Bob's Corner
From our weekly issue dated January 21, 2009
Scrappy and Ella
We decided to take a drive earlier this month. Turned out to total 1,668 miles portal to portal and back again, as we traveled the so-called I-5 corridor from Cave Junction to Carlsbad, Calif. in San Diego County. It was quite a drive.
Those long I-5 stretches, where one can maintain 75 to 85 mph with the rest of the pack racing south, go by easier when it’s dark. During daylight the relative desolation seems worse than boring.
We hadn’t seen our daughter, Vicki; and granddaughters Natalie, 6, and Ella, 3, since Dec. 30 when we watched them leave Jack McNamara Field (AKA Del Norte County Regional Airport) in Crescent City, Calif. They were with us through Christmas and Hanukkah.
We had not driven south (that far) for several years, preferring commercial aircraft, thanks to our stand-by flight status. But we wanted to take some time off. So we did, and besides, we (one of us especially) also wanted to take our youngest kitty cat, Scrappy, with us. He’s a terrific feline, the only one we’ve ever seen who can wrinkle his nose, but he has attack tendencies. This got him in trouble with Bubba Big Foot, Flint Eastwood and Jellirabbit. Thus we felt somewhat obligated to take him along so that when we returned he wouldn’t look like Beetle Bailey when Sarge gets through with him.
Scrappy is a good passenger; no trouble. We stayed in Santa Nella on the way south in a pet-friendly Holiday Inn Express. Good, “free” breakfast too. However, on our return trip, we lost 10 pounds. Yes, Scrappy hit it off so well with a former cat of ours, Charlie, that we felt it best for both of them to stay together. It’s kinda’ sad though. We miss the little guy and his wrinkly nose. We also miss ol’ Charlie, but he’s doing great down south. He and Charlie became best buds, and they’re both outdoor explorers.
Vicki treated me to a pre-birthday treat; a special breakfast at the Sheraton Carlsbad. Unusual menu of good stuff. She, Jan and I walked to the place, mostly uphell, I mean, uphill, from her home. Then she and I went for a brisk walk; leaving Jan (Nonna) at the hotel. She got loose in the gift shop, but the damage was minimal.
Best buds: Scrappy and Charlie
Also took a couple of other walks with Vicki and her friend, Heather, in the nearby foothills. On one we picked up rubbish left by slobs. Vicki and Heather set a rapid pace walking. Actually, they usually run, and I walk. We meet after about an hour. Here at home I plan to walk more, as the cardiovascular benefits are quite good.
The major reason for heading south, besides taking time from the office, leaving the place in the capable hands of editor-in-chief Michelle Binker, was to attend a Smothers Brothers concert in Escondido. Jan gave me the tickets for us and Vicki for Christmas. We’ve always enjoyed the music and humor of the pair, and we were not disappointed with their performance. Tommy even came out as Yo Yo Man, and did a wonderful job. It was great. For two guys in their 70s, they did a most credible job.
There’s lost more, I mean, lots more, that I could relate, but I’m running out of room. Suffice it to say that I could get used to warmer weather than we’ve been having here at home. But an 834-mile one-way driving trip solely for hot temperatures somehow doesn’t seem appropriate.
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