Girls Gone Wild....

In three days, my "little girl" turns twenty-one. Ain't it funny, how time slips away?
Now, my first reaction to this turn of events, is to look back fondly on the sweet moments we shared as "Daddy" and "Little Girl." The stories of the "Princess..." the loving look in her eyes, as she gazed up completely trusting in her "Knight in Shining Armor..." I never underestimated my role in her formative years. I wanted to be her Knight. And still do, though, weary with time.
But I can't look back upon our memories, without taking into account, a certain event on her fifteenth birthday... an event that "Rocked my world...."
Suzanne, my "ever-lovin'," on her fifteenth birthday, had arranged a road party and weekend at the Lake for Jaqui, and a few of her girlfriends. All I had to do was drive them down in the RV, and tolerate the enthusiasm of the the weekend, at the lake house.
Now for all of you parents... you know that there is never a simple trip, when you are carrying precious cargo.... And I was carrying a "boat load."
I immediately took the RV down to my local service center to make sure that the "chariot" was fit for the "Princesses." Three tires, two fire extinguishers, an NC inspection, and $1400.00 later, we were good to go.....
On the morning of our departure, I can recall the girls being dropped off at our house, one by one... and the mothers' questioning look, as they assessed their child's safety, for a weekend out. Let's face it, they were at a tender, and volatile age... and this was, perhaps their first time out. But, Suzanne is the consummate Mother. So, everything was good...
Eventually, we loaded up all the girls and cruised down the highway, toward our destination.
We were probably 45 minute into our trip, when the flashing lights of a NC State Trooper came up behind me... blue lights blaring.
Immediately, I went through an inventory in my mind...
I wasn't speeding...
My license was current....
I'd just paid for my inspection...
My tires were new....
I hadn't been drinking...
And I even had two new fire extinguishers!!!
I asked Suzanne, "What in the Hell is this?"
Now when Suzanne, being my moral compass, said "I have no idea..." I was totally at a loss.
So, when the Trooper came to my window, I genuinely asked, "What's wrong officer?"
After the legal formalities of "license and registration," the trooper cracked a smile.
"Mr. Prinz, would you care to step outside of the vehicle, and address a situation that has come to my attention?"
Being the law abiding citizen that I am, I complied.
Outside of the vehicle I saw a certain "knowing" look in the officer's eyes that said. "Mr. Prinz, I'm just doing my job."
"Mr Prinz, I've received numerous complaints that a vehicle, of your description, has caused quite a "stir." "It seems as if young girls are flashing their breasts at upcoming traffic." (!!!!!!)
Oh My God... I just had to laugh!!!
I had to acknowledge that I'd heared giggles coming from the bathroom area, but that I'd thought that maybe they were trying out make-up and such, or talking about boys... Not exposing themselves in such a "devilish" manner. The shame of it all....
What did I know?
After a few anecdotes, and a chuckle or two, I asked the officer, "Would you like to have a little fun?" Knowingly, he agreed.
We lined the girls up, outside of the vehichle, and he explained the values of the cell phone on the road, and that any actions, of any travellor could be reported to the nearest local authority, and intecepted.... and punishable, by law.
The girl were certainly humbled... and a lesson learned...
Once the girls were loaded back into the RV the Trooper and I exchanged "High Fives," and went about our different ways.
The weekend at the Lake was great... the girls were on their best behavior, and the only giggles in the night belonged to Suzanne and me, recounting the experience on the Highway.
My "Little Girl" will alway be just that...
My little girl... adventurous, naive, beyond me, and a flood of emotion...
At her worst, she and her brother are the best things I've ever known,
Besides the woman who bore them.
And, by the way, as far as I know, none of the mothers know of the misadventures of their daughters... to this day.
Such is the pity.

The True Definition of "Thinking Outside the Box..."

“In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.”
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra quotes (Spanish writer, author of the masterwork 'El quijote', 1547-1616)

Just A Thought To Pass Along....

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.
Sir Winston Churchill

All My Spiritual Moments Have Been On The Road...

