Today is final preparation day before I leave for Oklahoma! But more importantly: today is Memorial Day – the day we honor our fallen heroes who fought so that we have the freedom to communicate through media like this. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from oppression, freedom to bear arms,…. The list is long, but not as long as that of the brave men and women who have died. If you know of someone on this list, thank their family and pray that those serving now will not be added to that list.
Speaking of the right to bear arms – I have discovered that North Carolina has very permissive gun laws compared to other states. If you are not a felon, you can openly carry a handgun in places where it is not specifically restricted. These restrictions usually are posted in plain sight, but you might want to avoid schools, banks, courthouses, airports, etc. – just in case you don’t see the signs. [Disclaimer: Do NOT take this as legal advice! Do NOT do this just because I said so - I may have overlooked certain statutes of specific localities! I will NOT post bail for you!] Anyway, other states that I will be traveling through–Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma–do NOT permit open carry, even with a concealed carry permit! Really!? Oklahoma!? So…what is a woman who is traveling alone in a truck with out-of-state tags (gee, does that spell TARGET to you?) do for protection without getting locked up? Can you say “Taser”? Guess I’ll be shopping today for a little “buddy”!
I am really excited about this whole trip! Just to be on the road by myself, listening to the stations I choose, stopping whenever and wherever I choose, eating when and where I choose, and …nevermind. WOOHOOOOO!!! Not to mention, the awesome opportunity to do some animal behavior research with Dr. Matthew Lovern. Don’t pinch me…if I’m dreaming, I don’t want to wake up!
But, in order to leave tomorrow, I must finish some things here at home – laundry, packing, loving on the puppies (who I will really miss…the “boys” not so much!). The truck has been serviced and washed, I have my TomTom and my AAA packet (thank you, Daddy!), and my prescriptions filled. I look forward to sharing this adventure through this blog and hope you have even half the fun I expect to have this summer!
‘Til tomorrow, hug a vet! (veteran, not veterinarian…well, that’s OK, too…I guess…maybe…depends on the DVM…anyway…) and stay safe!