The center of the universe, revisited.

[KB.]

I have decided to take a road trip, spur of the moment. No idea what brought it on? I have Saturday through Tuesday off, no work, no slinging televisions. My little brother is off of work as well. He was supposed to go to Six Flags in St. Louis, but it doesn't look like that will pan out. That's okay, because I am going to take him to a much more fun place, which is cheaper, has better food, and less of a crowd. Soulard; Joanie's Pizzeria to be specific. I told him we will be leaving bright and early, seven am Saturday morning. We will get there just in time to have ourselves a fresh crispy chicken sammich, yes with bacon. Extra chips and extra Crystal's hot sauce. I can not wait. The last time I got sick, it was the first place I wandered to after I took a shower. I felt better as soon as I left. I feel better now just thinking about it.



I will have to call Mona tomorrow and tell her I am coming. She will have to pass the word around to Kirby and the rest of those neighborhood friends I miss so much. Good folks, dear friends. The only place I have ever lived that I would even consider moving back to.



I will have to spend tomorrow afternoon making a few CDs for us. Tupac, Bob Seager, Ray Lamontagne, maybe a little Bird York and some Jack Johnson to even it out. I might throw in some Aretha to spice things up a bit. I imagine the drive there will fly by. I have lots of stories to tell him. I have to prepare him to meet some of the most colorful characters I have ever run across in my limited travels. I feel the need to go and look for some more stories to tell. I ain't running out, don't fret, but I want to tell another from St. Louis.



Six Flags ain't got jack on the entertainment that lies at the corner of Russell and Menard. It is after all, the center of the universe. I figure I can weasel my way into a place for us to stay Saturday night, might be at Kirby's if his parents have found a place to stay. Their house burned not too long ago. Maybe Paul and Celia will open their doors to me once again. There is always B.Dot, hell we can spring for a hotel room and a taxi if things get a little "out of hand". It will still be cheaper and more fun than Six Flags.



I told him to make sure we bring his camera; I regret that I didn't take more pictures, and plan on taking a lot when I am there. I might even let myself be in a few for a change. I just checked the little spot that says "My Readers" so good to see you there again Flea. Flea doesn't live in St. Louis, but she is part of that neighborhood group when I mention them. So is her sister, who seems to be glowing through words these days. It makes me happy to read the little sentences that say so much. Her sister does live in St. Louis. She is a part of the crowd as well; even if I have never met her she still played a huge part in the person writing this story.



I will have to run by a toy store and see if I can find a proper gift for an eight year old little man who loves Transformers.



I guess I will take Brent up the road to where I used to work. See who all is still hanging around and maybe laugh too much, hey the motto is "Have fun while being the best", right? It will be good to see Brian and some of the rest of them, maybe Romeo will send me an email back and I will trek out to Mid-Rivers to see him for a bit. Two days might not be enough, the corner of Russell and Menard will be the majority of the visit. Can the Lou handle two Blankenships, blood kin at that, in the same area? I think not.



There aren't many of us left. You have my dad and his brother. Dad has had his children, I'm one and I've mentioned the other. Terry, my dad's brother, who some people refer to as Cub to my dad's Bear. He won't have any. He married a woman who went through a lot of things in her life, medical problems, the cancer type, and she can't have children. He would have made one hell of a father. He told me something Mother's Day week that made way too much sense to me. That leaves Brent and myself; the whole line down to four men, only two of which might have children. Lock your daughters up people. Somewhere deep beneath that permanent scowl there lies a smile, it has been known to cause havoc and make people forget themselves for a moment.



Something I wrote today, something I only shared with one person, a letter which is still my favorite form of communication. It inspired someone to write something that in turn inspired me to write this. Still following along? That story I helped to inspire talked about a woman who is a sister, it talked about trying to avoid a younger sister and a younger sister trying to fill the shoes of the older. It also talked about changing all of that and being part of a family. It talked about Grace; I talked about Grace as well a few stories back. It is my favorite story; it trumps the Muse stories by a large margin. That sister's story was all too familiar to me. I have a younger brother I spent a lot of time trying to avoid, not for any bad reasons, we just weren't that much alike, or so I thought. That younger brother spent a lot of time trying to fill shoes he didn't need to even try on. Saturday will be our first road trip together, far too late, but hopefully the first of many. I could not think of a better place to take him to than Soulard; the center of the universe. Thank you Misty. Thanks for reminding me I am a big brother.





KB





"You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."



Charlotte, "Charlotte's Web" by way of E. B. White

[RedGlitter]

Just be careful. And I hope you have an incredible time! :-6

[KB.]

RedGlitter;668960 wrote: Just be careful. And I hope you have an incredible time! :-6


Careful won't be an adjective used in the story. I will be good, and if not good then quick.

[KB.]

almostfamous;668968 wrote: Be CAREFUL! :rolleyes: gees



Do I need to talk to your brother before you guys head out? I think so.


The fact that you think you could ever begin to sway him where I and my ways are concerned makes me chuckle. I'll be careful, I promise. I won't even drink a white russian while I am there. No promises on the last thing there.