Have No Job...Will Travel

Years ago, when he was new to the Merchant Marines, my pal The Skipper would facilitate his vacation travel via the conveyance of a series of slightly less than luxury automobiles. He would get off a ship in, let's say, New Orleans and head for the nearest clunker emporium to purchase the cheapest ride on the lot.
The Skipper would gas up this rolling coffin and promptly proceed to his desired destination. If and when he made it, he would promptly abandon this steaming pile of crap on a side street near his temporary headquarters. I'm told that there are traffic cops in several Midwestern cities still lying in wait anticipating an arrest as his Detroit castoffs rust in their jurisdiction.

He doesn't do that anymore.

He's married now. Wives do not travel in Gypsy fashion! There must be planes, nice cars and even nicer hotels. They even demand dining experiences more refined than a nuked burrito from the Gas N' Go on the turnpike. Talk about cramping your style!!

So, when I recently got "shown the parking lot" by the San Diego Union-Tribune, I naturally reached out to the Skipper to suggest a Road Trip. This has become tradition for me: Get canned; hit the road. It's oodles of fun AND it gets your mind off the most recent dismissal. In fact, my wife might argue that I try to get canned in order to hit the road. Hmmmm.
She may be right.

Whatever.

I snapped into action. "Hello Skip...How about a rally in New York?"

The trip was ON!

The airline was booked; the hotel suite secured. We were off.
Linda was happy. She and I would get to see our daughter Kelly and her husband for the first time in several months and we would have some laughs with our old friends Mr. and Mrs. Skipper.

(Linda with Kelly in Manhattan)


We would also be in New York during the revival run of one of my favorite Broadway plays, A Chorus Line. There aren't many musicals that I enjoy, but Chorus Line is terrific. Not only does it have great songs, it has a wonderful message about the dignity of the individual and the gift of talent. If you haven't seen it, you have missed something. The revival is just as good as the original production.




"A Chorus Line"




We're back home now. The road trip was a success. We did all our usual New York things, saw A Chorus Line and had some new adventures as well. Linda managed to break her wrist, and that gave us a taste of managed care East Coast style. By the way, it's just as good or better than the medical treatment in California. She had a cracker jack doctor who, we think, may have given her a better wrist than she had before! We'll know for certain next year when she reports for Spring training.


Then, so I can write off the trip as a business expense, the Skipper and I found a promising business enterprise we're thinking of buying,(or, at least stealing the idea). There was a wonderful little bistro called "The Continental" which, as you can see, featured a menu of: 5 SHOTS OF ANYTHING $10!
The place even had two ATMs right outside the door!
Is this a great country???


Road Trips...they're not just for Dave Dudley and Red Sovine anymore!