Sunday, April 8, 2012

No Particular Place to Go- BFF 181

     With gas prices topping out between OMG and WTF, it would never occur to me to jump in my blazer with no particular place to go and no definite destination in mind.  I usually plan it so I hit everywhere I need to go while I am out so I can return home and stay there.  I don't usually make unnecessary trips.  With money normally scarce,  I am pretty content to stick close to home.  That wasn't always the case.  Once I got my driver's license I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel and didn't  need a particular destination to give me a reason to go.


        My grandparents were from a bygone era.  They used to love to get in their van and take a leisurely Sunday drive.  As long as there was gas in the tank, they hit the open road with no particular place to go.    One time they stopped at our house on their way and asked me if I wanted to go along for the ride.  I eyeballed my mother willing her to say no, and she was nodding her head in agreement and pushing me forward.   Oh Lord, that meant that she thought I should go. In the end, I figured what the hell.  It could be fun.   I took my place inside their van on that warm, sunny day and prayed for ventilation. Grandpa set the radio dial on some golden oldies station and away we went heading north into Michigan.


         I honestly believe that my Grandpa loved the sound of his own voice.  He made small talk the whole way while my Grandma and I sat in utter silence watching the world pass us by.   Every time Grandma tried to get a word in edgewise, Grandpa would literally yell "Huh??? Did you say something??"   She would repeat whatever it was she had to say and eventually Grandpa would declare she shouldn't mumble because he couldn't understand a damn word she said.  If she wanted to speak, she had best speak up!! Grandma would clamp her lips tightly, roll her eyes in my direction, and continue to gaze out her window.  Grandpa had something to say about everything.  "There's someone mowing their lawn, look at those willow trees, and see how that barn is painted green?  What a dumb a$$! Don't they know barns should be painted red??"  He literally had something to say about everything.  I was beginning to wish he would shut the hell up when my Grandma literally screamed she had to pee.


     
      Grandpa proclaimed that the only place fit to pee when you were on a road trip was at McDonald's because they had clean bathrooms with big spacious stalls.  Not only that, Grandma loved the paper liners they provided for the toilet seats.    Finally the golden arches rolled into view, and mercifully the van rolled to a stop. It was up to me to help Grandma into the bathroom.  I was rewarded with a Happy Meal. Not exactly cool when you are a teenager, but easier to take it and say thank you than communicate what I really wanted.


        Before long we were back on the road listening to Grandpa's monologue about all the sights.  Eventually we pulled up at one of the many outdoor fruit stands and my Grandparents selected several choice specimens to purchase.  The coolest part of the whole trip was when we finally reached Lake Michigan and Grandpa stopped so we could take in the picturesque scenery of a small beach town.  There was a harbor where several large boats were docked and a cool lighthouse.  Grandma and I posed for pictures as Grandpa happily snapped away.   We headed back home without a care in the world.


     Once I got my driver's license, I used every opportunity to hit the road myself. Gasoline was a lot cheaper in those days and I loved to go places whether it was to the local shopping mall or a drive to Lake Michigan for a day at the beach.  I don't remember ever getting behind the wheel where I didn't have a destination in mind.  The radio blared my favorite tunes as I bopped along to the beat.  I was always singing along having the time of my life until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker's wife.
 

16 comments:

  1. I remember those Sunday drives...I hated them because I always got car sick. When I got old enough, I asked my parents to stay home alone, and they let me. I was much happier when I got to do that. Today, we don't drive much either. I order things when I can and don't drive out of my way when I can help it. Although gas prices are high, I own a car that gets 30 mpg, so I only need to fill up once every two weeks.

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    1. Susan, I always got a little car sick if I was in the back seat. The van didn't have the best air in my opinion. I didn't mind going on road trips with my mom and did that all the time. I just never had with them before. This was a first and a last. LOL The challenge reminded me about them because they were always inventing stupid reasons to go on road trips like driving two states over for sauerkraut. LOL Most people go to the nearest store who has the best price. I think they were bored. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.

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  2. funny post and I bet it was hard to sit and listen lol

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    1. Laura, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. If I remember correctly I had a throbbing headache before it was all said and done. LOLOL It was just about enough to drive a person loony! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.

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  3. I love car trips. Always have, always will, no matter the price of gas. But I do remember the days when we'd literally pool our change to put it in the tank! I never got trips with my grandparents like you did - honestly, it sounds like fun to me, but I didn't have to live through it! Thanks for sharing your memory of that time with them.

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    1. Amy, I love going places and looking around too. Unfortunately I rarely get to do it anymore. The gas money just isn't there. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.

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  4. LOL...so you had to listen to an old guy babble, you got to see a Michigan beach town with a lighthouse! So worth it!

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    1. Jo, the Michigan beach town made it all worth while!! :D Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments. So pleased you got a giggle. I was giggling a little writing this because I have such vivid hilarious memories of this trip. Hope to get back to the Michigan lake shore one of these days and taking one of those road trips to no particular place in the near future. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!

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  5. My Grandfather liked to cruise down the beach area of Miami where all the fancy hotels were. It was the '50's and the hotel architecture was amazing, not to mention the neon lights, colored up-lights and the spotlights moving across the sky. It was a sight to see. The only problem is that when my Grandfather turned his head to look at something, he also turned the wheel in the direction his head was pointed, so we were all over the road...LOL. Riding around with my Grandfather was a harrowing experience. hahaha

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    1. Darlene, I bet that was pretty scary!! How cool to cruise that area though!! Thank you for stopping by to read, comment, and share your memories!!

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  6. Great post. I live 2 blks. in from Lk. Michigan! We walk there on just about every nice day we have. :) You should totally head this way. It would be so cool to meet you somewhere along our beautiful shoreline. :) I love the travels with the grandparents.. Brings back so many memories. It's as tho we rode in the same car! Hhmm.. Do you think we're related? ;)

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    1. Magical Mystical Mimi, if I were you I would be walking there too! WOW! Lucky you!! It is almost as if they became completely different people as soon as they got in that van. I never realized how annoying my Grandpa was until that little ride. LOL Maybe we are related!! LOLOLOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!

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  7. I remember those "Sunday Afternoon" rides..some were with my Granny and her second husband Jim. You know how some exhaust can really smell bad...well my Granny would accuse Jim of letting that gas..(yes, to put it bluntly, farting!) and they would argue about that for a few minutes...her griping that he would do that and him swearing that he didn't do a thing...ahhh the memories..

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    1. Faith, Friends,and Flip Flops,
      LOL That is hilarious!! I am so pleased you enjoyed my blog. Thank you for stopping in to read and comment!!

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  8. Hi Kathy,

    Loved your post and had to add it in today's A.D. FAV 5 of the A to Z Challenge!
    http://adduling.wordpress.com/

    Happy Monday!
    A.D.

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  9. Sometimes it is worth the price of the gas for me to just drive.

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