It's about "Lift off"- Ok so maybe it's " Back Out" of the driveway.

All things are good with us. Our health is good but the South Florida summer heat is rising up with a climatic vengeances. It was not that long ago that I was publically complaining about the “freezing cold” or in other words – 60’s in the morning. Well no matter, justice is being served, it has been in the low 90’s in the late few afternoons already. I am already getting my complainer’s vocabulary out to discuss the hot weather with who ever pays any attention to me.

Here’s some news! We are going on a trip next week which seemed like an adventure initially, but is loosing its gloss as the start day approaches. As you may know, we are blessed to have kids and grand kids all around this country. Dara’s husband, Chip is quite an outdoorsman. Coming from western Massachusetts, hunting and fishing was a recognized way for a guy to show that he was a guy. He and I have gone fishing a

couple of times when the kids visit. Notice I said “fishing” and not “catching’, but anyhow, it has always been a

memorable and fun time. Ok, back to the un-ending tale, Chip, his brothers (2) and their Dad ( Al - a good guy) are going fishing for a week end up somewhere in the N.E. and my Princess daughter, Dara seems to need help with her heavy load of two kids. Actually I am not sure that she didn’t rig it so that I would have an opportunity to see our grand children – thanks D.

Bottom line, Lynn agreed to go up for three or four days and help out. Initially I hadn’t planned to join in, but the grand children are fun and I had not been assigned any duties or choirs, nor did I volunteer for any, so I figured I’d go along also. Anyhow, Lynn had planned to drive up as she has done before so I said OK = I would also go and possibly help out with the driving or at least a lot of it. Notice the limitation I have placed on my involvement – some driving, but lots of sitting and napping and playing with our grand kids. Well out of no where an idea struck me, it happens to the unemployed insane retirees often – strange and self deprecating ideas! Since we were already planning to be around 1200 to1300 miles away from Miami, why not driver afterward to Chicago to see our son Tom and his wife and family as well as Jud – it is only another three to four hundred miles. Good idea, I was told by a caring wife, mother and grandma. Men are stupid! Did you know that? We let our mouths open to say anything – just so we can retrieve a kind word in exchange. “Good idea”, or a “That’s wonderful, Honey!” or how about – “Boy, that’s smart”. I like that last one best, but it’s not in current use a lot.” Well, not being one to be out done, I threw in South Bend, Indiana ( Home of the Fighting Irish – I think the Lord went to school there or something?) How considerate of me, I thought. Lynn had never seen the campus or the statute of “Touchdown Jesus”, so there with my mouth opened. waiting for a returning kind word like an over sized Labrador puppy, another shoe fell. You see my wife, Lynn has the geographic need to visit every one of our fifty states before she goes or the country falls into the hands of the brain dead Tea-Partiers or in light of some of their ages and urinary retention problems – the “Pee-Tartiers” and since Lynn had never been to West Virginia, we ought to go there, I was told. Ok it really is not to far out of the way, so we also plan to hit Harpers Ferry, West Virginia on our way to Notre Dame and Chicago. I only hope that the

good citizens of Harpers Ferry treat us better than they did the late John Brown and his gun needing abolitionist friends back in the 1860’s when he came to their town just “to borrow a rifle or two” which were to be used in over throwing the government or at least putting the fear of God in the slave owners. He got caught, there was a Civil War, I guess you’ve heard about it, North wins!

Once when and if we get to Chicago and spend some Grandpa and Grandma time with Tommy and Keenan, and, OK - Tom, Susanna and Jud. We will aim at New Orleans and Robin after three days with the Valerius’ of Chicago. Well, we don’t aim good! You see, Lynn, West Virginia seeking Lynn, hasn’t been in Iowa either. You already know about the family secret: her fifty state addiction. So we will visit or stay in or get jailed in Davenport, Iowa. Trying to be fair, I must admit that I have thrown in a stop over in Hannibal, Missouri. Mark Twain came from there and I really do like his artful, humorous writing. I hope to get his signature on a newly published copy of Tom Sawyer, but since he was born in the year that Haley’s Comet crossed the universe and also hasn’t been seen since it came through again in 1910, my hope for brilliant old man’s autograph may not materialize. Oh well – Haley today, gone tomorrow! I guess I could always get one of the locals to sign the book as if they were Mark Twain, who would really know – you would tell anyone would you – OK I’ll get you an autographed copy also.

Back to the drive from or to Hell! After my prospectively frustrated search for the real Mr. Twain, we

will continue south to Jonesboro, Arkansas. Why, you ask? What great historical event or great literary personality resides or resided there, God only knows or the Jones’ of Jonesboro may, but there is little to give it notoriety except Mrs. V. hasn’t been to Arkansas yet but we will on this trip. Eventually and sadly after the BP oil spill may engulf many of the bayous’, we will reach New Orleans and the mouth of the great Mississippi River. The area, where Andrew Jackson, the eventual first territorial governor of the newly acquired (Ok stolen from Spain) territory of Florida, fought the British in one of the last battle with Britain on our continent. Sadly and historically, the battle was fought after the treaty was already agreed to and sign in Paris. I guess the internet was down that day or no one e-mailed Old Hickory. Any how we will be there with Robin, and if any new skirmishes break out, I’ll try to let you know quicker that Jackson was informed.

After visiting with Robin, I have proposed that Lynn and I make some personal contributions to the hurricane drenched and oil soaked Gulf coast, we are stopping at Biloxi, Mississippi to see which casino is collecting for the cause. After we count our winning or find a charitable ATM machine, we are off to Gainesville, Florida – Yes, I know the Home of the Enemy for we. FSU graduates. Hey, I promise that I wont demonstrate even one Seminole Chop. You I need to know them to beat them, so we are sneaking into Gainesville for one night and then Home to Miami. Or as Dr. King said – “Home at last, Oh thank God Almighty, We’re home at last”.

By the way, if you didn’t know Triple A is still providing those “Trip-tics”. You know, where you go in to your local AAA office and tell them about your plans and they route you through every small town and road construction site between where you are and where you are going to be or at least what to get. Frankly I should not be so harsh, the lady I spoke with was a kind and what appeared to be generous person as I could tell, except I didn’t speak her native language. (Joke - my Spanish is coming along – “See” or it “Si” ?). Really she was very helpful, in fact so was her assistant, a young muscular fellow with a push cart who was kind enough to take the pamphlets, books, posters, maps, magazines and the 2 for 1 coupons plus my thirty seven volume trip-tic to the back of my car. No kidding it wasn’t that bad loading the material, after the first hour and half we got into a rhythm – I said how about putting it here – and he put it there or where ever I hadn’t pointed. Well as the sun was setting, we finally finished and I tipped him a quarter knowing how those incoming undocumented people never really work hard anyway- do they?

Are you tired, I am and I haven’t even began the 3500 +/- mile trip yet. Oh well this letter will serve as a future warning, not to encourage me to write to you anymore, since apparently anymore I can’t write any less than I do. BEWARE: After the trip, I may have the need to report the results – quarter mile by quarter mile - and the great time that we had and are going to have with our family. God bless and Oh by the way, I may set up a Blog – whatever that is? I have a few days to learn what it is and how to set it up and use it – so if I succeed, I’ll let you know how to contact us via the BLOG – aren’t you excited? – yeah right!

Your friend and part of our big family, Tom and Lynn Valerius