Are We There Yet?
The most famous or infamous question when on a trip is simple: “Are we there yet?” We are currently on our annual Bradford sibling trip including our spouses. This year, the chosen location is South Dakota.
Susan and I flew out of Birmingham on Saturday morning to Atlanta, then Minneapolis and finally, Rapid City. On the flight from Atlanta, we had a “Brer Rabbit” experience. We were in row 37. If our row had been further back, we would have been sitting in the toilet. In other words, we were in the last row.
The flight attendant asked us if there was any way we would exchange seats with a couple assigned to the exit row since they didn’t speak fluent English. Dang the luck. I knew my Southernology would come in handy. My brother Bob and his wife Deb picked us up at our hotel.
Our first day was spent touring the Badlands. If you’ve never been there, the landscape makes you think you are on planet Mars. Yes, we did see buffalo, pronghorn antelope and thousands of prairie dogs. Susan had to get out and try to talk to them before they scampered down into their burrows. For the first time in twenty years, I actually held a real map in my hands. Not GPS but Rand-McNally.
It brought back memories of recruiting trips where I had to pull off the side of the road, lock the doors and try to find some street that goes by a local name instead of the one listed on the map. Before cell phones, we were up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Yes, on Monday’s ride, we got lost twice until Bob kept reminding us that west is to the left and east is to the right. That’s true IF you are driving north. Not south.
As we got to Sturgis, we just HAD to find a sports bar to watch the Little League World Series where Phenix City came from 5 down to advance. We had the entire bar pulling for Kinley Ramus and her teammates.
The trip wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the famous Harley dealership in Sturgis. Those of you who know my wife, know she just HAD to get her picture made, straddling an orange Harley. Since the dealership was closed, it shouldn’t be a problem. Wrong. As soon as she got on for the picture, a security guard from across the street started blowing his horn and yelling for her to get away from the cycles. Her face, and mine also, were about the same shade as the Harley.
All I could think of was the headlines in the Sturgis newspaper: “Former Auburn Cheerleader Arrested in Sturgis For Accidentally Turning Over a New Harley.” Since there were about 20 lined up in a row, it would have been like dominoes falling.
My sister Susan and her husband, Bob Tanner, drove 21 hours from north Alabama. This meant that our daily sightseeing trips got more organized. Between the 2 Susans and Deb, we are all in good hands.
They decided yesterday was the Deadwood day, Naturally, we had to be near a TV at 1 pm to watch the kids from Phenix City win and advance again. Deadwood was where Wild Bill Hickok was shot in the back of the head during a poker game. We visited the actual spot in the basement of Saloon # 10 where Wild Bill was shot.
Bill always sat facing the door except this one time when others wouldn’t give up their seats. He was dealt a pair of aces and a pair of eights which is now known as a “dead man’s hand.” We enjoyed watching the reenactment on the street in front of the saloon.
Deadwood is full of old west tales, saloons and even a tribute to the brothels of the day. Most gold rush towns died almost as quick as they started, Deadwood survived not only because of the gold but the illegal activities that went along with it. In 1989. after decades of illegal gambling, it became legal and the tax revenue caused another boom town. The city planners embraced the historic preservation of the downtown area.
In the next few days, we will see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse statue, Custer, trout fishing, Devil’s Tower, and an old gold mine. That doesn’t matter since it’s not the most important part of our trip. Remember, we lost our dad in 1988 and mother in 2019.
Nothing can compare to a bunch of seventy somethings (except Deb), crammed in a 3-row SUV laughing and reminiscing about growing up in Leighton. Bob brought along a shovel for obvious reasons. (Having 2 Bobs and 2 Susans in a car of six, can get confusing,) I have said it more times than I can count, if you are considering taking a trip with your siblings, don’t put it off. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
I visit with friends often who browbeat themselves for putting off a trip or visit until “later.” Unfortunately for some, later never comes around. If there’s a hatchet, bury it. If there is a family disagreement, be the adult, check your ego at the door and just do it. People always regret more what they didn’t do than what they actually did.
When someone asks, “are we there yet,” the answer will be no.
And we will thank God that our trip continues.