Off the Editor’s Spike

by Darryl Wilkinson

Sometimes you seize the opportunity and get rewarded — big time!

Our household did the unusual (for us) last weekend. Between last Thursday night’s band concert at the school and yesterday’s beef enchilada lunch at Lynch’s deli we boarded a jet to visit friends in Virginia. It’s amazing how much you can pack into four days when you want to!

From Williamsburg you have quick access into the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the first English settlements, and colonial pastoral America as well as the naval shipyard at Norfolk to a new 17-mile bridge/tunnel shortcut over and under something the locals there call a river (if the James is really a river, what would those folks call our Grand River?). And did I mention riding the ferry ride and fish supper at a roadside cafe near Virginia Beach?

Sorry, but I’m not particularly impressed with airport security. I emptied pockets but still set off the alarm. Eventually, the guard determined that the metal button atop my Mizzou cap was the culprit. Liz, meanwhile, sauntered through with jingle in her pockets and a watch on her wrist with no problem (I have the same problem with State Highway patrolmen). Don’t get so excited to greet friends that you lose your global positioning.

Once past the line (unmarked as you exit at the Richmond airport), you are not allowed to return for luggage, son or wife. Eventually, we did reunite.

Did you notice the rhino on the flag of this edition? Here’s the scoop: when you walk far and long enough while visiting the quaint colonial shops in Jamestown, you may hallucinate. I was being collared for a photograph in what was said to be a colonial printer’s shop even though the big wooden sign featured a rhinoceros. Arguing made little difference. We then chuckled at how the rhino must be the traditional international sign for journalism, which actually made sense in that particularly fog of fatigue.

Summer isn’t even here yet and our “summer vacation” is already over for us. But commitments ranging from college graduations to summer basketball camps (and anything you can image in between) made this past weekend about our only opportunity, even though we still had to leave one of our clan behind to attend GHS prom.

Jill probably had the toughest return to reality, going from the oldest plantation in Virginia one day to a final exam essay focusing on cultural crisis in the mid-1960’s at 8 a.m. the next. As for me, I can’t believe we actually did it. The trip reminded me how to daydream behind this keyboard again.

Some people use this year’s vacation to find out where to stay away from next year. I highly recommend that you visit Williamsburg, Va. I appreciate your allowing my indulgence in writing these mostly personal comments. I had just too good a time to keep it to myself.