There and Back Again

The only thing worse than Road-tripping with a whinny, screaming, just Two year old, and an almost 8 year old who keeps asking..."how long 'till we get there?" is jumping on a bicycle with it's Seat missing. And even that bit of Intrusive Acrobatics would have been a respite. And tickle-y.

There was no Antidote for the Tater's opinionated vocalizations. Save for Benadryl. But, I'm against doping a small child. Anyway...I had planned on doing shots of the Benadryl when we arrived. That, coupled with a Morphine suppository, would be just what the Dr. ordered.

As for the Goat....."4 hours." Four hours was how long it would take to get to Granddad and GrandMarn's house. Even when we were five minutes Out. "Four hours, Goat." When we drove into the cul-de-sac, she asked again, "how long...blah, blah, blah, blah....".

"Four hours, Goat."

And 30 seconds later we were in the driveway and she said, "That was never four hours!!!"

MENSA should be calling any day.

What a time we had.

Snuggled deep in the Mountains of Asheville, NC. Mountains so deep and lush that a fella could get Lost for days and days and days. Breathing deep the composting forest Duff and dirt and rivers and Rock. Falling asleep under a baby-blue haze of sunset and dreams. And stardust.

But not this trip.

This trip involved duck ponds and Swingsets. Pizza slices that weighed 27 pounds and Eclairs from the local Bakery that resembled Volkswagen Beatles.

This trip involved cuddles and laughter of a Grandfather and his grandchildren. And games of Barbie vs. the Ground Pooh. Quiet watercolor painting with their GrandMarn. And that, Brothers and Sisters is better than just about anything.

Even jumping on a Bicycle with the seat missing.

The Old Man and I even managed to sneak out Saturday night to see some Live music at a little place called the Orange Peel. It just so happened that my friend Todd Snider (I call him my friend because I talked to him once for about 15 minutes after a gig he did, here in Town, and we talked a bout Flyfishing, and he said he enjoyed that and anyone that flyfishes is automatically on my Honor Roll. He also said that it was one of the First times in a while that someone didn't go all Sapzz-y, Fanboy on him. And he dug that. I wanted to tell him that I was pretty High and considerably more lazy than his average Fan and I didn't have the Energy to do all that. But I just left it alone.) was in Asheville and, well, I never, if I can help it, miss a chance to catch up with 'ol Mr. Snider.

A friend of mine asked me once if I didn't miss Road-tripping by myself, or with an ally of sorts. I said, "naa. not really." He said, "well, I think you sold out." Instead of hitting him in the Throat, I explained to him that my kids pay dividends that pay off. Big Time. Hell, banks would go Broke trying to cash in what I receive. Shit. Banks know fuck all about that type of Conversion.

I'm rich.

And they hardly ever bum my Smokes. The kids, not the Banks.

What a time we had.

*Sorry for rambling on and on, but the trip back was Taxing, to say the least and I'm into the Gin and Tonics (sans Tonic) and I just felt like babbling. Anyway, here's Todd. To say how I feel most of the Time. Go buy his Music.




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