Sunday: SANTA MONICA – LAX – PHOENIX – HOME
Most days of the trip started with committee reports.
The Blog Report: Usually we read the comments on the blog aloud as we were driving. On Sunday, as on other days we read your words…so important to us. We all felt loved and no one more than Patty…
Apparel Report Report: Generally each day there was a discussion of which Route 66 shirt would be worn next. Some were popular and fit well. And some were not. But the shirts helped us connect with people and helped us spread our story and hear more stories. So we loved them. On Saturday the Apparel committee pleased us all by decreeing that Sunday (flight home day) would be “wear your own shirt day!” Woo hoo!
Financial Report: Kick in a little more into the Kitty. Those bottles of wine don’t buy themselves, ladies!
Navigation Report: Discussions of the day’s route…The third row was usually absent from these discussions… as in not terribly interested…much more interested in where peanut butter cups were in the vehicle..
Saturday. Early wake up and down to the lobby to meet Patty’s old neighbor and our new friend, David. What a nice guy…Ellen and Melissa made their appearance as well! Yes folks, that’s the Anna Maria Island newspaper,The Islander, that Patty is holding…when you are shameless attention seekers you need to commit FULLY. We are nothing if not committed to self promotion!
And, with coffee in hand, we were off to the airport…
Not much to report about our trip home except that, of course, Southwest Airlines came through for us, yet again (remember the napkin story?) 
Our flight attendant bought us all drinks on our LAX to Phoenix leg. Just so nice.
And as you’d expect, the Happy Snacker Campers love a free snack!
There have been signs all along the way that we got better and better at noticing. There may be such signs in your life, and maybe they’re not quite LITERALLY signs…but here is a smattering of the actual signs that mattered to us…if you remember, we’d started the trip with milk duds at Lou Mitchell’s restaurant in Chicago…and we’d been saying “Duuuuude, Don’t be a DUD ever since…” Of course we passed a truck on the last day with a sign that said, “DUDE, be nice.”
It’s all been so wonderful…and we’ve called it “A Perfect Storm” of friends pulled together because we each couldn’t imagine saying anything other than “YES! Of course I’ll come!”
And from Patty some words from the heart:
July 18, 2016
Final thought for this trip:
Rest assured there are still very many good people out here in big cities and in small cities. The news has to report tragedies but there are more days with no tragedies than with tragedies so as you watch the news….please know that there are people out here that are happy, proud, loving and very kind. Don’t let fear or terror ruin that for you! Embrace today and look forward to tomorrow! I am beyond blessed and as fun and memorable as this trip has been…reeeeeally fun and memorable and quite an eye opening experience, I want to go home because Bradenton is home and that’s where I will continue this fight. Surrounded by family and friends whom I adore! And now that we have keys to the city……anything is possible, right? Might even get our roads paved! Hah! What a friendly city Bradenton is, and even though some of these cities have left a mark in my heart, Bradenton Florida is where I’ll continue my journey…..love Bradenton!
Cancer stinks….I can’t tell you how many days it has robbed me of happiness. I get mad and struggle with why it keeps coming back, but then….here I am enjoying another day! Days turn to weeks, weeks turn to months, and months turn to years. Here I am, 3 years and 10 months later. I’m seeing things that I never thought I’d see! Life is good, and if I have to share my body with cancer, so be it. I hope and pray that I’m around to see the advancements in research for all cancers but mostly pancreatic cancer. It’s a rough one and so aggressive. I also want to meet my grandkids, and walk my son on the field for senior night at his high school. A wish list a mile long. And every mile we have driven, I have thanked God for the people in my life! Old and new. Family and friends. Near or far, you have all been on my mind and special blessing have been given to you. There have been many God Wink moments, all the people….yes! But also the messages and signals that we got throughout the day! I choose to believe that it’s all my angels in heaven telling me that they are alright and to keep going! Some of my angels are Ed Bradley, Nijole Jones, Karen Moates, Linda Kelly, Paul Hayward, Devin Street, Barbara Carrera, to name a few…..I know there are more and please forgive me if I forgot anyone! I’m a little tired from our journey! I’ll keep pushing through and I’ll keep loving, hugging, and I’ll keep trying to make a difference in the world as all of you have made a difference in mine. The truth is every morning that you wake up is God’s way of saying…go make a difference, touch a heart, encourage a mind, inspire a soul and enjoy the day! I’m forever grateful……and a heartfelt thanks to the sixty sixtahs! Jane…..you pulled it together and these gal have been great! We’re still not sure how it all came together but it did and I love you all-until next time…..hey we’ve never been to Normal, Illinois! Ehhh, they wouldn’t let us stay, we are FAR from Normal….
