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The inheritance check had finally arrived and I paid some bills off and gave some away for celebration of the windfall. I believe I can safely say I never treated this as my right to have and wanted to use it somewhat wisely. And friviously. A bit. I don't think a Shadow pulp and Avengers comics are necessities of life. New count--303 out of 503. The easy part is about done. Never thought I would see the day when Avengers would be a hard lot to track down at unreasonable prices.

Now my sister especially wanted me on board in New York so I could escort the idiot nephew to his day in court on the 18th. I was still sulking on Tuesday the 15th about unfair treatment regarding my social life at AAA and in my usual shoot my foot off then drama queen about it almost postponed the trip. After all the money saved could be used elsewhere. Blah blah. But a sense of keeping faith with sister Elaine came to the rescue plus a desire to get away from it all. Even Litnet as Elaine does not have a computer. Very surprised by this considering how many TV sets they own. Husband Gary used to be a TV repairman back in the day of housecalls.

I take a personal day Wednesday to get set for the trip and that's the day the credit union gives me the final and largest amount of my inheritance. I get the car rental agreement set up, pay a few more bills, give Ruth some pre-birthday money and

then the brake light comes on.

God is treated to a by now to His ears a repetious rant of a whited sepulchre wondering why a righteous God would send such an irritating trial and/or test his way. Have I not proven faithful in my ability to whine well like a 40 year veteran of the great desert walk-around? I'm actually on the way to Citi-Financial to pay that loan off I had to restart in January. Saved $1000 in interest I might add and got 29 months of my life back. Ruth calls son-in-law Michael for advice.

He can't make it. I say ok.

And wait.

Ruth doesn't but I know Michael a bit better then she does--at least in these cases.

He calls back. Could we make it out to his place in Wilmington. I really don't want to but Ruth already told me he was driving a quarter tank of gas and payday was still far away for him.

Long story short--trip made, car checked, Michael will be putting in brake pads while I'm in New York and we have a family meal at Kentucky Fried. This was the first time I had seen the kids' new place and while small I thought it was charming. Ron is cute as my second grand-son. Have not seen Damion in about two years but that will change soon. See next entry.
Even after the repairs the brake light stays on now but Michael thinks it's the sensor being old and takes little to set it off. I trust him enough to settle for that. He certainly saved me a huge car repair bill as I settled up with my mechanic.

Thursday arrives and at 8:15 am I'm experiencing my first annoyance of the day. 2008 Chevy Cobalts have a spoiler on the back that makes it difficult for me to judge how far away I am from things I'm trying not to back into. Ruth gives the all clear and we are off.

Or at least I am. Ruth still has school. Had the money arrived a week earlier and I had sent in my credit card payment to get posted she would have gone along since she was off a week between quarters.

Barely 10 miles down the I-70 eastbound highway when I see red lights in my mirror. I am not a habitual speeder. I rarely do 60 mph. I start to slow down and think about things. Conscience relatively clear.

Oh good he's passing me and lo--pulling the guy in front of me over. I respectfully move to the left lane and smile.

The Columbus bypass is always busy. I don't think I ever seen it not crawling with traffic. I think about lunch and realize I have made a serious blunder having mostly hundreds on me and trying to leave the credit card alone. The misuse of that starts up upon my return to Ohio I'll say at this point. I get off for fuel where hundreds are routinely turned in these days and buy a Sunoco toy truck for Ron by way of Brownie points.

I then eat lunch at the worst Subway I have ever entered. I have been spoiled rotten in Fairborn where I am known for showing up about every three weeks or so for lunch though I have never offered my name to the ladies--one of my rare omissions of self aggrandation. This Subway has the assembly line approach down pat but it's take out--no places to eat inside and lacking a distinct personal touch. I eat in the car while driving and sigh.

Pennsylvania is hit at 1:02 pm and New York about an hour later. Buffalo NY is a surprising ten minute bypass. Used to take a half hour--must have been before a bypass or I'm getting better about the interstate driving. I stop at a service center to check the maps for the exit I want that will put me about five miles from Spencerport which I consider home insofar as my youth goes.

I arrive in Spencerport about 4:30 or so and head right to a parking lot containing the grocery store where (other then two paper routes) I had had my first job while in 12th grade--Bell's Grocery. Now I know it had been taken over by a different chain years ago but I was horrified to see it closed and a sign stating 'For Lease' on it. My childhood is now completely ended. Double sigh. Across the parking lot is a used book store that the owner keeps up year after year. He remembers me and we talk comics and artists and the current madness at DC and expectations for Dark Knight. No Avengers however they are at his home being repriced. I do buy Batman Annual #8.

Finally start off for the 30 mile trip to Elaine's home. Except that a crucial road I need that has a train crossing is closed off for repair work and it takes me a half hour to trace the detour to Caledonia (of cursed memory) and I finally arrive 6:15 pm to be greeted by Stephen the idiot nephew. As I thought a 10 hour trip more or less.

To be concluded: Soon