Mrs. Teabody Plots a Journey

Dear Gentle Readers, Good Morrow to you!

Yesterday Mrs. Teabody had a lovely early morning visit from a dear friend and in the custom of the season Mrs. Teabody queried, "Are you ready for Christmas?" Instead of hearing  of the few small tasks that lie ahead -- a fairly typical response on DECEMBER 22 -- this friend answered, "I haven't started yet."

Mrs. Teabody nearly fell into a faint but bracing herself against the counter she listened as the friend went on to say she would start preparations on Friday. Start, Gentle Readers. Mrs. Teabody implores you to think of all the activities you have engaged in preparatory to this festive season and try to IMAGINE doing it all in forty-eight hours. Mon Dieu! Mrs. Teabody's tiny little brain reels. Mrs. Teabody remembers an entire evening given over to decorating the  fireplace mantle alone. True, Mrs. Teabody is quite slow, but it is a planned slowness. Life after all is not a destination; it is a journey.

The other "journey" of the title: Mr. and Mrs. Teabody have for some time spoken of a long journey in the motor car to commemorate an important birthday for Mr. Teabody in February. It will take the Teabodys to Miami, Florida, a not insignificant journey in excess of thirteen hundred miles. The Teabodys embrace the idea of a leisurely trip spending two nights at their first destination of Asheville, North Carolina, another night in Savannah, Georgia before the final push to Miami. Mrs. Teabody spent some time on the computing machine -- a remarkable modern device for this sort of endeavor.

Truth to tell, Gentle Readers, Mrs. Teabody is not altogether certain her marriage will survive such a journey.  The ordinarily perfect Mr. Teabody has but ONE fault: when he drives, he adopts the persona of a  Parnelli Jones. Whatever amount of time it takes to get from one point to another, Mr. Teabody is determined to shorten that time. Speed records tumble in his wake. Mrs. Teabody remembers being airborne during one particularly sharp left turn. Truly.

This morning Mrs. Teabody voiced her concerns to Mr. Teabody and the darling suggested Mrs. Teabody use sleeping potions to drug herself for the journey. Mrs. Teabody does not like the idea very much so she implores you, Gentle Readers, to devise some plan that will see the Teabodys arrive in Florida with both their physical bodies and their marriage intact. Mrs. Teabody will be ever so grateful.

Mrs. Teabody sees a bright day dawning and the bird feeders are teeming with activity. This is such a happy time of day -- so rife with promise. Mrs. Teabody hopes your day is brilliant and fun and memorable. If you are passing by Tickle Your Fancy, do stop by.

Ta for now!

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