Well On The Way

After a shaky start with the alternator belts, we got on our way Tuesday late morning. Made it through the snow to Jake's in Davenport, loeaded up some of his stuff and spent a cold night in the Wal-Mart parking lot (the first of many).

Wednesday was bright and clear as we made our way south on I-55 on the way to Memphis, got as far as Cape Girardeau, MO, coincidently the hometown of Rush Limbaugh. Again, Wal-Mart accomodations.

Next morning we traveled the rest of the way to Memphis, TN; home of the blues, birthplace of rock and roll. As many of you know, I am the world's biggest Johnny Cash fan, so of course we HAD to make the trip to Sun Records.

Me hamming it up with an actual mic that Elvis and Johnny Cash recorded with, standing on the very spot Elvis recorded his first song.

You can even rent the studio for only $85 per hour. Tour guide said three guys took three hours and just drank beer and listened to Johhny Cash songs a couple years ago. Wish I'd been invited.

Left Memphis late and pulled into another Wally World Hilton 20 miles west of Little Rock, AR that night.

Today we made it to Weatherford, OK, where my sign career began 25 years ago and where Judy and I made our first home. We stopped at Kaiser Sign Co. to find Cindy there. Cindy is Vernice Kaiser's daughter and she was working there 25 years ago when I left! I had expected everything to be different but to my amazement it was as if I had never left. Everything was exactly the same. I kept looking around and finding things I remembered from a quarter-century ago. Like a time warp. Vernice is 74 now and is trying to take it easy, but the work is still there. He and his wife Mary Lou have been trying to sell the shop, but no one has been able so far to follow through. I'll try to see him tomorrow.

The rest of the town looks really different although there are some landmarks that remain. Like the Sonic Drive-In. And the Wal-Mart. Which reminds me I need to get to sleep.

Will catch up later!