I'm beginning to feel like a wandering nomad.
With the news about Joey getting better and better, I'm sorta in neutral gear here in Louisiana; camped out at Lake Bruin State Park. Down near St Joseph. It's a nice setting, complete with all the modern camping amenities; fresh water, electricity, showers, picnic tables, a splash pad, a fire ring for campers to gather 'round and meet.
I'm actually pointing the Explorer east again, and not really in much of a hurry to go anywhere. Sheesh.... how's that for no responsibilities. I do have that appointment on the 13th that I initially returned home to keep; so I have 5 days to kill trekking slowly back to the Briars.
Here's the new agenda:
I'll spend the next 5 days on a slow and lazy exploration of the Gulf Coast, around Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. I'll take in some sights... and some sun around the beaches; especially Biloxi and Fort Walton; and then I slide down to the Briars for that appointment.
I'll spend the ensuing weekend... 14th through the 16th, in Naples (FL) at Briars II. There's a great Jazz concert going on. Did I say I have a weakness for good smooth jazz.
On Monday, August 17, we'll try this westward road trip again. Ten days to reach Houston for mom's birthday. I'll likely get there on the 25th or 26th. I'll meet Big Joey (my son) and his wife there; as the whole clan gathers for a reunion, and they will join me on the drive to California.
Now... California is a nice place - to visit. I lived there for almost thirty years, and chose to venture east for many reasons. Some of those reasons will certainly surface over time and I'll get a calling to head home again. What I don't know is when.
When I do start back (probably in late October or November), barring any glitches, it will be a slow drive east through and around points further north... along the Interstate -40 corridor. That will take me through the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma, Arkansas, upper Mississippi and over to Atlanta and Stone Mountain. It's at Stone Mountain that I will turn south again, dropping down Georgia, through Valdosta and back home. We'll be in the throes of winter by then, so there will certainly be no big rush.
Anyway:
As I settled down here at the camp ground, I noticed a family of five setting up camp. It's hot... low 90's, and I noticed the dad was frustrated over the kids pouting. I struck up a conversation with him and he said they (the kids) were pouting because they couldn't get on the Internet from there. Good grief, Charlie Brown... I thought. The Internet really has consumed us.
Anyway, he said he was about to drive back to the nearest city and buy a cell phone Internet connection. "That would be New Orleans", I offered.
Then... suddenly, one of the kids hollered out... "hey, daddy.... there's an Internet connection somewhere nearby. I've got a good signal." All three kids were excited. Dad just smiled. Mom turned her attention from the BBQ pit and shook her head. "Awe shucks", the kid blurted, "it has a password."
"Maybe you can crack it," said the younger brother."
I laughed.
Finally, edging the dad aside, I said... "the signal is coming from my car. When you reach the end of your frustration I'll give you the password and you can be a hero, if you want."
"Really?!" he exclaimed, with a wide smile.
Later they invited me over to have supper with them; after which he demonstrated his password cracking skills to the kids and he, his wife and I went for a hike around the Lake.
The real story here, for me, is not so much how the Internet has consumed our attention; particularly the younger generation, but that there remains many friendly folks out here on the road and it doesn't take a whole lot to meet new friends and weave fun memories on a road trip across America.
... and so it goes.
With the news about Joey getting better and better, I'm sorta in neutral gear here in Louisiana; camped out at Lake Bruin State Park. Down near St Joseph. It's a nice setting, complete with all the modern camping amenities; fresh water, electricity, showers, picnic tables, a splash pad, a fire ring for campers to gather 'round and meet.
I'm actually pointing the Explorer east again, and not really in much of a hurry to go anywhere. Sheesh.... how's that for no responsibilities. I do have that appointment on the 13th that I initially returned home to keep; so I have 5 days to kill trekking slowly back to the Briars.
Here's the new agenda:
I'll spend the next 5 days on a slow and lazy exploration of the Gulf Coast, around Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. I'll take in some sights... and some sun around the beaches; especially Biloxi and Fort Walton; and then I slide down to the Briars for that appointment.
I'll spend the ensuing weekend... 14th through the 16th, in Naples (FL) at Briars II. There's a great Jazz concert going on. Did I say I have a weakness for good smooth jazz.
On Monday, August 17, we'll try this westward road trip again. Ten days to reach Houston for mom's birthday. I'll likely get there on the 25th or 26th. I'll meet Big Joey (my son) and his wife there; as the whole clan gathers for a reunion, and they will join me on the drive to California.
Now... California is a nice place - to visit. I lived there for almost thirty years, and chose to venture east for many reasons. Some of those reasons will certainly surface over time and I'll get a calling to head home again. What I don't know is when.
When I do start back (probably in late October or November), barring any glitches, it will be a slow drive east through and around points further north... along the Interstate -40 corridor. That will take me through the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma, Arkansas, upper Mississippi and over to Atlanta and Stone Mountain. It's at Stone Mountain that I will turn south again, dropping down Georgia, through Valdosta and back home. We'll be in the throes of winter by then, so there will certainly be no big rush.
Anyway:
As I settled down here at the camp ground, I noticed a family of five setting up camp. It's hot... low 90's, and I noticed the dad was frustrated over the kids pouting. I struck up a conversation with him and he said they (the kids) were pouting because they couldn't get on the Internet from there. Good grief, Charlie Brown... I thought. The Internet really has consumed us.
Anyway, he said he was about to drive back to the nearest city and buy a cell phone Internet connection. "That would be New Orleans", I offered.
Then... suddenly, one of the kids hollered out... "hey, daddy.... there's an Internet connection somewhere nearby. I've got a good signal." All three kids were excited. Dad just smiled. Mom turned her attention from the BBQ pit and shook her head. "Awe shucks", the kid blurted, "it has a password."
"Maybe you can crack it," said the younger brother."
I laughed.
Finally, edging the dad aside, I said... "the signal is coming from my car. When you reach the end of your frustration I'll give you the password and you can be a hero, if you want."
"Really?!" he exclaimed, with a wide smile.
Later they invited me over to have supper with them; after which he demonstrated his password cracking skills to the kids and he, his wife and I went for a hike around the Lake.
The real story here, for me, is not so much how the Internet has consumed our attention; particularly the younger generation, but that there remains many friendly folks out here on the road and it doesn't take a whole lot to meet new friends and weave fun memories on a road trip across America.
... and so it goes.
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