Atticus Finch, Butterflies and Sunsets

Each time it happens, I am truly moved at the resounding effect that a piece of music has upon us at various moments through our days. Driving from Phoenix to El Paso caught me completely off guard.

As the sun melted behind yet another 'fall' coloured mountain, making a true beauty of a silhouette out of it, we eased along the road listening to... Cold Play... now let me just take a second to reassure you that I am very much of the opinion that Cold Play made the one good song, and this was now accompanying us along Route 10. With Chris Martin and co singing 'Fix You' through the loud yet appauling stereo system of our loud yet appauling new car... I saw a sunset that was very nearly worthy of my Grandad.

There's definately one thing that America allows you to do - and that's to think. There is so much space here... so much empty space, and if you're not careful it can catch you off guard like this drive did for me and reduce you to driving open mouthed, completely in awe of your exact location on this planet, thinking of those you love.

It took us 7 hours to drive to El Paso, on Halloween, no less. During those 7 hours I really had to try with all my being to pull myself together before Callum realised I was holding back the tears and I got an earful for being an emotional female.

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To quickly borrow the words from Ms Harper Lee in a speech given by the infamous Atticus Finch, "...but it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." ... a quote I agree with; from a book which is, by far the best piece of literature ever written. This quote that also rang true in my head today, but with slightly different lyrics... "it is a sin to kill a butterfly." (There aren't many Mockingbirds where I come from). Butterflies are beautiful; I have always thought so. Not so beautiful, however, when they are stuck to the front of the car.

With every one that flew onto the window screen, I really did feel truly awful. Callum jumped at every little scream I let out with each death, apparently thinking I was about to crash the car - so I stopped, but the culling continued.

So much so that our once white car bonnet is now a rather ugly mix of black and yellow. It was two days of driving done in one, but at what price, I ask you???

Dead cheap petrol.... (!!!)

We've spent a few days on the road now, making our way down to Florida. The road has taken us through El Paso, San Antonio, Houston and now into Louisiana, in a few days we will arrive in Captiva and I am so excited, I think Callum thinks I've lost a little of my mind... but I physically can't wait to be standing on that beach outside of Jensen's watching, what I hope to be another of those beautiful sunsets.

Jen.