As far back as I can remember, the sound of rubber meeting pavement, and music from the dashboard, has represented a journey of some sort. From the old AM stations, in my early years, I would hear (from the backseat,) Hank Snow, Nat "King" Cole, Patsy Cline, and the like, competing with the road noise, for my attention.
A road trip from our house in Biltmore, NC to Tuxedo, NC wasn't just a trip... it was a journey.
I really have no conception as to how long it took us to traverse the distance. I was young, with no sense of time... But to me, it was a magical oddessy to far away places, with mysterious voices coming over a stratchy speacker, to help my journey along. Voices coming to me from far away places was magic... I couldn't get enough.
To this day, I can still recall me lying across a mohair bench seat, hearing the whining noise of $5.00 recap tires in my left ear, while "Nat" sang "Ramblin' Rose..." in my right. I find comfort in the fact that this is a good memory.
To me, music and the road have always been sacred... I guess from these childhood memories....

The other day, I was driving north from Asheville, NC to Weaverville, NC, to Pat Dore's home, (one of my "favorite peeps.") It started out as a gloomy, overcast day. But as I drove closer to her home, the skies began to clear, and as I approached her development, the sun beared down as Jim Croce blared out over the speakers, "I Got a Name," perhaps the most meaningful songs of my life.
The shackles of Winter were immediately torn from me, as the heavens opened up. The bitter-sweet torment that I was about to help my friend move away from me forever, was overwhelmwd by the fact that she chose me to help her in her journey to happiness....
By the time I got to her house, my sadness, (that she was leaving,) was overpowered by the fact that I could help her "Go there free..."
"Moving ahead, so life don't pass me by..."
I returned to my office, and asked, " did you ever have a great day because the the heavens opened up, and the weight of the world was lifted off your shoulders?" And somehow, they understood... One, in particular, knew my spiritual uplifting.
It was that day, that I found my place in this world... with the people that know me the best, but love me anyway... and I love you back.
"If it gets me nowhere, I'll go there proud..."
My Spiritual moments have been on the road... but my sustanance has been from the ones I choose to be around....
And somehow, I've found myself at home, with poeple I trust, and people who trust me, despite my faults...
If you ever find yourself questioning yourself, I might suggest, get in the car, roll down the windows, and drive, with the radio blasting... you might not find your epiphany.... but then, again, you might.... K

Just A Thought...

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing."
George Bernard Shaw

Signs of Spring....

"Harry Homeowner" has felt the first pangs of Spring... With the first warm days, and clear blue skies of Spring, comes his irrepressible urge to add to his nest.

As I watched him load his truck... I felt the urge to explain the laws of physics, his load, and the center of gravity thing.

Instead, I took this picture, and fought the overwhelming compulsion to follow him home, and witness the ensuing disaster.

Besides, I had projects of my own to pursue...K

Indepedence Day... As I remember.

It was probably 1964- or '65. The world had grown old to the fact that JFK was buried and gone... And the eyes of America were watching, as to how Lyndon Johnson would address the issues of Vietnam. But for a ten-year-old boy from Biltmore, this was the first Saturday Movie outing. I'd ridden into town with my Mom, in her 1959 Rambler from time to time.... I'd even walked with her to the streets of Asheville, before. But this was an oddosey... I was alone, and given the responsibility of going to town, and coming back, without supervision, and without mishap. With ten cents in my hand, for bus fare, and a spare dime in my pocket, I waited at the intersection of Shady Oak Drive, and London Road, the dime, held clenched in my sweaty palm.In my pocket, was five Coca-cola bottle tops... the price of addmission to the movie at the Imperial Theatre. The movie started at 11:00 o'clock, as I remember...I'll be honest, I remember the ride to Pack Square, bench seats with brown "plastic-like" coverings, walking down to the Imperial... cashing in my bottle tops for my ticket. I even remember the name of the movie.... "Jason and the Argonauts," but I couldn't tell you a thing about the movie, except for the "skeleton" warriors....(If you want to gain a young lad's attention, show him some fighting skeletons!!!) I didn't have the money for popcorn, or candy.... We were poor, I guess, but I never found out until later in life..... Because, on that day, I was rich with independence... I even had the extra dime in my pocket, for the bus fare, to get home.... and I did, and remain, home....Isn't it funny, sometimes, that you don't remember the destinations... or the details, but somehow the journey remains forever embedded in your mind? I guess, we remember what's important.... Kurt
Posted by Kurt at 12:57 AM 0 comments
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