the trip

THE TRIP
my wife she and i were looking forward to our trip to
san francisco
for two reasons
to see our two sons and daughterinlaw
and to escape the dreadful heat and drought that has
grasped central texas and wont let go

we left the 100 degree+ weather of texas last week and
landed in san francisco to a 55 degree weather that felt
like we had just walked into a walk in freezer
it felt so good
somehow when the weather is cooler like that the air
seems so crisp and cleaner

as we stood waiting for them to pick us up
we just stood there absorbing that cool moist air
even though we were getting cold we didnt mind
since we have suffered in the heat here this summer
especially the last 2 weeks

these guys here dont even have air conditioners they use
while mine in texas is whirling away while im writing this
this morning

we were there for two days
we had a good time
the food choices there are as my wife she says amazing

then we got the call that my younger brother with alzheimers
had ended his battle with the disease
we needed to get home for the funeral

using my math skills i calculated our chance of making it
to his funeral on time once we got our flight scheduled
back to austin

we would arrive at 300 pm
drive home
leave luggage in car
say hi to animals
get our clothes for the funeral and take off again
check made this time frame ok

drove halfway to where the funeral would be that night
we missed the visitation at the funeral home that night
we arrived at the hotel after 900 pm
went to bed
and was gone by 600 am with a window of time of 3+
hours to make it to the funeral home where the service
was with 30 minutes to spare

we left the hotel at 600 am as scheduled
all dressed for the funeral knowing that we would have to
get there and go right to the funeral home
so i pumped my speed control up to 80 mph on the interstate

we were cruising along
i was drinking my second cup of coffee when after 20
minutes i noticed a sign that said
dallas 62 miles
i had this sinking feeling as i realized that i should not be
seeing any dallas signs
i realized we were going the wrong way
ok i was fooled but so was my wife she

so we turned around
well there were no turn arounds for miles
they have concrete dividers now on the interstate where
you cant cross over

(i think about the cost of that concrete wall that stretches
for miles and miles
wonder if we really need them
maybe use that money to build more roads)

as we cruised along back in the right direction 40+ minutes
later we get back to where we started from

my calculations were that we would be 10 minutes late for the
funeral baring any traffic problems
but if i could just gain 10+ miles each hour then we would be
back on course
so
i did just that bumped that speed control up a notch
like emeril does with his cooking and off we went

the only place i drove the speed limit was that speed trap place
small town that has caught my wife she one of my sisterinlaws
and my historian brothers on their trips home
otherwise
zoom zoom off i went

we made it finally with 15 minutes to spare
to
my younger brothers funeral
i would have been devastated had i missed it

after the funeral and the family meal
we hopped back in our car and drove back to austin
getting back that night after 900 am

a trip that amost didnt happen

(i was thinking
this is how my wet suitcases family travel every time they travel
i couldnt handle the stress of traveling like this very often)

but
this one im glad i did

the organicgreen doctor