A recap for those of you interested in our riddle-game:
Clue #1 - That's me getting in my 4runner, Cheshire Cat floorboards dusted with snow. So yes, we already have something happening that is at least car (or cat?) related.
Clue #2 - Pups in the backseat. Another sign of a road trip. (Not that they don't accompany me every day to every place I go, but who would know that besides me?) Dude, and don't you just melt at those faces? I am a danger on the road, always tempted to look in my rear view mirror at them rather than the road! Who wouldn't?
Clue #3 - This I thought was a particular stroke of genius. (If I do say so myself!) Texas is the first state we cross into after leaving Taos. Didn't plan on seeing Czech girls or eating bratwurst, but there was no getting around Texas!
Clue #4 - Another famous road trip. I could have used Thelma and Louise, but thought better than to load images in my mind (or on this blog) of road trips ending in catastrophe at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. No matter how much I like road trips with redheads in convertibles, I refuse to end up as desperate housewife roadkill.
Clue #5 - Though I'm apt to order Starbuck's anytime, they don't exist in Taos. (They're still holding out against corporate giants, though they caved in for Walmart...) So a Starbucks sign certainly signifies a road trip. Especially a drive thru.
Clue #6 - When driving from Taos to Atlanta, the state directly after Texas is Oklahoma! A long stretch of highway, so best to bring your musical soundtracks along to pass the time.
Clue #7 - This image signifies a celebration is on the way. Not only do champagne bottles typically signify a happy event, but in the Duirwaigh family, EVERY happy event is celebrated with champagne. And happy events most certainly include things like breathing, blinking, toe-wiggling, and being together.
Clue #8 - What's a road trip without a little HUMOR? Pah-lease. But all in all, it's still a fairly decent clue, being a road sign and all...
Clue #9 - Third state to cross when driving Interstate 40 from Taos to Atlanta is Arkansas, home to little rocks and ex-presidents. Though Clinton spends more time in Harlem than in his home state. What is THAT about?
Clue #10 - Another clue indicative of a road trip headed south. They don't have waffle house out west. Not only that, but if you happen to be driving through the deep south late at night and don't want McDonald's, Waffle House is likely to be your only option.
Clue #11 - A wall of Tennessee license plates. Yup, it's the fourth state on our cross country excursion and a looong one at that. By now we're itching to get out of the car, to get to our destination or at least to get somewhere to take a decent shower and sleep on a bed that's not a rock!
Clue #12 - A giveaway, really. This is a Doorway. A Duirwaigh. DUH! Heading to Atlanta/Kennesaw means we're heading to the Duirwaigh offices to play with the Duirwaigh team and to play in the magical realms that exist beyond the Duir!
Clue #13 - Me celebrating with balloons. A photo taken in our home office in Kennesaw. Another dead giveaway that a celebration is on its way!
Clue #14 - Last state line to cross over! And you know by now we're feeling a lot like this plump, fuzzy fruit! Happy, snappy and a little peachy keen to finally be in our destination state! Or have we entered a state of destiny-ation? Whatever, we're happy and by now it's obvious we're in a car, headed for our beloved Duirwaigh crew!
So Kimmie figured out the riddle by clue six and called Mernie who promptly told her that I'd have to be roped and hog-tied to drive all the way back to Kennesaw. However, they figured it out along the way, for when we pulled in the driveway and walked up the front steps, this masterpiece was taped to the door (you have to click on it to see it in its full splendor):
Since arriving, I've witnessed the birth of four baby sparrows, the budding of fresh, pink blossoms on Mernie's cherry trees outside, the arrival of a huge buzzard in the front yard (attracted by the possum who tried to cross the road but...nevermind) and a circus that's come to town to take up residency on my toes. But that's for another post!