Interstate Exits and Help Wanted

We just returned from a retirement mecca search road trip verifying . . . adventure awaits just off the Interstate.

Day 1 – An impromptu exit from Interstate 81 found us in Pulaski, VA . . . the home of the River Turtles. Imagining local fans cheering . . . GO TURTLES!!! brought a smile to my mug. I snapped this picture of local law enforcement appearing to be issuing a citation . . . wonder if it was for speeding in a turtle zone? 😊

Day 2 – Feasting on a 5* breakfast at MCD’s in Manassas, VA, we were treated to a live performance. The main character . . . a tall, thin dude with his hands cuffed behind his back . . . was highlighted by flashing blue lights from three police cruisers in the parking lot. While the main character chatted with two armed men in blue, another perused his cell phone as a fourth cop counted a fistful of greenbacks extracted from his vehicle. They eventually escorted him to the back seat of one of the cruisers and left . . . without ordering breakfast? . . . it certainly appeared he had enough cash to buy coffee and biscuit-egg McMuffins for the entire local police force😊

Later that afternoon we made another I-81 impromptu exit at Buena Vista, VA. Google took over directing us up into the mountains towards a potential new digs I’d found listed on-line. Featured as a retirement oasis high amidst the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains, complete with dramatic mountain views and a trout stream . . . I was stoked!

Cell service soon abandoned us, but we continued following the map on the screen. I suspected it was an iffy prospect for my spouse when the map directed us to turn off the narrow, switch-backed paved road onto a one lane rutted, gravel trail. In less than 100 yards we encountered the trout stream, pristine and clear flowing just as pictured in the property listing. The trivial fact that to continue onward to the idyllic property with sensational mountain views required driving across the trout stream sealed the No-Sale! 😊

Day 3 – Exiting I-81 at Roanoke, VA, we navigated a sinuous route back up among the Blue Ridge mountains once again searching for a senior Shangri-la that didn’t necessitate driving through a stream to reach. . . stay tuned😊

Day 4 – Eggs and biscuits with gravy for breakfast at the Quality Inn rivaled that enjoyed at MCD’s on Day 2 . . . minus the live entertainment 😊. However, conversing with the Jamaican desk clerk provided a shot of inspiration.

Noticing the Help Wanted sign on the counter, I mentioned how unfortunately ubiquitous it now appears in so many restaurants, stores and businesses. Kemar shared how he worked the Quality Inn desk from 7 AM – 3 PM each day, before leaving for his second job across town as a chef from 4 PM – 10 PM to provide for his wife and 3 children . . . an admirable work ethic so discouraging lacking among many of today’s E-Generation (Entitled) . . . am I sounding like an old curmudgeon?

The final Interstate exit placed us in bumper-to-bumper, Great Smoky Mountain tourist traffic, making the remaining few miles home an aggravating, turtle speed journey . . . guess I am an old curmudgeon 😊

Keep Looking Up . . . His Best is Yet to Come!