The trip down.
The trip down to Tybee Island.
The trip down to Tybee Island was...high jinks!
In the background of my mind I hear muddled song lyrics "Do you know the way to Sand Tybee?" "I'm going to find some peace of mind." "There's a great big freeway."
Dad, born and raised in Indiana, was in the medevac unit during the tail-end of the Korean War. There he learned to read a map. Then he married Mom -- born and raised in Kentucky. He had to travel between the two states and this BEFORE INTERSTATES!
Along came kids, 6 of us, and as we each reached that age we were put in the front seat and taught to read a map. When we reached that other certain age, we got to sit up front due to car sickness, unless brother was the sicker, or sister was the sickest yet. Anyway, back to the subject, I could read a map.
On this trip? Not necessary. Spencer commandeered the steering wheel and used his cellphone GPS propped; propped right up there in the gadget dash hiding the speedometer. What a difference in the times! From zig-zagging back roads up and down the mountain with a paper map to straight shot interstates with a cellphone!
As I said HE commandeered and we went to Chattanooga before we knew it. HE said you couldn't go through Chattanooga without checking out the trains. HE drove us straight there. So, we took a train ride, on the Tennessee Valley Railroad.
Three things stick out about that train ride. One, the tracks had to be built up because of a flood that marked the trees higher than three men stacked. Two, it used to take days to repair a train car, today due to materials and labor it takes a decade. Three, there's nothing more interesting that watching a steam engine on a turn key making a 360 degree maneuver. "Stand back the cow catcher might catch a leg!"
A long trip begs entertainment and, of course, we used our cellphones. Out came one-liners, memes, funny quotes, and laughable photos. One photo was an island when viewed from a helicopter looked like an elephant on it's side, complete with spine as mountain ridge and extended trunk slurping water. Spencer quoted the caption, "God has a sense of humor."
John quickly agreed, "Anybody that can make hair come out of my ears has a sense of humor!" And, it's true. He has one wild hair that in a good breeze could wave at you!
Driving through Georgia a sign said, "Dublin Exit 1 Mile". Dublin, reminiscent of my trip in Ireland, made me think of the song "On the Road to Killarney" so I asked Spencer to find it on the internet. At this point he's NOT driving. This time I am, and he's in the backseat.
Even though I insisted he find a song version with words, he only found an instrumental version. After the instrumental version played through, he said he was in the mood for Irish music, so ... what did I hear wafting my way? CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY!
"Christmas in Killarney????" I squeeked. "Christmas in JUNE!"
"Christmas in June and on FATHERS DAY????"
How Spencer-typical!
He loves Christmas at all times of the year. Every family member, every friend every where on Facebook knows this. The day after December 25 we get a notice, "364 days until Christmas!"
I hear from the backseat a question I know exactly how to answer, "Does that mean you don't want to hear "Bells Over Belfast?"
Now, I know you agree with me. The trip down to Tybee was a trip...with high jinks.
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