On the Road with RLR Jr

We set out from Richfield, PA to East Lansing, MI in the 1970 Chevrolet Nova. I don't remember exactly when it was. It was definitely Winter. It was cold. It was bleak. On the plus side, it didn't involve the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Still, Ohio in Winter is nothing to anticipate with any sense of hope. A large portion of the trip was crossing northern Ohio, so you know. I had that to look forward to.

In truth, I don't recall a lot of the trip. I was 18, more or less. Dad drove the whole way. I had headphones, and I excelled at napping in moving cars. Probably the best way to traverse Ohio.

It was bound to be a trip with expletives and lost opportunities for quips. Like Calvin, Dad always had something clever to say about an affront, about 10 minutes later. At the time of an affront, of which there were bound to be plenty on the highways, "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on" was likely to be the most immediate response.

Dad had a way with words. He had some of his father's pugilistic inclinations but was far better at restraining them. At least he was more restrained after high school age. At some point in his education in the Pittsburgh environs he was upbraided by a teacher for going down an stairwell designated for up. Being late for class and not wanting to be harrassed by this small rule, he punched the teacher. Sure was obvious he'd become a teacher later.