The WWS Memory Lane Road Trip Part 1

☕ A Trip Down Memory Lane

Recently, one of my fellow "Wisecrackers"(12M) asked if I would join him and another member of our ranks (Gnome) on a special road trip. Their plan was to drive down memory lane: visit 12M's old neighborhood, stop by his former fire station, and eventually end the day at a restaurant owned by his old Vietnam buddy.

Normally, I'm a "point A to point B" kind of guy; "just driving around" is usually not my thing. However, it's rare that more than a couple of us wisecrackers can gather outside of our weekly breakfast, so I decided to jump in with both feet and agree to the journey.

A fourth person quickly joined the roster (though we later learned he thought the trip was for a different reason entirely). With that, the date was set, and the team finalized: 12M, Gnome, Scrubs, and me (7ft).

To ensure efficient travel, I offered to pick up Scrubs since we live in the same neighborhood. The plan was to meet 12M at our usual breakfast spot at 6:30 AM sharp, and from there, proceed to pick up Gnome closer to his house at 7:00 AM on the dot.

🤦 The Blue Falcon Move

I started the day with a serious tactical error—a real "Blue Falcon" move (hence why that's the word of the month for us...). Innocently enough, I ordered Scrubs and myself some Starbucks for pickup on the way. I didn't want to be rude and enjoy my delicious brew while leaving him out. However, as soon as we rendezvoused and I climbed into the truck with 12M, I immediately noticed his lack of coffee. I knew I had made a mistake.

The blunder was a double whammy: the night before, during a text thread where we were verbally jousting with another buddy (Radar) about his poor directional skills, I had specifically stated that I didn't mind the early start as long as we stopped for coffee. By getting it on my own, I had violated the sacred morning ritual.

Feeling slightly sheepish (but not terribly so, as I did have great coffee), I forfeited the coveted shotgun seat to Scrubs and settled into the back.

😂 Gnome's Timing

Our first bit of fun came as we were about to pull into the meeting point to get Gnome. Gnome is habitually late, and true to form, as we were pulling in, his call came through. Unbelievably, he was calling to tell us that he was nearly there and would actually be on time!

We couldn't resist. We decided to tell him we had been waiting for over thirty minutes and that the actual meeting time was 6:30 AM. It was pure comedy gold as Gnome grew genuinely frustrated, having been quite proud of his punctuality.

Right then, I knew the day was going to be one to remember for sure.

🗺️ Past Homes and Changing Landscapes

We cruised down the freeway, the four of us falling into the easy banter of veterans. Our discussion ranged from everything from the word "undulate" (a weird side story for another time) to how conspicuously busy the State Patrol seemed that particular morning.

Our first official stops took us through Gnome's old neighborhood. We drove past his childhood house, spotting the massive tree still standing in the front yard. He commented on the classic phenomenon: how much smaller everything seems when viewed through adult eyes.

As we drove, we tried to guess the "origins" of the neighborhood based on the street names. Our attempt at cleverness failed miserably, however, when a quick Google search revealed five street names from five different countries of origin. We abandoned the geographical sleuthing and returned to our true expertise—humor—by simply making fun of some of the "weird" names and sights we passed.

Gnome had us swing around the block to his old schoolhouse. The dilapidated building was still there, but its days of educating children were clearly over. He pointed out the few remaining landmarks, noting that most places had either been totally rebuilt (like the old Jack in the Box) or replaced by something entirely different, if not simply gone. Time, it turns out, marches on.

🚨 The Fenced-In Sign

After the neighborhood tour, we drove a short distance to the location of one of 12M's first fire stations. I’ll admit, I was slightly concerned about the area, as I had just spotted something I’d never seen before nearby.

It was a sign in front of a church—the standard kind with the plastic letters used for motivational messages and announcements. The unsettling part? The sign was fenced in. Yes, the sign had its own dedicated fence, literally a foot or so around its perimeter. Seeing that kind of immediate, localized security measure did not give me the warm and fuzzies about our safety in that vicinity.

🚒 Back at the Station

Nevertheless, we stopped into the station, and the firemen who came out were gracious enough to let us look around. I watched 12M as he toured the facility; I could tell he was seeing more than what was present in the bays. He was clearly replaying years of memories in his mind. I felt a surge of pride for my friend when one of the guys approached and mentioned they had heard stories about 12M. It was truly awesome seeing him back in his element.

Of course, we had to take this genuinely touching moment and ensure we got back to the business of laughing at each other and ourselves. They had several exhaust hoses hanging down, used to vent truck fumes out of the bay. To a man, we asked if they could also be used to vent the byproducts of too many deviled eggs, with Gnome promptly offering a hilarious demonstration of how the hose should be attached to his backside.

☕ Redemption and Romance

From the fire station, I finally got a chance to redeem myself. We stopped off at a Jack in the Box for coffee and a necessary bathroom break. I bought the entire crew coffee and even threw in a round of churros. Blue Falcon status eliminated!

Apparently, the parking lot of this particular Jack in the Box was near where 12M first met his bride. With renewed energy, he drove us a short distance to show us the route she used to bicycle from her house to meet him. We all noted that the house she lived in with her parents was quite nice.

He then showed us the house he moved her into once they tied the knot... well, let's just say he's a lucky man to have such an understanding lady, and leave it at that!

Now, the destination was set for 12M's childhood territory, a place where history, questionable street food, and old military pride would soon converge. But that, dear reader, is TO BE CONTINUED…

📅 To Be Continued…

The next leg included tales of Santa Anna, chewing gum, questionable tacos, a Texas flag, and at least one mission involving courage, cholesterol, or both.

But that, dear reader, is for next month.