WE NEVER KNEW HOW FAR WE'D GET

So often times, actually, the few times we went on vacation when I was a kid, we'd just drive till it got dark. Remember this was back in the day before. You know, before reservation systems, Map Quest, no limit minutes on long distance calls: I mean this was dinosaural.

So Dad just drove. My Mom was an in-town driver only. Me? Asleep in the backseat.

But had I been awake and seen the Lollipop Motel sign, well, that's where we would have spent the night. I was stupid enough to be attracted by the sign. I mean, it just looks like a fun place to stay. My parents would have tried to discourage me, but if I knew we needed a place to stay, that Dad was tiring and it was nearing dusk, then I had them.

For you see I was also spoiled. The baby in the family usually is. I was no exception. Except a little more rottenly spoiled than most. Did it harm me? Yeah, probably. But I think of the alternative and I'll take spoiled.

One example before I close. Buddy Greg played wiffle ball with his 4 year-old son. The son never won a game. "When he's good enough to beat me, then he'll win. Otherwise, he'll learn how to lose."

I'll take spoiled.