Just arrived home from our annual Christmas trip to the north. Lots of fun seeing families. Hope you enjoyed the holidays wherever you were. Some of you don't celebrate Christmas. I wish you well - as well!
Driving back from Atlanta was a bit of a challenge due to every other American and Canadian heading for our neighbor, Disney World, at the same time. I felt bad when I heard on the radio this morning that Disney and Universal had to turn folks away yesterday. They were full up.
But we made it home despite the massive traffic. Here are some highlights.
On the way up north Dave had a little health issue. We found a clinic in Macon, Georgia. They did blood work right there on the spot so we were in and out and on the road with our antibiotics within a couple of hours. These clinics that have sprung up around the country are terrific for little stuff. And so convenient.
We like to pick up those little coupon books for hotels and such. On the way up we stayed at a place that was discounted to $40 plus. Not so great. On the way back we stayed at a Country Suites, discounted at $50 plus. What a difference ten dollars makes! It was nifty, with indoor pool, work out room, warm cookies and the big breakfast that I love. As you know, I don't actually eat the big breakfast but I like to look it over.
Prior to starting our travels we headed to the library to check out books on tape. Yes, we're still old school. We listened to six hours of a David Baldacci mystery. It was OK. Then listened to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion 25th Anniversary series. There just isn't a better short story teller.
One from his early days was about a 13 year old nerdy little kid who loved to write, (much like Keillor himself.) His 17 year old cousin came to visit and, via a sweet, sad, funny narration we learn that the cousin is pregnant. The boy eavesdrops on the conservative, Lutheran, Lake Wobegon parents and other relatives and learns that they're going to throw her out if she doesn't write a letter of contrition, stating what a vile and wanton sinner she's been and how she fully repents. The kid tells his cousin what she has to do and she says no, she can't write such a letter because it wouldn't be honest. The kids says, "I'll write it for you." And he proceeds to write a very flowery, apologetic letter of contrition that only a 13 year old writer could pull together. Especially since he's not really sure of what she did to get herself pregnant. He's very proud of what he's written.
But then the phone rings and it's the cousin's boyfriend asking her to marry him. She does and they stay married for 30 years and the boy never gets to show off his excellent letter.
I'm happy to be home with lots to do, but I miss the folks in Lake Wobegon - as well as my own family.
***
Driving back from Atlanta was a bit of a challenge due to every other American and Canadian heading for our neighbor, Disney World, at the same time. I felt bad when I heard on the radio this morning that Disney and Universal had to turn folks away yesterday. They were full up.
But we made it home despite the massive traffic. Here are some highlights.
On the way up north Dave had a little health issue. We found a clinic in Macon, Georgia. They did blood work right there on the spot so we were in and out and on the road with our antibiotics within a couple of hours. These clinics that have sprung up around the country are terrific for little stuff. And so convenient.
We like to pick up those little coupon books for hotels and such. On the way up we stayed at a place that was discounted to $40 plus. Not so great. On the way back we stayed at a Country Suites, discounted at $50 plus. What a difference ten dollars makes! It was nifty, with indoor pool, work out room, warm cookies and the big breakfast that I love. As you know, I don't actually eat the big breakfast but I like to look it over.
Prior to starting our travels we headed to the library to check out books on tape. Yes, we're still old school. We listened to six hours of a David Baldacci mystery. It was OK. Then listened to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion 25th Anniversary series. There just isn't a better short story teller.
One from his early days was about a 13 year old nerdy little kid who loved to write, (much like Keillor himself.) His 17 year old cousin came to visit and, via a sweet, sad, funny narration we learn that the cousin is pregnant. The boy eavesdrops on the conservative, Lutheran, Lake Wobegon parents and other relatives and learns that they're going to throw her out if she doesn't write a letter of contrition, stating what a vile and wanton sinner she's been and how she fully repents. The kid tells his cousin what she has to do and she says no, she can't write such a letter because it wouldn't be honest. The kids says, "I'll write it for you." And he proceeds to write a very flowery, apologetic letter of contrition that only a 13 year old writer could pull together. Especially since he's not really sure of what she did to get herself pregnant. He's very proud of what he's written.
But then the phone rings and it's the cousin's boyfriend asking her to marry him. She does and they stay married for 30 years and the boy never gets to show off his excellent letter.
I'm happy to be home with lots to do, but I miss the folks in Lake Wobegon - as well as my own family.
***
