BACK FROM THE EAST

We took two grandkids touring. We went all over.

"Have you brushed your teeth? Have you peed? Have you combed your hair? Hurry up. It's time to go." Our 8 year-old said we started every day the same way. And he was right.

With 33 others we went to D.C., Mount Vernon, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Shenandoah, Richmond, Valley Forge, Yorktown, and Philadelphia, and I think I missed a place or two. But I'm tired from our Saturday where we threw a penny on Ben Franklin's grave, saw the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall in the morning and then flew from Philly to Chicago to St. Louis where we dropped off the kids to their parents and flew to Phoenix. We still made it back for the nine o'clock news.

So that's where we've been. No time for computers; no time to blog.

One story. At the National Art Museum in Philadelphia, there was a wedding just about to start. The Museum is, of course, where Rocky ran the steps to his theme song and raised his arms in triumph.

When we got there, a bandwas playing pre-wedding songs. Supercharged and amped with loud speakers, they were playing the theme. Well, of course we ran. The last to catch on that that was our plan, I scooted up there determined to make it before the end of the song. Between steps I was hoofin' but they quit about ten steps too soon. Even though I was being encouraged by an unknown visitor to dig (I actually thought it was a coach friend of ours).

In silence, well at least no singing or playing of music, I ascended the last few steps where my wife and granddaughter had made it before the end of the theme song.

But what a thrill. The whole trip. And, yes, I'd take our two young ones again. In fact I told both that I hope they do something similar in 50 years with their own grandkids. Our great-great-grandchildren.