February 4, 2005
The Needle's Eye
After my older brother left for college, the Senator felt a bit saddened by the occasion, or a bit thirsty, so he took me and my younger brother to Rock City. I think I was 13, Junior 11. Ruby Falls, Rock City, Cherokee, dry counties are hell on the driving man, but we persevered.
All was well until we dragged the old man to the pinnacles of Rock City. After negotiating Fat Man's Squeeze, no mean feat for a 250 pound free sweater, we forced the Senator to pass through an even narrower crevasse, called the Needle's Eye. Attempt it he did, to his everlasting glory, but I swear for a moment or two we thought we were going to lose him. Wedged tight, no going back, no going forward, squirming, stuck, Junior and I eased close and peered intensely into his face for signs of distress. Incipient apoplexy, perhaps a myocardial infarction.
Ah, the Senator was fantastic that day. Survived our torments, and still managed to finish off two packs of Marlboros.
We celebrated that night with eight Canadians for the old man, and one of HoJo's 57 flavors for us. Male bonding can be a beautiful thing.
I think it is fair to say that sugar, caffeine and nicotine made the modern world possible. We would probably all be toiling in the fields with no AC without those.
You're growing too prolific for your audience I fear Veloc. Samuel Pepys and Bob Graham have been left in the eraser dust.
Posted by: rankin rob at February 5, 2005 11:52 AM