I’ll Be Right Back…

I shouldn't wait until Monday to write Tuesday's blog. But, I did.

I have some great stories for you, if I can get through this. My grandson and I just returned from our annual visit to an SEC venue for Alabama games. We vowed to visit at least one each year until we've experienced all the stadiums and their unique atmospheres.

The South Carolina experience was terrific. But this story is about the next day.

I had a nine-hour drive ahead of me on Sunday morning. The breakfast bar at our hotel shut down a half hour earlier than we expected. I needed gas and a quick bite before we began our return journey. 

We pulled into the Circle K and filled the tank. We got quite a show from a homeless woman 'guarding' the front door. While we couldn't understand most of what she was saying, the lone attendant was doing his best to handle his customers and the lady.

He offered her coffee and made it clear that she had to leave the premises. 

"What would you like in your coffee, ma'am?" 

When he got no intelligible response, he told her to come inside and put whatever she wanted in her coffee. 

"No, ma'am, you can't take the whole sugar container!" 

While he wrestled with the unfortunate lady, I decided to pick out a lovely repast from the assortment of wrapped burgers and breakfast burritos. I like burritos, so I chose one and asked the otherwise engaged employee how long I should microwave it.

"...one minute," he muttered. So, I heated it for one minute. (It didn't occur to me until much later that he may have said, 'I'll be with you in a minute.")

I opened my treat in the car, took a couple of bites, and told my grandson, "This isn't all that good." Foolishly, I quickly ate the rest.

I read later that it takes one to four hours for food poisoning to begin affecting the human body. We had a five-hour drive to Birmingham to pick up my wife, then a four-hour drive to Gulf Breeze, Florida.

This blog is shorter than most of mine. With Uber, short trips can be frustrating or productive. For the next eight hours, I walked approximately 15 feet each way from my bed. I must say, these eleven trips were quite productive, if not enjoyable.

So, here's the deal. I now hate food—any food. I understand that I may try eating again, at some point, but I don't see that in the near future. Two more things. Please don't ever say the word 'burrito' in my presence. 

You don't have to tell me about obtaining nourishment from a Circle K. I'll stick to gas or name-brand items packaged by well-known vendors. Combos or pretzels are good examples.

If you'll excuse me now, I feel a twelfth trip coming my way. I'll be back next week, I hope!