Day Two: Oklahoma to Tennessee

Day Two: Oklahoma City to Knoxville

I woke up bright and early at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning.  I began making my way towards through the inner city freeway when I had remembered that my mom was telling me about the Federal building memorial.  So I called and woke her up about 3am Arizona time and asked her where the building was located.

For those of you who don't remember what happened on April 15, 1995

At 9:03 a.m. the Ryder truck filled with 13 barrels of explosives blew up, destroying one half of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building.  The blast killed 168 people, including 19 children and injuring a total of 680 people.  A day that one will never forget.

I began to drive into downtown Oklahoma City to visit the Murrah Federal building memorial.  I wasn't expecting to be moved as I was, seeing as how I was only 10 when the blast occurred I didn't really remember much.  I arrived at the memorial and instantly my heart began to race as I looked at the massive wall that displayed "9:03".  

I left the memorial with renewed love for life and all things that come with it.  I began on my journey out of Oklahoma city on Interstate 40 enjoying the luscious green landscapes, and the beautiful sun shining into the car.  

I wish that I could tell you that Arkansas was an awesome state, but sadly it wasn't..  I was forced to make only two stops before making it into Memphis, Tennessee.  I was hoping to make a pit stop somewhere near Elvis Presley's Graceland, but due to the hundreds of people already waiting in line I didn't have time to stop.  So I took a quick peek at the music notes on the gate and the house in the distance and I was on my way.

Tennessee has some of the worst driver's in the country, they will risk driving 30 miles over the speed limit because there are simply no police to be seen in that state.  So being the typical driver that I am, I kept up with traffic driving at the rate of about 80 miles per hour through the state.  Sure enough I reached Nashville a few hours later.  I didn't get a chance to make a pit stop in Nashville, but from what I saw I wouldn't mind going back!

The final leg of the trip was upon me and I was becoming increasingly antsy knowing that I was so close to Maryland.  A two hour drive from Nashville laid the little city of Knoxville, a place where I could finally rest my head and sleep.  Twelve hours of driving by yourself.. it really does take a toll on you.
Day three:  Little did I know...
To be continued...