Contented Exhaustion

My Intrepid Co-Conspirator for the Epic Road Trip - Keene Friend

Well I’m back at my desk this morning after a weekend consumed with the epic road trip accompanied by stalwart companion – the Keene Friend. We confirmed something during our travels – Pittsburgh is a long way to travel by road for the weekend. Spending time with the college roommate more than redeemed the distance traversed though.

Friday Night Around the Fire Pit

Saturday was consumed with planning for the late afternoon 60^th birthday party. The lady of the house had all details firmly under control and we just tried to stay out of her way. She prepared a mountain of food and unveiled a couple of surprises for her husband along the way, including handmade party hats featuring childhood pictures of the birthday boy. We wore the hats for the maximum time allotted before blood flow was completely cut off by the under chin rubber band (how do kids do it?).

The Painful But Clever hats

The house soon filled with friends and co-workers of the birthday boy; an eclectic group age wise and a lot of fun. College football played in the background as Keene Friend and I hovered around the edge of the close knit group of Pittsburgh friends. The planned back yard fire and games had to be abandoned in the face of a semi-biblical deluge that was unsuccessful in quelling the party mood.

The Founder of the Feast and Lady of the House

We met a former Boston sports radio host who was a tad bitter about his time trying to civilize the sports mad puritan descendants of the region. He wisely relocated to the borders of the mid-west nice culture he was more suited for. I was also introduced to a very nice family complete with a son who graduated from my alma mater around the same time my own son did. They were both athletes but didn’t know each other, confirmed via text. The crowd of friends was very welcoming and both Keene Friend and I enjoyed the reflected camaraderie available.

The UNH Alumni Crew

Most of the college roommate’s co-workers are employed in the radio business and one particularly fetching young lady had even met and interviewed the Wingman at some point in the distant past. The only downer for the evening was when it was inevitably revealed that Keene Friend and I were Patriots fans. The Steelers fans immediately jumped on soap boxes to repeat the whining meditations of the Steeler coaches and players. It was sad to see the fans of such a proud franchise sunk to the level of Rex Ryan type ineptitude. Of course it was nice to experience how fully New England has permeated their existence.

The Birthday Boys With Second Gen Hats

The college roommate expertly wielded the sword I brought along to sever a very interesting birthday cake. His wife, with her trademark hospitality, had included Keene Friend and I in the birthday banner and yet another edition of birthdays hats that were every bit as painful as the first ones. It was a special night equal to the man who was honored.

College Roommate Still Got It

Sunday arrived way, way too early as Keene Friend and I faced the less anticipated return trip. Road trips are always more fun with the objective of a reunion with friends and parties. Returning in the early morning on rain soaked roads with the less than friendly after effects of a night spent trying to reach the bottom of an overstuffed cooler, well the less said, the better (you’re welcome). The sun eventually appeared and the autumnal landscape every bit as beautiful as our Friday travels.

Food Mountain

We made really good time coming back. For the record the trip took 556 miles, two tanks of gas, 9 hours, and viewing the remains of 16 dead roadside deer carcasses (had to do something to pass the time). Keene Friend and I switched off driving and just after crossing the Connecticut border found the Patriots broadcast on satellite radio. That made the onerous task of crossing the Nutmeg State a lot more palatable; especially since it was a close game against the hated New York Jets with the inevitable Patriots triumph. Thank you Mr. Brady, for giving some people I know in Pittsburgh yet another reason to bemoan your excellence.

Suave and De-Boner

We arrived at my sister’s house in time for the last five minutes of the game as the Patriots once again vanquished a pretender to the throne, although the Jets are a lot more disciplined and dangerous since the departure of their former head clown. Buddy was exceptionally pleased to see us since we were rescuing him from the ardent attentions of his cousin Remy. Remy resembles nothing if not the much younger version of the Wonder Pooch himself so this past weekend was a bit of revenge for all the older dogs Buddy tormented in his youth. He’s now the senior statespooch and was exhausted.

The Master at Work Yesterday

The length of the day and drive were beginning to tell so we departed Rhode Island right after the game for the short trip back to Worcester and commencement of recovery operations. Keene Friend spent the night before executing one of his patented early morning departures today. Reflecting back it was kind of a crazy thing to do, driving all the way to the border of Ohio for just a weekend but I’ve certainly done crazier things and honoring the college roommate more than meets the criteria for such an endeavor. In a larger sense as I run up to my own date with a 60^th birthday I’m glad I’m still silly enough to attempt something like this. Life’s all about the journey, not the inevitable destination.

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