(An oldie but a goody from our late editor Mike Brown from 2010 because we miss him around here.)
The Brown family has done its duty so far as jury duty is concerned this year. We just received our fourth call of the last six months. My wife, Sue, has served on two of the juries.
So when I got a summons (JP court, not Rockdale’s) calling me to jury duty in the middle of our upcoming vacation I went to see what I could do about it.
I was told I needed to submit an “itinerary” of our vacation. Fine, except we take “poor boy” vacations. Our itinerary is mostly in my head.
But I did my best to comply. Herewith is the itinerary I duly submitted to the court:
Day One
4 a.m.—Get up and leave Rockdale, fall over cats in dark. Wait 30 minutes or more for wife to do whatever the heck it is women do when you’re ready to leave.
9 a.m.—Breakfast at Denny’s on I-20 in Abilene.
Rest of morning—Try to convince wife we don’t have enough time to stop at antique stores in Abilene, Sweetwater, Lubbock and Clovis, N.M.
Af te r noon— Stop at antique stores in Abilene, Sweetwater, Lubbock and Clovis, N.M.
Late afternoon—Let wife drive through New Mexico desert while I nap.
Later afternoon—Lost, retrace route that wife drove.
Evening—Stop for the night at Super 8, Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, N.M. Promise wife big first night dinner at classy Mexican food place.
Eat at Taco Bell.
Day Two
Up early and head for Colorado through beautiful Sangre de Cristo and Jemez Mountains.
Late morning—Lunch either in Chama, New Mexico, or Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Afternoon—Hit the antique stores in Durango, Colorado, where we’ve been so many times we know the store clerks by name.
Drive on most gorgeous road in entire world (US 550) to Silverton.
Late afternoon—Street concert by Silverton Brass Band which plays outdoor music every Sunday afternoon in summer months.
It ’s our big cultural splurge of vacation every year. It’s free.
Dinner probably at Handlebar’s Restaurant in Silverton. It’s really high, though. (9,318 feet high).
On to Ouray where we have reservations for the next three nights at the Ouray Hotel, corner of Sixth and US 550.
Can’t produce reservation confirmation because this is a small town, we’ve stayed there before and our only confirmation is knowing the first name of the owner.
Which is “Dale,” if that helps.
Days three-five Stay in Ouray and take at least one jeep trip into the San Juan Mountains with our friend Gregg who runs a hotel and jeep service (San Juan Jeep Tours at Historic Western Hotel). Can’t produce a receipt or itinerary for that because we just s tuff m oney i n G regg’s shirt pocket when the trip is over or whenever he quits talking.
If he ever does.
We will also go back to Silverton and probably take a side trip to Montrose for more (&**^%^(^&$ antique stores.
We actually will have special, fancy restaurant meals Monday and Wednesday since one is our wedding anniversary, the other is my wife’s birthday and Ouray doesn’t have a McDonald’s.
Days six-seven Plan on spending two nights to come home, lighting wherever we find ourselves for the nights.
In the past that has been Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Lubbock, possibly even another night in Ouray or Silverton or anywhere else considering how many friends I can think of who live within 25 miles of US 84.
Day eight
Arrive home to find step-daughter, mother-inlaw and cats taking care of our home for us. Get used to the smell (cats, not mother- in-law).
Bore everybody with photos and stories. Unload antiques. Sprain back getting 600-pound armoire out of van.
L imp off to bed and hope to recover in time for work Monday morning.
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