Boomer and Barry’s BIG Adventure!

Tuesday Morning Departure

Or – When to Flush your Cell Phone into the SEWER!  It has been a little long since I poisted.  Took some time to go see my fav rock band.  AGAIN!  Second time in about 9 months.  Met up with another couple, and after all was said and done, all we could do is laugh! When life drops lemons in your lap – make some lemonade. That’s exactly what we did, but the route we took to get to that ambrosia was a sightseeing tour of Chicago I hope to never make again ever. It’s not that I don’t like Chicago – I love Chicago, as long as I do not need to be near those expressways!

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Bella - our new addition
to the family

Our little tour began innocently enough Tuesday morning. I had to take our new puppy Bella to the vet for her second deworming treatment. As I was handling those things with the receptionist – Bella decided to drop right on my work boots and leave her “opinion” on the matter. Nothing like a good pile of crap on your shoes to start the day. Got back home, dressed in the full leathers – better rawhide than my hide on the bike, right Aunt T?! Mary wasn’t feeling the best, so I hugged her gently, we embraced for a moment, and then I was off. After all – she had purchased this as a Christmas present, and although I felt a little guilty leaving her dealing with some pain issues, I also knew if she had wanted she could have asked me to stay and I would have gladly done that. But – onward I went.

Me and those pesky TOLLS!

I am often struck by what I see while I am riding. Little details that I might ordinarily miss in my truck stick out. For instance I was just a few miles from home, heading east on Highway 30, and saw what I thought was a tree stump instead turned out to be a rather large beaver sticking his head up checking out the traffic. Or the poor baby skunk which met his demise trying to cross the highway and not making it (whew that was ripe!). Sometimes it’s the eagles or hawks surfing the sky overhead, perhaps a wild turkey wandering into an empty cornfield looking for a meal. The misguided Mercedes with Miss “AllAboutMe” primping her eyelashes while yakking on the cell phone all over the road. Gassed up in Morrison, Illinois and headed towards I-88 and onward to my destination. The rest of my trip to Chicago remained fairly uneventful, although paying tolls on a motorcycle can be – a challenge?



At the hotel safe



I pulled in to the hotel (Flag A), and gave thanks I had arrived safely, sent a text to my new “friends” and checked in. Unloaded the bike, covered it up, and was greeted by Barry, and then Cass (sorry dear – didn’t know that was YOU on that elevator!). Wonderful folks – smiling all the time, very positive – hey this will be a great show and a great time I thought. After taking some time to change into my concert ”uniform” we climbed into their car and were off. The time was 3:22 PM. We stopped for a moment at a gas station (Flag B) for some water, and as we pulled out, we heard a sound which we knew was trouble. A loud “clunk” from the engine area of the car, and suddenly we realized something had broken and the car was not going anywhere. Barry started making calls, and within about 40 minutes T & A Towing (interesting name!) shows up to cart the ill car away, and then our rental arrived. Whew – we were going to make it. After some nifty wrangling, we were back on the road. The time was 4:17 PM.

Chicago Skyline. Beautiful sight if you aren't lost!

Now – Chicago is a most difficult town to navigate in, but the route to the United Center was pretty much a straight shot, as long as you aren’t a bit distracted by the conversation. And in Chicago one missed turn can result in hours of redirection, as in this case. For whatever reason we took a wrong turn, which began our troubles. Soon I was seeing large commercial airliners landing, and knowing that Midway Airport was on the SOUTH side of Chicago, that could only mean we were approaching the O’Hare Airport Complex. Oops! After some redirection, we managed to find our way over to the Kennedy Expressway – at rush hour. With the highway full of cars I realized a GPS check of where we were might help us get to our destination faster. It’s at this time where I say – if you ever feel the urge to utilize GPS Navigation on any cell phone device at all – don’t. It took over 30 minutes to get to our turn, and by the time we got to where the GPS said to go – it was nearly 6 PM (Flag K) and we were nowhere NEAR the United Center. At this point – we were all beginning to wonder if we would even find our hotel again, but Barry remained cool under fire, fired up his own nav system, and eventually we found the Kennedy again, and by about 7:00 – 30 minutes before the show – we landed at the United Center – a bit tired and hungry but ready for the show (Flag N).



Sticks from heaven!



The show itself was spectacular as usual. As if there were any doubt. I mean – after this many years the boys pretty much have a proven track record. Little things like the guy directly behind me bumping into me about every other bar, and then the “I’m sorry!”, or the young lass who started taking her top off to “Limelight” (security made her put her clothes on again!), and then a wafting odor of rotten socks permeated my nose. Anybody who has been to any rock show knows that smell. There was the guy who has a denim vest on that had about 40,000 different band pins and patches on it. During the intermission I spoke with some of the folks around me. The father who brought his teenaged sons, the four friends who drove from St Louis to see the show. The couple next to me who had been married for four years who seemed a bit shocked at my nearly 26 years of wedded “bliss”. The great thing about this concert – everyone was respectful of one another.



"La Villa Strangiato" 
The song that KILLED music careers



After the show, I located Barry and Cass, and as we made our way back to the hotel – hunger was taking over rapidly. It was almost midnight when we returned, and after some pizza Barry offered a toast to “absent friends”. I never make any bones that one of my favorites songs is “Time Stand Still”…”to pass an evening with a drink and a friend” and that’s exactly what we did. Of course, by then we were about to all collapse, and after returning to my room, I gave thanks for two great friends a great time and some great laughs. The next morning we had a simple breakfast together, and chatted for several moments in the parking lot. It is said you can always tell a man’s heart by the firmness of his handshake. A firm handshake is a mark of a true friend, but a limp shake is the mark of a lukewarm dishrag. Barry had taken care of both Cass and I, and held my hand firm as we said our good byes.



Melissa taking a break from me!



The trip home was relatively uneventful. The woman who nearly ran my Harley over – I could have put my foot on her bumper. That’s close! The tolls were again a bit frustrating. Not paying them, but rather having to remove gloves control the bike, find the cash and HOPE I get the correct change back. A quick stop for gas and a sandwich was all I needed on the way. The bike was performing wonderfully, the roar filling my ears with that beautiful “Harley” music. When I pulled in to the garage – a bit stiff from the previous evening, a little saddle sore, I remembered a prayer from another biker who had remarked “When I leave the garage I say Thank Goodness I am alive, and when I return I say Thank Goodness I am alive”. I spent a few moments thinking about that prayer, walked into the kitchen and kissed my wife – and the first thing I said to her was ”Thank goodness I am alive”. 



RUSH - what a great concert



Unfortunately Mary is having some issues again.  The nerves are coming alive, and with that some of the pain has returned.  Pain treatments will help, but we take each day at a time. Some days are good, while others a challenge.  Think they call that life!  Cheyenne is doing ok in school, but she is getting that dreaded "senior-itis".  You know the kind.  Right at the end of their junior year - they know those seniors are gone in a month and they are large and in charge.  Jesse has finally found work at Wal Mart.  Next step not sure yet, but to coin a phrase - the curse WORKS dad.  You know the curse - "I hope when you grow up you have kids that act exactly the same way you do".  That curse.  Not sure how I got the curse, but I am pretty sure there is NO known cure.

I'll be travelling to a little town called Waverly this weekend.  Another National Guard soldier lost his life in Afghanistan, and I am riding escort duty for the body of the soldier as part of the Patriot Guard mission.  For now - I'll just say Happy Birthday to "me pappy"!

Peace & Love!

Me Pappy - you're only as young as you feel pop!