Thanksgiving and Why My Elantra GT Rocks.
What a wonderfully gluttonous country we live in, where we have a holiday based on the ability to cram as much food in our bellies as possible! One would think that in the spirit of thanksgiving for living in the most plentiful country around, we might opt to eat less and share more on a national day of celebration. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE eating till my stomach is so distended and tight that tapping it yields the nice deep "ping" a dense watermelon! I just can't help seeing the irony of our customs.
I spent the weekend with my Florida family, eating, playing Scabble, eating, playing with nieces and nephews, watching movies, eating, sleeping and oh, did I mention eating? I might have found some way to be productive, but the whole of Martin County had a highspeed internet outage, so I was left to ... GASP... go about my day to day life with no internet! To be honest, once I got through the first day of monitor-withdrawal, it was actually quite nice. Huh. Imagine that.
For me, spending time with family always ends up being about introspection, reflection and deep thought since I can't help but notice that time is passing by whether I like it or not. Kids get taller, new children appear, gray hair sprouts, and personalities / attitudes continue to grow and change. My hat's off to Mom and Dad, who in their 36 years together have developed the patience of Saints.
Growing up in a house with 6 children, the noise level could rise quite easily and Mom was never one to suffer loud volume for more than quick spurts at a time. So this weekend, after we set up a drum kit, keyboard, guitar and amps in the living room, turned up it pretty loud and then gave the KIDS free use, I kept glancing over at Mom to see how long before she had enough. To my amazement, Mom just kept smiling and nodding her head to echoing cacaphony of dischord as though it was the nothing more than Anne Murray's Greatest Hits on the record player. Mom - you rock. I'd give Dad props for never once losing his patience too, but Dad, you're pretty much deaf so you have an unfair advantage! :)
This trip may also mark my last drive down I-75. If all goes as planned, Mom and Dad will be moving out West inside the year, Leslie and Co. will be moving to Tennesse, Jordan and Julie will move somewhere north of Broward County, and Caitlin - well, not sure where Caitline will land yet. Since I wasn't sure when I might be coming back, I decided to lug some antiques (Odom heirlooms) back home. I converted my Elantra GT into a pack mule and made the trip home, large Deacons bench riding rooftop. Although the ride was HORRIBLE, what with the pack straps literally banging and vibrating off my roof at full volume, the terrible gas mileage I got from the "slight" drag my cargo caused, the absolute lunacy of holiday traffic, and Boris farting on me in the front seat... my Elantra GT got me home.
Yeah, I drive an Elantra GT and it rocks.
