Happy Turkey, stuffing and politics day, for those who host alternative opinions at their dinner table. We just had the kids so politics doesn't really come up, though Joe did want us to go around the table and say what we were thankful for. Pretty much each other and their new house. Hours of prep and 15 minutes of feasting, watching the Spartans win and Lions lose about sums it up. Love those people!
Traveling to Grand Rapids on a holiday week was probably not an adventure we stopped to consider ahead of time. As we were not actually going anywhere for the holiday, we blissfully ignored the fact that a massive amount of vehicles would be barreling merrily down the highway on the way to Grandma's or whoever's house. It resembles an episode of Car Challenge (I just made that up). Hovering around the speed limit we were basically blown off the road by speedsters for whom that 10 minutes saved is worth all the general vehicular mayhem. There is a segment on my show called "car passing wars" which is played by the experienced and inexperienced alike. Basically consists of sitting on another's rear bumper at 85 miles an hour until the offending (legal speed) vehicle offers passage (apparently it's personal). Those who set their cruise control will not budge regardless of the rear provocation and angry finger gestures practiced by those in the rear view. What is especilly thrilling is the bumper riders who can absolutely see the car ahead has nowhere to go as both lanes are currently occupied. This, at times, leads to those spectacular multi-car pileups one reads about yet hopefully is not a participant thereof.
Our trip was to scope out the meat processor who was receiving our massive amount of beef "on the hoof". Our first venture in buying a "piece of cow" (or steer more accurately). The rancher texted me with the exciting news of the impending slaughter and stated our contributing moo-er clocked in at 898 pounds. Being a novice I thought he meant our share. Holy shitoly-where are we going to put 900 lbs. of beef? The processor gently disillusioned me by saying that's the total weight-you're getting 1/4. (Would not like to meet a 3600 lb steer) Whew. Without having to meet our bovine volunteer except in parts I had the master chef pick how he wanted the pieces distributed in their neat little packages.
Shifting gears now. After hearing the horror stories and pulling every string and safety procedure for months to avoid a possibly painful and defintely uncomfortable procedure (I hear they make contact with brain matter up there), I have managed to avoid covid testing. However I am now part of the initiated. Popping out of the car at the rendering/processing plant was a whole new experience in the science of smells. Gasping, and breathing out of my mouth did not dull the moment. Wow. So basically it not only cleaned out my sinuses, but I also know I have not lost my sense of smell. Win-win.
My sister and her new husband decideded to tour a large portion of the US, by car, for a honeymoon hitting Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Missouri etc etc. They love to drive. My need to stop about every two hours to unkink the joints that work sporadically at best would probably have been a hindrance. She was sending us text updates on the adventure. She mentioned coming out of Needles, California and passing the exit to Twenty-Nine Palms. For those who do not know the area, it is the location of a large Marine base that my brother inhabited for a couple of years. She teased me that it was a lousy place for a vacation as it's all desert. When I was a senior in high school I got to visit him there over Christmas.
When she asked me what was there, besides desert, I responded "about 1,000 young marines" Touche! Just 17, I flew by myself into Palm Springs and hung out at the bar in the airport for hours while my brother tried to hustle up a car to pick me up. Needless to say, he was surprised that Mom heard his whining about being away from home at Christmas and gifted him with.... ME! I stayed with his NCO and family who were also surprised they were having a guest over Christmas. I traded room and board for babysitting services.
Furthering my education in California as a sheltered white girl, in 1968 I was not cognizant that civil rights was a real and painful thing. We had dinner with a African American marine and his family where I heard "if it came to a race war, I'm siding with my people". This while I'm playing with their beautiful little girl and helping his wife with the dishes. I was surprised. Then at the Christmas party at the base, I was quite unaware there was a little gap between the black marines and the white ones. I happily danced with whoever asked me not realizing there was a bit of tensing up when I "bugalooed" with a member of the black contingency. My brother told me later, but I was confused. They were all in the same outfit serving our country. Unfortunately we haven't moved too far forward on that front.
But what does one do on a marine base surrounded by desert? Why you go shooting of course. With so much open nothingness, targets and permission are not required.
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