Welcome back to Tire Mom! As I continued Loop 3, I had a driving sense of urgency to get back home by June 17 so I wouldn’t be on the road on the date my Clayton died. Even with that deadline urging me on, I was also looking forward to connecting with my friend Patti, who was a friend from the University of Michigan days when Clayton was earning his Ph.D. I spent the night with them in North Carolina on my way to Greenville, South Carolina. 

Bennett, Patti and Gimli

You’re about to enter the realm of Six Degrees of Separation or at least for this time, it’s just three degrees:) My friend Marcia in Utah, connected me to her friend Patty who took me to her son. Clayton.

Me and Patty

A school teacher and dedicated husband and father, young Clayton definitely needed new tires, which I loved buying for him. I couldn’t go back and buy safe ones for my Clayton, but I could ensure safety for Patty’s Clayton. 

Me, Clayton and Patty

Yeah. I could almost feel my husband cheering me on, telling me I could do this. I may have been traveling by myself, but I was definitely not alone.

If you want to comment, and I hope you do, will you share your own experience with Six Degrees? I also hope that here, you feel far more connected than separated. We are on this journey together.

Stay Safe,

Diana Hubner