimsuits and went down to exercise in the pool for an hour. We came back to the room, dressed and headed over to Walmart. We then drove east and south to Knoxville, where my Aunt Edna and Uncle Tony live. This is their house:

We spent the day visiting with Aunt Edna and Uncle Tony. Here is Mom with her younger sister Edna:

Mom's friend Virginia came over to see her,

then we had dinner, washed the dishes and got ready to leave. Mom is going to stay with Aunt Edna this week....We'll go back tomorrow as several of my cousins will arrive to see us. Aunt Edna, like my Mom has 6 children, and we will get to see 3 of them. Here is Pat with Uncle Tony: