The Hale Family Weekly Update (8/10 – 16)
The week began with a memorable road trip, a few antique-store treasures, good visits with family and friends, and one very important reminder: when Sally is driving, the driver still needs to be wide awake. By week’s end, life had returned to its usual rhythm of walks, dinners, music, chess, and a little bathroom technology research that may be getting out of hand.
Monday, August 10, 2026
Sunny, 79° at 7:00 a.m., with a high of 93°. We left at 9:30 for Mary Beth and John’s home in Fairfax and arrived at 12:15 p.m.
The drive north on I‑95 gave us more excitement than we had ordered. We passed a sign saying the express lane was closed. A couple of miles later, Sally, in Full Self‑Driving mode, signaled to enter that same closed express lane. Several barrier arms with red flags blocked the entrance, but Sally continued toward them at highway speed (75 mph).
When it became clear she was not going to correct herself, I took the wheel, avoided the barriers, and came to a stop beside the first one. I reported the intervention as “Critical,” though “Disastrous” might have been more accurate. The barriers were at windshield height, and the result could have been very serious had I not been watching carefully.
After working our way back into traffic, we continued—with me watching much more aggressively. Farther down the road, Sally attempted to enter another closed express-lane entrance, and I quickly took control again. The lesson of the day was simple: Full Self‑Driving may be impressive, but “full attention” is still required from the person behind the wheel.
Once we arrived safely at Mary Beth and John’s, Robin and Gregg had lunch ready for us. We enjoyed a delicious meal and lots of good conversation. Around 5:15 p.m., we drove to Warrenton, checked into the Hampton Inn with my Hilton app, and ended the day with dinner at Outback.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
We woke up at the Hampton Inn in Warrenton, enjoyed breakfast, and then spent a couple of hours browsing the Fox Den Antique Shop. Jerilyn found a wooden parrot, immediately named him “Petey,” and we gave him a new home. Every good antique trip should include at least one item with a name before it reaches the car.
Afterward, we arrived at Elsie Dee’s shortly after 1:00 p.m. and spent the afternoon visiting until 5:30. There is no substitute for sitting together, catching up, and letting conversation take its time.
We went to Longhorn for dinner, then took Elsie Dee home. We had a chance to see her daughter Louria, her son Noah and his girlfriend, and their son Sampson. After a few more minutes of visiting, we returned to the motel around 7:15 p.m. It was a day built around people, which is usually the best kind.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
After breakfast at the Hampton Inn, we packed Sally and headed to Fredericksburg for The Mousetrap at the Riverside Dinner Theater.
The play was excellent, the meal was fair, and the traffic home was wonderfully light—three out of four isn’t bad, especially when the best part was a murder mystery. We left around 4:05 p.m. and arrived home at 6:05.
After unpacking, I took Sally to AutoBell for a bath. After several days of road travel, she deserved to look less like an interstate veteran and more like a Tesla again.
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Sunny, 75° at 7:20 a.m., with a high of 92°. Back home, the routine of websites, gadgets, and household projects were waiting patiently.
I called GoDaddy and provided a new API code for the chatbot on my website. They will try implementing it, and if it still does not work, they will remove the chatbot and add a search box to the home page. Sometimes the simplest option is the one that causes the fewest gray hairs.
I ordered two window temperature gauges, because apparently it is not enough to know the temperature outside—we now need official confirmation from the windows themselves. I published our dinner reservations for our dinner pals, because a good meal with friends deserves proper advance planning.
Friday, August 14, 2026
Sunny, 77° at 7:20 a.m., with a high of 90°. We received about a half inch of rain, enough to freshen things up without turning the day into an ark-building project.
Rachel walked the Kiln Creek Trail with us, followed by our usual stop at Kroger for groceries. I began listening to The Whistler by Ann Patchett, which gave me something good to keep company with during my wait. After lunch, I worked on several missives. Dinner at 5:00 was with Mary Jane, Mary Stuart, and Betty. Later, we watched a preseason football game between Miami and Washington. Preseason football may not count in the standings, but it still gives us an excuse to sit down, relax, and offer expert coaching advice from the sofa.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Mostly cloudy, 76° at 7:30 a.m., with a high of 85°. I played chess with David Litzinger at 10:00 a.m. and lost after 90 minutes. The last time we played (July), we had a draw, so my official record for the new season is 0–1. I am choosing to think of it as a strategic learning experience—David may have a different interpretation. He led most of the game and rightly deserved the win. I practiced guitar in the afternoon and did some serious research on buying a bidet. Before purchasing one, I need to submit a work order for an electrical outlet beside the commode. My leading choice is the Bio Bidet DLS Premium, which includes a heated seat, night light, warm water, dryer, deodorizer, automatic lid, and remote control. At this point, I’m wondering whether one is available with artificial intelligence, stereo speakers, and a Kindle holder. If so, I may need to start scheduling bathroom appointments 😁. Dinner with Mary Stuart ended the day on a more traditional and less technological note. She is always a wonderful dinner companion.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Sunny, 77° at 7:30 a.m., with a high of 89°. Dean and Tiffany visited around 9:30 a.m., and we enjoyed plenty of good conversation. Family visits are important, and we appreciate that they make time to come by each week. We had brunch at 11:30 with Nancy, then I took Sally to AutoBell for her weekly bath. She came out looking ready for a showroom, even if she has been known to make the occasional adventurous navigation suggestion.
I completed this weekly newsletter and published it by email and in hard copies for the cubbies. Another week recorded, another set of memories safely filed away.
Closing Message
This week reminded us that life can change from ordinary to exciting in a few seconds, whether on a busy interstate, in a theater seat, or during a friendly chess match. We are grateful for safe travels, family visits, long conversations, shared meals, and the chance to return home to familiar routines. I am attaching a copy of one of my latest missives. I hope you enjoy it.
And, as always, here are a few quips to close the week:
- I trust my car’s technology—right up until it starts making life choices without consulting me.
- Retirement is when a trip to the antique store can result in a new family member named Petey.
- I played chess for 90 minutes and proved that thinking hard does not always guarantee victory.
- The older I get, the more my gadgets seem to require their own staff meeting.
- A good dinner with friends is still one of life’s most reliable forms of therapy.
- If my future bidet has a remote control, I may finally be living in the space age.
…Tommy