On the Road...my version

I have two daughters that both attend Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida. For the last two Junes, we have to take one and then both girls down to school. They work down there all summer and it is deducted from their tuition bill. This is a great deal for them.

It's a great deal for us too. Because although it's a quick two day trip down there, and the mandatory stop at Sonny's Bar-B-Que, it's a nice leisurely three or four day trip back. We have a ball on these trips back home.

The first year we went home via Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is as different from Nashville as day and night. Memphis is in the south, and ironically, Nashville isn't. I know that doesn't make sense, but if you visit both places, it will make sense.

I finally got to visit Graceland. (By the way I am constantly getting to achieve life-goals with my wife. More than any other time in my life. This woman is tremendous.)  We had fun there, but quickly abandoned the headsets, because seriously I know more about Graceland than that recorded tour could ever hope to know. It was a blast. From there we went over to what I consider America's mecca, Sun Recording Studios. I was in awe. Standing in the room where so much of my favorite music ever happened. Same walls. Same tile on the ceiling. Same everything. I even got to hold the mic and stand in the spot where Elvis first did "That's Alright Mama", virtually inventing rock and roll.

The following year, last June, we headed north again, but this time I wanted to visit Tupelo, Mississippi. The birthplace of Elvis Presley. It was awesome. Tupelo, or as my wife called it, "Tupellio", I will never know why she couldn't get it right, is a wonderful town that needs all of you to visit. I loved Tupelo, and honestly, Mississippi is one of my favorite states. There is something dark and mysterious there. Anyhow after enjoying Elvis' birthplace and the restaurants he used to go to, etc. we were off. I was determined to cross the state so that I could get my picture taken at "The Crossroads". The crossroads where Highway 61 crosses Highway 47, the spot where Robert Johnson made a deal with the Devil, to be the greatest bluesman ever. I had my photo op. On our way out of town, I stopped in front of an abandoned gas station. There was a huge sign in front of one of the broken windows that said "NO LOTERING" and there must have been 14 guys out front. I stopped and asked if I could get a pic and reluctantly they agreed. To me the icing on the cake was that "Loitering" was misspelled. We headed to Memphis, but by the time we got there, my wife Penny wasn't feeling well at all, so we decided to keep on moving. We made it to somewhere in Missouri. Since we try not to eat at chains on the road, we ended up at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri. What a treat that was! You holler roll and they throw one at you from across the room. What fun! Later I found out this place has been one the Food Channel among others.

The next morning we headed to Springfield, Illinois, passing the St. Louis Arch in the process. When we got to Springfield, everywhere was booked up, but we did manage to get a room at a place that was actually the first ever Holiday Inn built on Route 66. One wing of the original place was incorporated into what had become a concourse for a restaurant and comedy club. It was kind of fun.....no elevator though....

We were able to visit Lincoln's home, the Lincoln Presidential Museum (the best of them all, supposedly, but still make sure you visit the Gerald R. Ford in Grand Rapids, Michigan), The Frank Lloyd Wright 'Dana Thomas House', and Lincoln's Tomb. I absolutely love the sculpture at Lincoln's Tomb. It's the best I've ever seen.

And Springfield features Coney Dog. A hot dog on a stick. Corn dog?, I ask. "Only better!" was the girl's reply. A Corn dog, but instead of a cornbread based coating, more of a flour coating, so it was more like a regular hot dog, but on a stick. Great fries.

From there we headed home. But it was a fun trip home. My wife is a blast and she always makes sure to indulge me in my wants...like the Lincoln Museum etc. That's just who I am and she gets that.

Like when we visited Fredricksburg and posed on the wall you're not supposed to touch......

Next year? Helen Keller's home, and the whole Hank Williams thing in Alabama.

What are the Greatest Sit-Coms?

I have been musing about this lately. I want to write something about it. Here's what I'm thinking. What am I missing? And please don't mention the one-note "Big Bang Theory."

1. The Andy Griffith Show
2. I Love Lucy
3. All In The Family
4. The Dick Van Dyke Show
5. The Honeymooners
6. Frasier
7. Cheers
8. Seinfeld
9. The Wonder Years
10. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
11. Everybody Loves Raymond
12. The Bob Newhart Show
13. Parks and Recreation
14. The Office
15. Modern Family


and I have got to find a way to give a shout out to one of the funniest short-live sitcoms ever: "Bakersfield PD".

