When we go anywhere, Cavin is always the driver. Even when he’s tired, and I offer to drive, he never gives in. This trip had been no exception. We had gone as far south as we could drive in the United States. Key West had delivered a fun day and we had accomplished the goal of our road trip. We had literally come to the end of the road, and it was time to turn the vehicle toward home.
On the first day of the trip, we had started out at a slower pace as we meandered down the west coast of Florida going through various coastal towns that all began to look the same after a little while. We had ventured to an island on the second day with a true sense of excitement. Miami brought us to a city full of people, traffic, palm trees, and beaches. It reminded us of our time living in a Latin culture. We had explored the tropical environment of Key West and fulfilled a dream that we both had.
As we repeated our course going back through the Florida Keys, I could tell that Cavin was driving a little more intensely. He had changed the GPS setting to the shortest route, even if it meant driving on highways or toll rolls. As we came back through Miami, we were no longer amused by the beaches or high rises.
Going through Miami was worse than it had been the day before. We hit rush hour traffic that seemed to last for hours. Traffic on the Florida Turnpike coming out of Miami was moving slowly. Once we finally got through the worst of it, Cavin was ready to stop for the night. I could tell our sense of adventure was waning, and was being replaced by overwhelming tiredness. We had seen some amazing sights and had truly had an adventurous few days.
The next morning, as we loaded back into our vehicle, Cavin put our home address into our GPS as he joyfully proclaimed, “We’re going home!” As much as we had enjoyed our journey, I could tell that he was ready to be in his own environment and sleep in his own bed.
There would be one last restaurant stop as we passed through Tallahassee. It would be a stop for Cavin’s favorite meal of steak and baked potato and it would be at one of our favorite restaurants – Ted’s Montana Grill. It’s a small restaurant chain with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
It was started by Ted Turner and has the feel of an old-fashioned Montana saloon in the late 1800s where cattlemen found time to relax and eat a good meal after a hard day’s work. Our first experience eating at Ted’s Montana Grill was in Marietta, Georgia in the early 2000s. Cavin and I loved eating at this upscale restaurant any time we had a chance for a date night. In 2016, our son John Robert took Cavin there for a special Father’s Day meal and Cavin still says that was one of the best meals he has ever eaten.
When I realized that there is a Ted’s Montana Grill in Tallahassee, I told Cavin that’s where we were going for dinner. He didn’t try to talk me out of it. I think he was ready for a good steak and I was ready for a good burger. Ted’s is a tried and true restaurant where you know the food is going to be great EVERY… SINGLE… TIME!
As we walked into Ted’s Montana Grill in Tallahassee, it had the same feel as the first Ted’s we had ever visited. They serve complimentary half sours as guests are seated. If you don’t know what half sours are…. they are pickles made without vinegar and get their sour from mustard seeds, dill, and sea salt. I’ve never had half sours anywhere else, but I love the taste and texture, and it’s just part of the overall experience at Ted’s!
As a formality, Cavin looked over the menu – even though he already knew he wanted a Ribeye Steak! I looked over the long list of burgers and decided on the Green and Hot Burger with pepper jack cheese, grilled jalapeños, guacamole, and sriracha aioli. All menu selections of steak and burgers have an option of beef or bison. We both chose beef on this occasion. Our order came exactly as requested and we thoroughly enjoyed our selections.
With full bellies and full hearts, we were ready to complete the three-hour drive home from Tallahassee to our home in Brewton, Alabama. I couldn’t help but think of a plaque we have on our mantle. It reads, “Life may take you unexpected places, but love will always lead you home.”
It had been a good trip! We had achieved our goal of going to Key West and Cavin had driven every mile of the almost 2000-mile round trip. We had gone to some very unexpected places, but the road was leading home. I began to reflect on the word “home” and what it really means. I’ve often heard sayings like… “Home is where the heart is” and… “There’s no place like home.” I even remember a song with the words, “This world is not my home. I’m just passing through.”
At the beginning of a trip, there’s excitement and a plan of how things will go. There are decisions to be made along the way. We had a loose plan of driving all the way to Key West, but we didn’t know where we would stop or what we would do. We had made a lot of memories, but it felt good to be going home.
Over the past 30 years that Cavin and I have been married, we’ve tried to only make “loose plans” with the Lord in the driver’s seat of our lives. As we’ve done this, we’ve gone to some unexpected places. We’ve had some amazing adventures and experiences in our lives with so many blessings, but it hasn’t always been easy. There have been times we’ve had to make detours or change our course when things didn’t go as planned.
As we get older, I’m realizing that we have fewer years ahead than behind. In a very real sense, we are on our way home. I’m glad that we know there’s a place reserved for us there. We are just passing through this world, much like we passed through Florida on our road trip. We may have a few more twists, turns, and stops along the way…. But one day we will come to the end of the road of life and it will be time for me to joyfully proclaim, “I’m going home!”
Sampling the South…. on the way home!
