Short trip, but long on drama

Last weekend we drove to Walla Walla to see our college student. We had just taken him back for winter term less than three weeks earlier, but when you get the opportunity to have your fuel paid for, you go! One of Rick's clients needed to get a horse to Washington State University vet school for an MRI but didn't have a hauling vehicle, so we transported her horse and then headed south to spend the weekend with Brian . . . and meet his girlfriend.

The trip started out pleasantly enough. Poppy is a fine traveling companion and heading east through the Columbia River Gorge is always a beautiful drive.

Then we left our usual route to make our way to Pullman. Just before dusk a 'pea soup' fog settled in, slowing us way down as we navigated an unfamiliar road. Then, contrary to the weather forecast, the temperature started falling and some snow and frost appeared on the asphalt, making the trip with a horse trailer (containing someone else's valuable horse) vastly more stressful. Praise the Lord and Rick's careful driving, we made it safely to the vet school and got the horse unloaded, then on into Walla Walla. Even though we arrived later than anticipated, Brian and his girlfriend drove over to our hotel room to visit that night. I think someone was rather excited. 😉 We had a lovely visit, losing track of time until seven minutes before their dorm curfews, so off they dashed.

Less than 20 minutes later, Brian called. He said we needed to come get him from the dorm and take him to the hospital. What? WHY?!? He was crossing campus from the girls dorm to the boys dorm (they had come in his girlfriend's car), slipped/tripped at the top of six concrete steps, and came to at the bottom. He was bleeding profusely from a split chin, and was certain he had a concussion. Rick picked Brian up and took him to the local hospital while I stayed with Poppy. Sure enough, he had a concussion, needed four stitches in his chin, and had a CAT scan to make sure he hadn't broken the back of his jaw from the impact (there was 'only' soft tissue damage there). 😳

Needless to say, none of us got much sleep Friday night, so instead of getting up and going to church together the next morning, we all slept in – some more than others.

This was Poppy the next morning in her meerkat pose, looking out at the water: 

Our hotel was beside a canal with a walking path on either side, so while Rick got more sleep, I took Poppy for a walk.

Then we sat on the bed and watched a church service online:

Poppy really liked our bed! (She slept in her crate at night so I could get some sleep.)

Saturday afternoon Brian and his girlfriend met us at a nearby park for a walk,

then later they came to our room to eat the take-out Indian food we picked up. Poppy was delighted to see 'her boy.'

A closer look at his damaged chin

Brian had asked us to bring his violin; I was thrilled to have him play a couple tunes. I have really missed his music.

Fortunately, the weekend held no more drama. We saw Brian and his girlfriend again briefly Sunday before we left, had an uneventful drive home,

and arrived in time to do chores and then relax awhile before bedtime.

That's it for last weekend's trip from . . .