And down the road we go, to Grandfathers place...

Weary from a late night, and early morning, and two flights, we were verging on insanity when we began the drive to Potosi.  Let me just say, our sense of humor was out of control and everything was funny.  

There are rarely rest stops on the highway to Grandpa, so I turned off, down a wonderful farm road as Lil Deb and The Hubby wanted a smoke.  As we stood there admiring the beauty of the wild life, the perfectly planted fields and glorious sunshine, Lil Deb pointed out something to The Hubby.  "Careful now, it's tick season!"  Now, there was no squealing or screaming, but there were a lot of questions.  Actually, as the trip progressed, there were moments filled with deep worry simply because of the above statement.  Needless to say, Hubby performed self exams for ticks at even a hint that something might be crawling on his skin!

Back in that car, and then in what seemed only a moment, we were pulling off the highway to buy a TV for Grandpa.  As we got closer to the store, I told my peers about the Amish and Mennonites that live in our area of WI.  Of course the timing was perfect as we pulled into the parking lot, right behind a buggy.  It struck me odd that they are allowed to go to Wal-Mart, but I guess I don't know much about Mennonites.  (We know they were Mennonites due to having rubber tires on the buggy.....).  At least the horse got better gas mileage then our car!

Into the store, and everything you could ever want!  We all used the rest-room, Hubby went off to get a haircut, Lil Deb and I went off to pick out a TV.  We ran the numbers, picked out a TV and then progressed to a speaker system.  Grandpa needs a bigger TV picture for his degenerating sight, but on the new LCD TV's the sound is difficult for those with hearing loss to hear.  So, we also picked out a speaker system that will carry the bass tones well and not sound "tinny" to Grandpa.  With TV and Speaker in hand, we all met the freshly trimmed Hubby back at the front.  We then looped around the grocery section to fill Grandpa's pantry.  "A shopping we will go, a shopping we will go, High Ho the Dairy-O a shopping we will go!!"  Lil Deb was the procurer of all things unfindable, I was the list reader, and Hubby made the decisions on what the best nutritional/packaging/taste/size/yadda-yadda was.  As a group we got everything we needed and then some with one exception. Yogurt, the priority on the list.  Crap.....at least we got it later.  After check out, we rolled our two carts to the car.  Hmmmmm. Three people on vacation with luggage, and carry ons in one car.  Hmmmmm.  Three people on vacation with luggage, and carry ons in one car looking at each other wondering how the hell the addition of TV, Speaker and groceries is going to work.  Hmmmmm.  Three people in the parking lot of Wal-Mart packing and unpacking a rental car, just to see how they can make it fit.  Hmmmmmm.  Laughter, again.

Lil Deb, squeezed into the back seat squished between the door and two suitcases.  As if that wasn't bad enough, we then loaded the remaining items on top of her......Paper towels, Kleenex, Kesslers......All loaded and ready to go.  

From Walmart, to Dickeyville.  I drove them around my old stomping grounds and pointed out where I was arrested and hand cuffed to a folding chair, and then some other less incriminating locations.  Then from Dickeyville to Potosi, of course laughing most of the way as Lil Deb was still packed tightly in the back seat while I was making my little scenic detours! 

 In Potosi, we did not stop at the Hotel yet as we just wanted to get the stuff to Grandpa and then make a drink, or two......So, my last detour was to the river to show them the mighty Mississippi close up.  We got out of the car, saw three dead floating fish and some sign warning of this awful disease that was affecting the fish of the river.  Warnings everywhere about the disturbing issues at hand, and what they could do to the human body.  No swimming, no drinking the water and most certainly, no eating of said fish.  This moment only took about one minute for us to digest, just as we turned around to see at least 10 people fishing from the shore.  Hmmmmmm.  I looked at Lil Deb and Hubby, and explained that a drink is sounding ridiculously good right now!  Back in the car and off to Grandpas!

We pulled into the driveway, parked the car and went into the house.  A horrid smell smacked us straight in the face when we walked in the door.  My first physical impulse was to run to Grandpa's bedroom to see if he had passed away, and no one found him.  That was not the case.  I soon discovered that one of the freezers in the basement had been emptied out, but net really cleaned out.  I closed the lid and opened up the doors and windows.  Yuck-Yuck-Yuck.  As we unloaded the vast number of items from the car, all the gnats formed an army in order to force us to open the freezer door again.  When all items were unloaded, accounted for and in the house, I went on a killing spree with a can of bug spray.  It was simply a slaughter of gigantic proportions.  They came at me legions at a time, and with the press of my finger they were sent falling to the floor, writhing in agony.  They were easily defeated, and I was victorious!  Predo -1, Gnats - 0.

When all was said and done with the car unloading and the stinky freezer, off we went to find Grandpa.  We checked the barn, the garage, the machine shed, the shop, corn crib and the old Hog house.  Lil Deb pointed out the approaching Gater that my Uncle M was driving, but no Grandpa.  As we turned to check the Chicken-coup, there he was, smiling from ear to ear, Grandpa snuck up on us from no-where.   He is a wiley one.  Very tricky!