"I think we're supposed to veer right," I had said as Great-grand Maddie and I pulled away from Gluckstadt, heading to Tennessee. A while later when I saw Clinton seventeen miles, I knew we were headed the wrong way though.
From then on, Maddie talked on her cellphone to Sore Ears--excuse me, I mean an unseen, but all-wise guide named Siri, who gave us directions.
Maddie and I journeyed on up the Natchez Trace Parkway, heading for the 'Villa at Olive Hilla,' the Tennessee countryside home where son Bob and daughter-in-law Gail live. We would spend the night, then Gail, Maddie and I would turn north to visit Bob who was working in Chicago.
As we unloaded the car at 'The Villa' there was an unwanted greeting; Maddie had been confronted by a rattlesnake. All's well that ends well though. In just the nick of time, Grandson Brent blasted the deadly critter away to rattlesnake heaven.
It had been a long day and that evening after a delicious dinner of chicken wings flambé, broccoli quiche and au gratin potatoes there was time for a little porch sitting and rocking before we bedded down for the night. Social and political difficulties were waiting to be discussed.
After many deep national and international troubles were taken care of, the sun had slanted toward the west and dark began falling like a lowering blackout curtain. The problems solved, we felt the world was now safe and back on an even keel so Brent, Gail and I settled in to watch the telly. Maddie went to her bedroom.
But all was not yet to be cool, calm and collected. "Help!" A scream from Maddie.
At the foot of her bed, a drowning, ratty-looking critter was swimming in the dog's water bowl. A mole!
The young lady almost had an unwelcome roommate for the night.
Well, holey moley. Welcome to Tennessee, Maddie!
The mole tossed out, that excitement over and done with, everyone worn out, we all retired to our bedrooms.
***
Now, a few months later, taking a deep breath I shut down Bessie Maude, my old lady computer. This trip had happened just a few weeks before the corona virus took over the world and I must say, it had been somewhat of a welcome release for me to slip away from the present and step back into the not too distant past.
I decided to take a brief time out from penning about wrong-way roads and coiling memories. I hitched up doggie, Roo Roo and the two of us made our daily sniff, squat and a bum leg lift around the country club.
On returning home a short while later I did another every morning routine, a weight check on my step-on scales. The corona virus threat hangs over each of us in different ways and yours truly has been doing way too much stress eating.
What I read on the scales caused a little bit of depression to weigh in. I will only say that to be somewhat comfortable when I sat down, I had to unbutton my britches before I fired up the computer.
Then, coffee and cookies in hand, looking at Bessie Maude's lit up screen I began punching keys.
***
I'm in a swing, here at the Villa
Sipping coffee, looking out over the hilla.
The porch is placed so that I can turn
And watch the sunrise, blaze and burn.
Can muse a little, ready for this day
Recall what happened, along our way.
Maddie and I left Jackson at the break of dawn
Had a few glitches, once we were gone.
Lost in Mississippi, on the Natchez Trace
Greeted at the Villa, by a rattlesnake.
A mole was swimming near Maddie's bed
Tossed it out, she was no longer afraid.
Headin' up nawth, on to Shercargo,
We don't need us, no more bad mojo.
Leaving in a few, soon be underway.
I raised my cup and saluted the day.
Our celebrated chef had worked to prepare
For us her family, a very special fare.
Before we left good things we munched
Duck omelet we ate, turkey sausage was crunched.
Dishes all washed, a clean countertop
Teeth now brushed, we make a bathroom stop.
Gail's our driver, we should stay on track,
Gooblety, gooblety, and quack, quack, quack.
If y'all thought I left you on a happy note
Believe me folks, that ain't all she wrote.
