Trip with my Dad....

It's not often you get the opportunity to drive across the country.  For the most part the last 30 some years of my life I've spent right here in Southern California.  The few times I've gotten past the Colorado River have been by airplane.  So when my Dad told me he was making his bi-annual trip to Arkansas and Kansas to see my sister and check on his rental properties, I knew the time had arrived.  Having recently left my ten year position with the death care industry to run a company a friend and I purchased last year, I was looking forward to taking a small hiatus before getting back to a daily grind.  Also I wanted to go, not only to see what a few more states looked like from the front seat of a Dodge Durango, but also to spend some time with the man who gave me the work ethic that kept me from making this trip before.

My dad retired from Santa Fe Railroad at 65 years old after thirty four years of service.  I remember evening when he was coughing with a fever and the next morning he'd be gone at work, not in bed.  One time his back was hurting him so badly that he rigged an old door up against a wall at about an 80 degree angel and hung himself upside down to stretch out his back, the next morning-back at work.  He had responsibilities, us, and that drive kept him going over the years. That and his faith, he believes in giving more than you receive regardless of who that is; an employer, union, church, or his neighbor. I like to think a lot of this was passed on by example and genetics which is why there is nothing more difficult than making a decision to take a break from your work to spend hapless hours with someone in a vehicle driving through the southwest of this great country.  The problem of course is not the view it's the time, who has the time to drive 12 hours a day over two days to get somewhere that takes a mere 4 hours by plane.  This is a most difficult decision for me and equally a great reward.

Fortunately my father and I are both cast from the same mold when it comes to traveling, working together almost effortlessly with little words spoken.  This, of course, wasn't always the case.  Growing up as a young kid and teenager it seemed it was an impossible to please my father, or even to simply fall within his graces.  A difficult man, he was never satisfied with simple victories or convinced of grandeur over momentary brilliance.  Many kids would have been crushed if this was the only aspect of childhood, but I was fortunate to have both of my parents growing up, the Ying and the Yang of parenting, my Mother the tireless cheerleader for us kids and our protector from the demanding and unsatisfied father.  I believe the perfect combination of parenting, and it allowed me to accept that my father would be a difficult judge but I was still capable of achievement.  This made me strive evermore harder to please him.

Sorry I digress, as I was saying, my Dad and I work with little conversation to get any task done these days.  I think the fact that he spent nine years finishing out his work years in Kansas some 1600+ miles away helped, it allowed me to get married, have kids and understand the importance of this strength and he also changed.  Leaving for the trip the first morning we had agreed to meet at my house at 6:30am. "No earlier" I told him because I wanted to make sure I could see my son when he woke up to go to school before we left, and I knew given the chance he'd leave at 5:00am.  He showed up promptly at 6:30am I was ready and waiting, garage door open and my things at the ready.  I went up stairs to wake up Jacob, tell him goodbye and kiss my wife.  This will be the longest Kari and I have been apart in our 12 years.  An entire 9 days and it comes just before our 10th year anniversary. You know, I'm a luck man.

By the time I come down stairs my things are loaded, passenger door is open and coffee cup is ready, a quick stop by the donut shop to fill up the coffee and get a little something for the road.  Only one question,  "The 30 will catch the 215 North right?" Dad asked.  "Yep" I said and we are gone.

We are taking old "Route 66" or so they call it.  Really it's an ensemble of new Interstates, and highways that run over or right next to the road Memorialized by the Eagles.  Some of this road I'm very familiar with living in the San Bernardino area, our small portion of Route 66 is home to one of the largest car shows in the country, Kari and I even showed her '67 Mustang Convertible there the first year we bought it,  I've traveled it in my daily routine, and taken it on trips to Laughlin or the River.  Matter of fact I'm simply not excited about the first 260 miles of lonely desolate desert road leading to Needles, AZ just outside of Laughlin.  The only interesting fixture on this road is the ever expanding man made lake about 50 Miles out of Barstow.  It was created by some guy, with some land and a house in the middle of the desert for his jet ski’s.  Never seen the Jet Ski’s out there but the little lake gets bigger and bigger every time I pass by.  Wonder where he gets all that water?

"DON'T GET GAS IN NEEDLES!"  The hot topic of conversation all the way there followed by the typical long conversation about gas prices and how he can get better gas mileage out of his truck if he changed the gears in his rearend.  I've found this embedded characteristic of not being happy with any vehicles gas mileage is about 40% of Dad's conversations, but heck he passed on the car guy gene and the dissatisfied one, so I’m more than willing to argue the point for a while.  Finally we are through that stretch... and through Needles, then 20 miles more we pull off on a small exit for gas, we saved 40 cents a gallon off California Prices and near 60 cents on Needles.  Like clockwork I jump out, knowing it's my turn to buy and drive as we call it, slide the CC get the pump in the truck and head inside hit the john, grab 4 bags of peanuts, and two apples so we can get on the road.   I actually beat Dad this time, but it was only because he waited at the truck for the gas to finish so he could move the truck to a parking space and leave the pump open for others.  He didn't even have to tell me that is why he did it, I knew, I also learned that my attempt to be expeditious was a little hasty, next time I'll get it right.

Leaving "The Stop" we start our slow climb out of the desert on to Flagstaff soon the land for sale signs pop up here and there.  I'm driving the speed limit, cause it's my dad's truck and it takes me coaxing him to drive the limit.  We're blessed at this point as this open country allows for a 75 MPH limit, which gets me closer to my comfort zone.  Land for sale $1,175/per acre.....  "SWEET, where can I get me some of that?"  I quickly take out my digital camera and snap a shot, I can reference the phone number later I thought.  Dad chimes in "Just wait it gets better."  A little ways down the road the prices start falling, $995/acre, parcels from $175/month, and then, there it was $375.00/Acre.... the 1/1000 price of California acreage.  No utilities, no roads, just land, smack dab as far away from civilization as I can think of.  I like the idea but quickly realize how impractical it would be for me, AND just how much my wife would hate the idea. 

We spend the next hour or so discussing the impact of religion on society, in this specific instance why some cultures have tended to advance rapidly while other's have held on to their traditions.  We disagree and bring the conversation back to debating whether or not I'll get better, worse or the same MPG while I'm driving.  You knew we were keeping track, right?

We are making good time despite the argues  task of trying to drive the speed limit, thank God for cruise control.  Thinking about my trip schedule; I am riding with my dad to Arkansas, seeing my sister for about a day and a half, then hanging out with my brother in law for the weekend as my sister is attending a training seminar for work. Part of the reason my Dad is going at this time is to watch my niece, Hailey while Heidi is away.  On Monday I've arranged some work, hoping to meet up with the president and vice president of the Arkansas Insurance Adjusters Association. We will be discussing how Adjusters Reference Manual can sponsor their association and how we can make our web resource better for the adjusters in that area.  On Tuesday, time permitting I'm planning on going to Tulsa's Association Meeting and doing the same.  The following Wednesday I am flying out to Albuquerque, NM and meeting up with Kari, Jacob and her family for a wedding which so happens to fall right on our 10 year anniversary.  All I can say is I'm glad it's one of her family obligations and not mine.

Uh, looks like I'll be getting another expensive picture.