|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Opining of a Cranky Old Man
Sights and Sounds
and Experiences and Wonderment of Holiday Travel for One Senior
 James Dean museum
- are there really any people attracted to a film star who had only
about three movies? Then again, Justin Bieber, a teenager, has already
written his autobiography.
By Bill Kalmar, Retiree
Dec. 8, 2010 -
Travel during the Holidays has always been an American tradition whether
it is to visit family and relatives or to take that restful trip to a
warm island climate. For the Thanksgiving Holiday, AAA predicted that
94% of travelers would do so by automobile. Attribute it to the new
guidelines at the airports, the high cost of flying, or $3 per
gallon gasoline. Whatever the case, holiday travel can be exhausting,
exhilarating or just plain fun.
By car, it gives
one an opportunity to explore the real Americana. And, that is just what
we did during the Thanksgiving Holiday. We traveled to St. Louis to be
with our eleven grandchildren. Our trip included a two-day stop over in
Chicago where the Windy City really knows how to decorate itself for the
Holidays! As we embarked on our journey, we encountered several sights
and sounds and experiences that I want to share with you:
●
Newspapers, radio and TV reports were filled with information on Black
Friday deals, that is, if you wanted to camp out for days or arrive at
the store of your choice after midnight while you awaited the 2:30 a.m.
opening of the doors.
Then if you were
able to survive the Pamplona-like Running of the Shoppers and the first
crucial moments when everyone bursts through the doors, you might have
been lucky enough to corral that digital juicer for Uncle Ed at a
savings of $25! Wow! Was it worth the hassle? I sure hope so!
● Lots of
radio stations began broadcasting Christmas songs right after
Halloween. As we listened to choruses of “All I Want For Christmas Is a
Hippopotamus” ad nauseam, it occurred to me that everyone has a Holiday
album these days.
Even Snoop Dogg
has a Christmas album featuring favorite songs from some of his cohorts
including “My Little Mama Trippin’ On Xmas”, a true spirit of the
Holidays song – yikes! In my opinion, the only Christmas artists I want
to hear from would be Bing Crosby, The Carpenters and of course Johnny
Mathis!
● And have
you noticed that in most Christmas songs there is a reference to
children coming down the stairs in the morning to view their presents?
What do children who live in a ranch style home do? Maybe travel down
the stairs to the basement?
● Chicago,
as expected, was bedecked in Holiday lights and decorations. And the
stores were filled with shoppers who evidently were not aware that
unemployment is still hovering around 10%! The Cheesecake Factory, as
is the custom, always has a wait for seating. Wish we had a location
here in Michigan especially since the owners are from the Mitten State.
● Traveling
by car always gives one a new perspective on the various tax structures
in the states. When we left Michigan, gasoline was around $2.90 a
gallon. Upon reaching Missouri we were delighted to find prices at
$2.52 per gallon. The savings over a year’s time would be enough to buy
a nice CD player and load it with some Snoop Dogg albums for that
special person on your list! Please not me though!
● We knew
we were in Illinois and Missouri by the number of foreign cars on the
road. I’m always confused by the “foreign car” designation. Most of
the cars are built here in America with American workers so why do we
refer to these vehicles as “foreign”? Could it be that all the profits
go back to Asia and Europe!
● And
speaking of automobiles, there seems to be a new practice in St. Louis.
Seems drivers are decorating their cars with monograms on the rear
window. For me, looking at someone’s initials seems meaningless unless
that is one’s way of finding their car in the parking lot!
And here’s
another item of interest – in Michigan, our license plates are more than
often encased with the name of the dealer where we purchased the car
which also includes the city of the dealer.
In Missouri and
Illinois, most people have opted for personalized plates. Coupled with
monograms on the “Show Me State’s” cars, guess there is little chance of
getting into the wrong car!
● How many
times have you become incensed when your newspaper has that 1/3 overlay
on the front page that contains advertisements? It really drives me
nuts! Now it is also turning up on other sections of the paper. I
thought it was just a Michigan irritation but discovered that it runs
rampant now in all cities.
● Most of
the fast food restaurants such as McDonalds and Burger King now allow
the patrons to fill and refill their beverage cups at lobby dispensers.
We did encounter a couple of towns where beverages were only dispensed
by the employees behind the counter. Guess those towns must have
encountered some heavy Dr. Pepper imbibers and they want to curtail the
flow of soda!
● Seems the
James Dean museum in Indiana has moved off the main highway and has
relocated to a less conspicuous site somewhere in town. My question is
are there really any people who are still attracted to a film star who
had only about three movies? Hard to imagine. But then again Justin
Bieber who is a teenager has already written his autobiography. Wow –
sixteen years of riveting experiences!
● Every now
and then we heard a radio sports report of how Tiger Woods was doing in
the latest tournament. Don’t the reporters know that we don’t care!
● If you
ever want a real slice of Americana be sure to dine at a Cracker Barrel
Restaurant. The food is plentiful and the kitschy items on the shelves
are a delight to observe. And seeing some of the patrons in bib
overalls with a corncob pipe is a sight to behold. Certainly not to be
seen on the Miracle Mile in Chicago!
Needless to say,
we had a marvelous trip! Spending time with family is what the Holidays
are all about. Now if I could just learn how to conquer my
grandchildren playing Wii baseball!
Well, time for
some eggnog and a final present wrapping. Maybe I will settle back by
the fireplace and listen to the strains of “Christmas In The Hood” from
the Snoop Dogg Holiday album. Yeah right!
 L Bill Kalmar is retired in Lake Orion, Michigan,
and is the former Director of the Michigan Quality Council. He is a
frequent contributor to SeniorJournal.com. His opinions are his own.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
