Look at all that snow in the background. 3 feet of it. 7 feet at the end of my driveway.
It'll look really beautiful in my rear view mirror.
It has been 10 years since my last vacation of any significant length. It was Denver CO and Kathy was my copilot. And believe me, I need a copilot. I have no sense of direction. However, unlike most males in the same situation I have fully owned up to this. I would love to have Kathy in the passenger seat for this vacation, passing me Nutter Butters and looking for places to turn the car around (to get back to where I was supposed to turn off).
But it is not to be. I know it's going to suck, being on my vacation and missing Kathy. Yet I must remember my mission: to have enough fun for the both of us. It is a tough mission. It may require copious amounts of food and alcohol. But I must do it. I must press on. I must eat and drink and play in excess. For her!!!
OK, so my only other option for copilot is Tom (above). On the plus side, he is compact, silent, and easily ejectable from the driver's side window if the load gets too heavy. But I dunno. I don't have a good feeling about taking direction from a stuffed cat.
So I'm getting ready, making calls, securing reservations. I've already noticed an interesting thing about Deep Southerners. When I call, they answer the phone in a Northern/Midwestern accent. But as they warm up to you, that Southern drawl comes out. It's cool! I hope they get really comfortable, so I can hear them say words like "tinsinstow" *
So on March 3rd, Tom and I and Teeny Weeny Wierdomobile are heading South. In the 3 weekends and 2 weeks, I'm going to be in Nashville and Memphis TN, and Clarksdale, Tupelo, and Oxford MS. I've already noticed an interesting thing about Deep Southerners. I'm going to surround myself with music and people and cold air rushing pass me as I bike down the road. I have no idea what to expect, really. You will find out as I do.
* As in "Let's go to the five and tinsinstow." As a kid, I picked up that word from my grandfather's Southern-to-Northern translation dictionary.
5 comments:
Best wishes on your excellent adventure!
Yo bro! Eat some barbecue for me! And don't forget what I tell the girls every morning as they're going out the door: Make good choices.
hey, dude, we forgot one totally important event: teaching me how to blog!
Okay, this seems to be marginally working. It wanted cookies and coffee when I tried this morning, but I think I've got it now.
Directions, man, it's all about the getting the directions right! And you are mistaken in thinking that it will be "cool" air blowing past you on your bicycle. You've been in snow country w-a-a-a-y too long! “South” = “warm”
Go in peace. Write for all of us who can't get away.
Where are you staying tonight? What are you eating? Drinking? Hearing? Reading?
Hey Kid:
Wow sounds like a trip sofar. Sounds kinda like going to SD with the family (only I knew the way). I tell you a GPS is the best thing next to your Mother, well actually it does sit next to your Mother but it gives better directions SOONER. Lots of snow here and roads closed so stay south of Mo. Keep up the blog because next to Stephan Pastis you are my favorite writer.
Rocky is reading this over my shoulder and says "Yor a kreep for tackin a dum cat insted of a brilliant rakon".
Well he never got lost.
Keep safe
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