I left the house at 7 AM yesterday and headed to the big city of Dallas. That gave me four hours on what would normally take three hours, but with Dallas traffic, well, you just never know. Turned out that the traffic was fine. Maybe it was my timing, but travel went very smoothly. I’ve been in traffic between Denton and Dallas when it was bumper to bumper and everyone was driving over 70 MPH. Scary! I’ve also set in traffic for over an hour barely moving in that same area. This time, I had no problemas. I did do something new though; I took the George Bush Turnpike. It seemed the best way to get across to the Richardson/Plano area. It worked well too, but it was also rather funny. I counted out all my change, and had it out on the dashboard ready to pay the toll. But when I got off the turnpike, there was a sign that said to keep moving that they would bill me. I waved and hollered "I live in Oklahoma" but no one was around to hear. I guess they will find me.
After the memorial service while everyone was eating lunch and visiting with old friends, I reported the turnpike story to one of my RR friends, Marsha. She looked at me with big eyes and said, "How do it know?" We laughed and laughed at our small town ways. She said that she had walked into the ladies room at the church where the service was held, but the lights were off. She flipped the switch and nothing happened. So she went out and reported the light failure to a church worker. The worker told her to move further into the restroom and the lights would come on. My friend said she tried it and sure enough as she walked into the ladies room, the lights automatically came on. We both said, "How do it know?"
Although it was a long day, I’m very glad that I went to Billy’s memorial service. Several people spoke of his smile and laugh and the twinkle in his eyes. Billy did love life and he did love to laugh. We may not have been blood kin, but we were related. It was good to see his brother and sisters and their children and catch up on all the goings on of their lives. It was good to seem old friends from RR. Seeing my Uncle Gene, my dad’s best friend, was the most difficult part. At 83, he apparently has days when he knows people and days when he does not. He hugged me like he knew me, but I don’t think he really did. He hugged my friend Sandra, too, but I think he just liked hugging a good lookin’ woman, which did make me smile.
I got out of Dallas before the traffic got bad that afternoon and was home by 7 PM. Saying goodbye to Billy and seeing family and friends was well worth the effort. Whatley, you are the best example of that.
9 comments:
How can I love you like a long-lost sister when once we argued constantly. I guess maybe we were kinda acting like a brother/sister combo way back then. But hey...remember what you told Susie...we (and I'm talking about men, specifically jeep drivers) were just all "stupid" back in those RR days. I'm still laughing on that comment.
You were so sweet to come to Billy's service Lou. I know it meant the world to Susie A. She really did want you guys to know about Billy when I spoke with her last week...she understood that the Barkers were indeed family. And I too was a little upset that Gene didn't really know me. I spoke with him twice, and rattled off some other jeep driver names. He seemed to try and remember but, bless his heart...he just couldn't place us.
Susie and I loved seeing you Lou...I hope that we can finally get together up at your spread sometime this year. We love you kiddo...John
I don't think you will be billed for the toll road. I think that is our gift to those out of state. we have a toll tag on one vehicle, and it covers our trips to the airport, and to north Dallas. We get a statement every month...so they whittle it down even if you don't use it. I am glad your trip went smoothly.
I'm glad all went smoothly and you got to spend time with old friends. The last time I had an experience like that was at my father's funeral and wake and I was simply amazed at the cross section of people... from geezers to youngsters... that renewed connections. The rituals in our lives are so very important.
...there was a sign that said to keep moving that they would bill me.
Heh. The city of Houston... or the county, I forget which... and I had quite the pissing contest over a ticket I got for blowing thru a toll plaza... and it was an EXPENSIVE ticket, too. At least they THOUGHT it was me, sending me a nice picture of some danged Ford pickup with a license plate one letter different than mine. It took me THREE letters... in increasing degrees of nastiness... before they finally quit bugging me. I included a rear view pic of The Green Hornet with my plate clearly visible in my last letter... that musta done the trick.
The moral o' the story? Sometimes it DON'T know.
Joyce, Here in OK, we have real live people at most of the toll booths, but we also have pike-passes so that people can blow through the tolls and be billed later.
Buck, It kind of gave me that "Big Brother is whatching" feeling. And I really did wonder about the whole thang.
... and I am sure that they appreciated your visit, ma'am.......
... and hey, what 83 year old man wouldnt like to hug a good looking woman?....
Eric
"She's a little bit country ....." Remember that song? I avoid the toll roads, but will have to use one in March to go to a workshop in Georgetown. The camp ground we are using is on the frontage of the toll road. Dingy!
The worker told her to move further into the restroom and the lights would come on. ...We both said, "How do it know?" Lou, I could go into a whole long explanation about how do it know 'cause I'm an electrician and I know these kinds o' thangs, but NAH, Big Brother IS watching!
Jo, I think toll roads are a rip-off, but sometimes I have to use them too.
Deb, The whole motion detector thang throws me. And it is not exactly new technology.
Hey Lou...Susie wanted to know if "getting out of Dallas"...was I the better example of that? Just don't understand why she rags me all the time...Heh-heh.
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