September 2003 Archives

Patsy, Lloyd, and Eric. March 1986.

18 years ago today.

Happy Birthday, Bobette!

Enjoy the day.

Ah, the stupid things I've done behind the wheel... and lived to tell the tales! An incident that I love to recall took place when I was about 18 years old and still a relatively new driver. I was on my way to Florida, in the wee hours of the morning. My boyfriend, Mike, was my co-pilot and he was teaching me how to follow road signs. We had a long stretch of Interstate ahead of us, so he decided that he would get a little sleep. After making sure I knew what exit sign to watch for, he leaned back and went right to sleep. (I always envied his ability to do that... but that's another story.) I was wired with the excitement of being on my first driving road trip.

So, there I am in my '68 Firebird, barrelling down the highway at 85 MPH. Time passes and suddenly I notice way over on my right, one of the overhead signs says what I know my exit sign is supposed to say. I panicked, thinking I'd somehow missed my exit. So I wake up Mike and he starts digging in the glove compartment for map and flashlight. He's studying the map and, exhausted young fool that I am, I'm watching what he's doing instead of what I'm doing. Mike and I looked up at the same time and realized that I am now barrelling down the shoulder of the road. There, just ahead, are two pair of eyes, wide with fright, staring out of the rear windshield of a Volkswagen that is parked on the shoulder. I quickly veered back into the right lane and quietly said, "Oops!"

From that point on, Mike used to tell people, "If you ever hear her say, 'Oops!', look out!

Happy Labor Day, everyone!

Got any Laurendines in this Laurendine blog?

Note to all: The Washington Parish Free Fair in Franklinton is October 15 through 18 this year. Patsy and I have the 16th and 17th off. The 18th is a Saturday. The full schedule hasn't been posted yet but on Thursday night, October 16, we know The Charlie Daniels Band will be performing. We will be going for that. Like most, I don’t mind seeing them for free and I expect a pretty good crowd for that one. However, I’m planning a return trip on Friday afternoon, the 17th, to see and do the things in daylight, when the crowd will be thinner, that are quite a tad more difficult to do at night with a crowd. If you’re interested in joining us or even just following us up there (There is a major advantage to this), please drop me or Patsy a line.