Home: Part 1

Waking up in a fog has become a normal part of my everyday.
Waking up stiff and sore has also become a regular part of my days.
But in return I have slept better than any other time that I can remember.
So after being homeward bound since October I felt the urge to leave the security of the nest, spread my wings and fly.
My travel took me North to Duluth with 2 mandatory rest stops which were needed.
Sitting is not necessarily the problem as is the motion and constant and rhythmic slap of the tire on the cracks and expansion joints of the highways and by-ways of Minnesota.The motion causes stiffness and stiffness causes discomfort and the two combined crate stirring and the body must stop for at that point I am no longer in control of what is ordinary in the world. My body on the other hand is really good at communicating it's feelings to how I am treating it.
Duluth went fine and was stop number three and I was back on the road at lunch time.
Hunger set in which happens quite quickly these days and in my rush and excitement of impending travel I forgot to pack my lunch. Fast food was not an option as it was banished from my life in May and has probably been a good choice since.
Healthy snack at a gas station would have to do and my thoughts immediately went to the biker who now teaches other bikers how to eat healthy meals at service stations!
Not a bad idea since I spend quite a bit of time traveling.You could possibly eat really healthy if you tried but the odds are not in your favor of low calorie healthy food that will fill your hunger needs.
An Apple, A Banana and a Pop Tart were my choice, Not bad and if were not for the fact that the Pop Tart s were sitting on the counter near the cash register I would have been home free. Better yet it could have been a Pop tart without Frosting or sprinkles. Yes Sprinkles, the delectable and festive looking clusters of color embedded into the vanilla frosting which snap when bitten into.
Well any how it would do as I knew that Mom would have something really good on the menu for dinner and she would make a little extra cause she had company coming.Although it be her son it was company and special treatment is a must. A Sunday dinner mid week.
The snow of and fog of the early morning had been replaced with the warmth of the mid afternoon winter sun. It was 14 degrees which was 28 degrees warmer than the day before.Funny how 14 degrees can feel so warm but 28 degrees is 28 degrees.
A quick stop in Virginia and onward to Chisholm with my final stop before home would be Tom and Jerry's. The unofficial Welcome Wagon of the Range town.
The corner of the bar was the usual suspects that gather twice a day for comrade and fellowship of other men,sharing news and views of the morning paper or the happenings that took place in between visits.All retired, All busy in their own right But all enjoying the fruits of their 30-40 years of labor.
No bank executives, Real estate Moguls, Land Barron's. mostly Miners and Trades Men who worked for one of the many mines around the area.arriving for the afternoon meeting there was beer in hand versus coffee from the morning,although coffee is usually available.The coffee its self is some of the best in which has passed these lips and I have had coffee in a thousand different places over the years of traveling and a cup of Tommy's brew is worth the trip.Big City types would pay a premium price for this coffee that requires patron to throw a buck in for a bottomless cup and the stuff in the decaf pot is the same as the non decaf.
The conversations vary and are ever changing and cover the entire spectrum of topics,social issues,local gossip and of course politics. Today's conversation revolved around Ice conditions and early fish reports and a few stories from the
summer past.
Normally after such a trip I would be kicking back and knocking down a few beers and planning my relaxation techniques for the next few days but today a Ice Tea would suffice versus Lemon aide.The banter of comments and jokes makes its round as I am warned against drinking and driving all loaded up on sugar drinks.
The endowment makes anyone who left this town after graduation and returns at home and many of classmates and acquaintances have ended up coming home and working for Tom and Jerry while they re-group or take care of Mom and Dad, recover from marriage or lost job or business. A safety net as I have never experienced but is also comforting to know as in these unsteady times, at times wonder if that could be me behind the bar.
Finishing my Green tea I decide I have been over educated for the time being and need to venture the few block to Mom and Dads House and plan the errands which will need to be run the next day.It is also the time to smell the aroma of something fresh and home made being cooked just for me. Naturally hunger sets in immediately and unabated as every room within the house has the aromatic smell of Pot Roast, Potato's and Bread.
Settling in as a guest in mom and Dads domain requires a staging process that needs to followed to the smallest detail as the heat within the house is treated as if it were a nuclear reactor and if any heat is lost,wasted or otherwise set free it is cause for alarm and a near melt down as warnings are voiced from both parties to hurry up so it stays war. The towels rolled up for the base of the doors to keep heat from escaping must be replaced immediately and without reservation or else they may come and inspect to ensure its precise placement.
The Bags get placed on the front stoop and than one enters through the back door since the center of activity is the kitchen. One must announce the entrance and exchange greetings and than immediately announce the plan to bring the bags in to the compound. Homeland Security could take some valuable lessons from our parents
rules of the house.
Enter the front porch which is unheated closing the door behind you and moving the rolled towel towards the TV so it will not interfere with the baggage process. Open the front doors and move bags from the front stoop into the porch area making sure no snow enters the area which could contaminate the sterile environment which during the winter months resembles a museum as ever thing has been prepped,covered and put in its winter place.
Now, Shoes need to be removed and the entry door must be cracked not opened widely thus creating a vacuum which sucks the cold air into the living room and sending it rushing into the kitchen. Bags and personal items are than stacked at the base of the stairs and arranged in a fashion as to make the next step of dispatch as smooth
and error free as possible.
Shoes are now picked up and carried through the house and walked through the kitchen where another door needs to be opened to the UN-heated and or insulated back porch which also serves as a fine food cooler and wine cellar.Shoes can be placed in the visitors shoe section which is designated by the small area rug which is placed on the all season carpet next to the home shoe area which is a nice series of wooden shelves and a plastic tray sitting on a small area rug sitting on the all season carpet.
Upon re-entry the door need to be checked to make sure it is closed securely and and no cold air is allowed to enter.it helps if mom sees you have done this and allows her to relax somewhat.
Back through the kitchen and to the base of the stairs where the bags await their journey to the rooms. If their is numbers of bags an assembly line is made and the bags are sent up the stairs to the landing and than placed in the appropriate room were they will await the proper placement as to not impede movement or require attention from mom if she so happens to make it up stairs.
While moving baggage one also checks the floor for sounds and squeaking to see if any new booby traps have been set to catch movement from below if one chooses to stay out late or the kids decide to stay up and play rather than go to bed three hours earlier than they normally do.
The rooms have not changed much in the thirty years in which I have been gone. The bed Spreads are the same, the pictures, the books, pillows ,sheets. all the same as the day I left for college. The beds are made tightly and one must use care as to not disrupt thee tension setting as you will never be able to re-set the covers as tight as they were when you arrived causing them to be washed as required whether used or not.Bags go on the floor being careful not to move the area rugs as they are carefully measured after each visit and compared to the prints stored in the banks of moms memory. If there is anything moved or not replaced it will be used against you and family around the coffee table. This is where all your inequities as a son or daughter get revealed in your absence in the form of critique or periodic review as I refer to the process. Sometimes the pressure of this event causes individuals to fold and leave the room regrouping in the living room which will be noted and cataloged.
One must be strong and take their seat and participate knowing that you are under tight scrutiny from the boss. John Gotti would have crumbled under the pressure and one should have tough shoulders as you must let things roll off them after they hit you.As most of us have found with our family is as they get older they open up and not always in a good manner. They speak their mind which is very commendable but yet at times uncomfortable.