Road Trip

Thursday/ June 23, 2017
Road Trip
Entry 1 from a series of 6.

Temperature is up from 117 in Vegas, so I called my sister, Dianne, to take a road trip. She is up for it. I hopped a flight to Charlotte, and here we are barreling down I77 to Florida to meet David and Rosie at Bud’s old beach
house at Matanzas Inlet where we all spent many happy days of our childhood.

I thought it might be fun to take you along with me, especially since our car trips often turn into Uncle Wiggley adventuress. In the interest of simplicity I will introduce the players in the order they appear.

We’ll begin with my older sister, Dianne, who was born thirteen months before I got here. She is my closest, best friend and for good or for ill we know just about everything about each other. That means we fight like we might kill each other and, so far, eventually get back to loving.

There will be one sibling who won’t make an appearance. Our precious older brother who was so sensitive to the cruelties of life, killed himself about eight years ago. It wasn’t much of a shock since his entire life led him to that point. He had a horrible accident with a chemistry set and very badly burned himself when he was fifteen and was wrapped in gauze from head to toe for six to nine months. He was in excruciating pain. This was back in the 50’s, and he was on hospital narcotics for a very long time- the beginning of his end.

So, anyway, we’re driving to Summer Haven to meet with the family. We head with delicious anticipation to the Florida/Georgia line looking for The Georgia Pig as our first stop. Oh No!!! The world- famous roadside barbecue stand is gone!! Best pulled-pork in the South, served with slaw and beans or chips. It is with great grief we pull back on the highway headed for Savannah. We don’t know where exactly, but both of us are sure we will find another unique and memorable, new favorite barbecue in Savannah.

We took the second Savannah exit off the freeway and drove straight into Tripp’s in an old corner gas station deep in the heart of Savannah. A group of beautiful mahogany men and women, and one old, befuddled white guy. He was cackling as he circled the ladies who were sitting in the shade cooling themselves with church fans. We left 30 minutes later with enough barbecue to feed half-a-dozen people and good enough to leave them moaning for more.

Back on the highway, driving while distracted eating ribs and chicken and headed straight to Crescent Beach and Summer Haven where the Atlantic Ocean roared into our hearts so many summers ago. Arguably the most beautiful meeting of the sea and sand in the universe. Hyperbole aside, it is my vision of the powerful God of my youth. At times peaceful, warm and seductive. At times angry, dangerous and all consuming . This is the place where the meaning of family fell apart and came together again. The big wrap-around porch with the rockers lined up and the hammock hung on the corner. Many a sunrise was met in that hammock. Hurricanes and storms and racing to shut the shutters and batten the house down before the storms arrived. Many a drama played out within those walls…

David, my younger brother by two years, met us at the top of the stairs of the A1A house in Matansas. It was so good to see him. My heart is always warmed when I see his face and kiss his cheek. My sister Rosie too, who was the “girl next door” until they married after they were graduated from the University of Florida in 1966 or so. They fill my heart right up with love and peace. Together they created three fabulous women, Jennifer, Chrissy and Kelly, all of whom are there to greet us! Yea, Family!

A small rant about family:
Families are fantastic for reminding you of your limits. They will love you unerringly and then toss you about picking at and pointing out your faults.
Everybody comes from somewhere and someone. As Robert Frost said, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

When we come together life happens then in predictable stages.

Beginnning: How great to see you. You look wonderful. How’s the kids?

Middle: You voted for that ass? You always were crazy. I love you but you’re nuts.

End: I love you so much. I’ll miss you terribly. Come see me in Vegas!

Families bring out the best and worst of us. and like it or not we all come with one.

To Be Continued …..I apologize for the lapse of time between this entry and the last.