This image is an artist's rendering of what will be our whip for the journey. It's a good thing that it's an American-Made-In-Mexico car. I expect a lot of honking and "America's #1!" being yelled at us as we drive through the middle of nowhere.
I am meeting Connie and Al in Rapid City, South Dakota. Why, you may foolishly ask? Well, ever since I was a child, my favorite movie has been Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I actually watched it the other day in preparation for the trip. You know...research. I have always wanted to go to Devil's Tower in Wyoming, but the last time I was to have a close encounter with it (pun intended), it was late at night and Michaela and I were on a tight schedule. We did, however, find time to sneak in a rather uncomfortable tour of the Mormon Temple grounds in Salt Lake City a few days later. Ok, back to the impending road trip...
I expect this to totally happen. If not, I will be requesting that we get our Senior Citizens Entrance Fee reimbursed.
Rapid City should not be overlooked by anyone. It is close to some other great sites like Wall Drug (where one can buy one or more jackalopes), Mount Rushmore (where one can buy a magnet), and Crazy Horse (where one will go broke paying the entrance fee). Been there, done all that, but wouldn't mind it one more time - and now this time with my father, who will make us sit through every movie and read every placard annoying me and my mother completely. WHAT AM I DOING??? I am the type of person who can do the Met in New York in 1 hour. Have you been to the Met? I think that might be a record.
A real-life jackalope.
Could you imagine...
It'll get there. Especially with that CARAYZEE entrance fee.
The main destination for me though is Devil's Tower, and I will make Connie and Al watch every movie and read every placard there. After that, it's the open road. No real destination to speak of...well, except Oakland at some point, which is probably never a destination to begin with (however my thoughts on this are evolving, like Barack's on gay marriage). Someone mentioned Glacier National Park in Montana, and I'm sure my father will want a potato from Idaho, even though he can get one at Stop and Shop. I can hear it now..."It's not the same!". Yes, I don't know what is in store. I haven't been trapped in a car with my parents for years. I'm sure my mom will have to stop every 30 minutes to go pee. Or my dad will want to stop at every roadside stand to see what he can get there that he can't get in Fall River.
(Nuf said.)
Yes, I will be refilling my Valium prescription before this trip.
