The Drive

It's been a while since I drove to Athens alone but it's a pleasant sunny day and the Braves game's on the radio as I sail up Interstate 16 to Highway 441. It's a four hour drive from Tybee Island to College Station Road where my son Jeremy lives so there's lot of time to think.

I miss Skip Carey. The former Braves announcer was caustic and funny. My all time favorite line of his happened as the team was getting pounded and losing badly. "This is as much fun as writing the last alimony check," he explained.

My phone starts buzzing and people inform me of changes occurring where I used to work. In this age of instant communication, I read a newspaper link on my phone. I had an incredible 23 year run and we were able to accomplish things no one else in the nation had before or since. But even the good things come to an end and it was time to do other things.

Radio searches remain as maddening as ever as I try to keep the game on. I'd forgotten how many preachers have their own radio shows spewing condemnation and hell! And I have no appreciation of the number of people who obviously like country music. Luckily, the Braves broadcast blankets the state.

Sarah and I chat on and off during the drive. I remember when talking to my love wouldn't have been possible and the drive would have been simply boring. Hell, I remember when cell phone coverage worked mostly in Savannah and in parts of Athens but nowhere in between. Sarah and I have no problems talking to one another during the drive.

The Dublin bypass is one piece of highway that the Georgia Department of Transportation got right! Unfortunately it is completely offset by the cluster f#$k that is Milledgeville, a large strip mall with a small college. It is traffic at its worse.

The little country towns along the way appear the same as when my Dad drove us to Athens. A lot has changed during the years ... Dad's gone, lots of friends have gone on with him, places we used to go are no more ... but the zipping through the little country towns remain charming ... so long as I don't have to live in any of them.

The Braves rally for 5 runs in the 9th inning just as I reach Athens. Another case of perfect timing!

Athens is a beautiful place and Jeremy is living here for the second time completing his Ph.D. which is great! Making it better is his place is now Sarah and my crash pad! He lives on campus so we get the feel we're back in school again where "all you want to do is learn how to score!"

It was a pleasant enough drive. I wish Sarah was with me but I'm doing the return trip today and we'll reunite on the scoring front tonight.

In the meantime Jeremy and I are having a good time, there's a game to see, and the Braves will be on the radio just as I'm starting the drive home.