Blog note:
Patty, you’re so FAR from Normal it’s amazing. Brava!
Speaking of NORMAL, …bet you didn’t think we recorded this, or that we’d put it in the blog! ha! And, we do. We do love you honey….
OUTTAKES:
And finally,
Dear Ellen and Melissa: We’re still eager to meet you! So we’re gonna keep up with some blogging since we know you’re busy with your publicity tours for your movies:
and because girlfriends help girlfriends, we hope this helps promote…
Call us! We’ll squeeze you in.
With love from Patty, Janey, Patti, Jean, Trudi, and Julie
dontforgetwinonablog 
You girls rock! Wonderful trip and glad you are home safely. It was great reading about your days everyday. Love and prayers to Patty + 5. ( Sixty Sistahs)
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Thank you….I am so appreciative of “going on this trip” with you all. Love to all, especially Patty.
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To the blog master…… thank you so much for sharing all the experiences with us… I absolutely loved reading every minute of them! I still feel there is a future for you as an author to say maybe a book…… about Patty…. and the trip…..lol … I am so glad Patty has such wonderful friends in Bradenton to keep her on track. I can’t wait to meet all of you in August and hear the stories that were not shared with the blog. Until then I heart all of you!
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Dear Sixtahs,
I’m sad your journey is over! I’m sure going to miss the daily blog, Its been so wonderful hearing about your escapades! You sure know how to have fun! BM would you consider keeping us folks who do not do Facebook in the loop about our Patty and how treatments are going? I would be so grateful.
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Welcome home! I have loved reading of your adventures each day and sent prayers winging their way all Route 66. I will miss laughing and crying at your stories each day – take good care!
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Hello Sixty Sixtahs, so thankful y’all are home safe and sound, just wanted to thank y’all for sharing your journey with us, I have laughed & cried reading the posts. Patty, thoughts and prayers are with you through out your journey. God is awesome 💞🙏💞 From Cindy & Dorina’s Aunt from Arkansas
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I have kept up with your gals since you left the Tucumcari Hisrorical Museum , I look forward to reading your adventures of each day. I will co ti ur following you as long as you provide us with information. We loved meeting each of you , and my thoughts and prayers are with you. My love and prayers will stay with Patty. Love to all and happy your home.
Sincerely,
Paula Neese ❤️
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So nice of you to reach out, Paula! We really had such a wonderful time visiting with you guys and seeing your truly beautiful collection of artifacts! A wonderful memory! Thank you!
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Thank you for allowing me to journey with you on this unforgettable trip via your blog. I can now take this off my bucket list because I traveled Route 66 vicariously through the Sixty Sixtahs!!
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Thanks for the ride ladies! Best road trip I’ve never been on! Looking forward to the next one! ❤️
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Very sad that this epic trip is over, but I’m sure you are all happy to be home with your families (and jobs😉)! and of course the continuation of chemo for Patty, Ugh! We need to slay this ugly monster! Looking forward to the book, including the chapters when you get to meet the elusive Ellen and Melissa😘😘😘😘😘😘
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Nothing OVER about this trip, momma B. We are still relentlessly pursuing Ellen and Melissa…come home soon…we need ya at the helm. Jean made us eat kale chips, and Trudi almost said something that was slightly unkind one time, but later we realized it wasn’t Trudi, but still….it was scary for a second.❤️
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What an empowering story, what an evidence of perseverance and true friendship. Thank you for sharing this adventure that I will keep, as Patty mentioned, as a reminder that there is beauty, love and kindness in our world.
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I have thoroughly enjoyed your journey and posts. I have been to some of those locations. You brought back family memories. Two members of my family have fallen victim to the C word so I know the fight. Your blog instilled emotions in an old football coach similar to the way the ESPYS do each year with their tributes to the fight against that C word. Patty keep up the fight. Your story deserves an ESPY. You have encouraged many on the way!! Last evening at a USF football clinic your journey was discussed by several of us!!! GOD BLESS AND THANKS!!
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Wow Paul, thanks! We’re glad you came along with us!
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Thanks so much for sharing your Love and Joy!
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Hello, My name is Leslie and I am a writer for Country Inn & Suites. We’d like to write a story about your trip. I’m contacting you from my personal blog because I couldn’t find contact info. Would you please contact me? leslie@wildemerepublishing.com. Thanks!
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Hi Leslie! Contact me at jrothfeld@mac.com, thanks!
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Will do. Thanks!
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You ladies are amazing. I loved reading your blog and following along. It reminded to enjoy the little things. Basically to stop and smell the flowers, dance like no one is watching and just to appreciate the people who come into your life and what they bring. You ladies rock!
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