Daughters

I was blessed to have two sons biologically. I made a weird, and as it turns out, not well thought out deal with my wife that if we had boys she would get to pick the first names and I would get the middle names, and if they were girls I would get to pick the first names and she the middle names. Well, we had two boys. She picks the first name of Jacob...and I go for the whole Wyatt Earp thing, and pick "Wyatt". This was in 1985 folks. I know it has become popular since, but it wasn't then. For the second boy she chose Bradley, and I was in a particular Bob Dylan mood then and went for the name of Dylan. Shortly thereafter "Beverly Hills 90210" happened and the name Dylan went viral. But my boy pre-empted all of that. If I would have had a third son I was going to put my foot down and I alone would name my son. His name would have been "Addicus Finch Fales."

But I didn't have a third son. Instead I was given different step-children for a little bit, until finally I was blessed with two daughters. I finally found the woman I was meant to be with, and besides giving me the wife I was always meant to have, she blessed me with two beautiful, intelligent, incredible daughters. I mean these are the real deal.

 When I first arrived on the scene, the girls were teen-agers, and as we all know, this is the toughest part of anyone's life. And these girls were wounded. They were reeling from the abandonment of a father that was experiencing commitment issues, and where he wanted to be in life, and exploring a new love. And there I was. Not-so-suddenly on the scene. And so I was handed his two wounded daughters.

Can I say right from the start that I was confused? Daughters? Really? From a guy with only sons? What kind of cruel joke was this?

The older, from the beginning, sort of gave me the "cold shoulder". I prefer to think that she built up walls. The younger clung to me immediately. I was just what the doctor ordered. I was destined to fill a gap that her Daddy had left.

It has been a struggle to say the least. But the struggle I am experiencing has been life changing. I truly love my daughters as much as my sons. Being a positive male role model for daughters has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. My older may never come around. That's okay. Although the last card I got from her was signed "love", and that meant the world to me. But my younger and I are, at least to me, as close as two human beings can be. I love that little girl more than words can describe. I love her, worry about her, stress about her, think about her, wish I was there with her, everyday of my life.

These girls are awesome people. They are going to change the planet. Wish me luck on trying to guide them on the right path. Wish me luck in trying to be a positive role model. And for me here in Michigan, while they are in Florida, I guess all I can do is love their mom with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my being.

Good luck, my sweet daughters. Change this planet. Make it better. I have your back. But you've got my heart.

Small Town Life, I love you.

We went to the Park near our home tonight and heard the town band play. There were a few bad notes, but we just dismiss them. We were in a lovely park close to the gazebo where the band was set up,  and the temperature was perfect. The sun was out but we were in the shade. The park is by the river and there were Sam Clemens wannabes down playing in the water. The band, in their Danish garb were wonderful. The kids in the river were wonderful. They brought out little girls twirling flags and twirling batons and they were so cute I almost couldn't stand it. As it got darker the beautiful street lights along the Fred Meijer trail by the river came on, adding to the magic. And of course the Danish Festival Queen and Runner-Up along with Junior Queen came out. Can you say....Awesome?!

And they were selling bottled water to benefit this, and ice cream to benefit that....this is small town life.

I love you Grand Rapids, but I will never give up the thrill of this small-town life for you. Sorry. But this is just too wonderful. Life is so wonderful.

A really perfect night with the woman I love in bag chairs to watch the town band on a night in August...folks, life isn't perfect, but it ain't all bad.

Question Songs

Here are my picks for the six best question songs. What ones did I forget?

1. What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?   Jimmy Ruffin
2. Do You Believe in Magic?   The Lovin' Spoonful
3. Ain't That Peculiar?   Marvin Gaye
4. How Can I Be Sure?   The Rascals
5. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?   The Lovin' Spoonful
6. How Can I Mend A Broken Heart?   The Bee Gees

And the wise one Sir Ogie chimes in with:

What's New Pussycat?  Tom Jones

The 10 Greatest Geniuses of the 20th Century

Okay to qualify to be on this list, they had to do some of their stuff in the 20th century. Mark Twain, hmmmm. Probably not. Igor Stravinsky? Maybe.......
And then there's that whole thing about are they a genius or an over-achiever? Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were probably over-achievers, not true geniuses...

Here are my picks:

1.  Albert Einstein
2.  Pablo Picasso
3.  Louis Armstrong
4.  Charlie Chaplin
5.  Ernest Hemingway
6.  Miles Davis
7.  Steve Jobs
8.  Jack Kerouac
9.  John Steinbeck
10. Tennessee Williams

So what do you think? Comments please. And this is not my definitive list...I can't find my original...when I do. Edits....pure and simple.