My first road trip

My parents took us to Disneyland when I was three years old, or so. I don't remember going there, but I am sure I had a good time. Who wouldn't? It's one of the happiest places on earth. We never got the opportunity to go back to the park, California or Florida.
Shortly after I graduated from high school, I took a road trip with my brother, Ira, and a good friend of ours at the time, Dave. I was the youngest in the group at 18. Ira was 21, and Dave was 24. We didn't pre-plan much; just packed a couple of bags, grabbed a map, and piled into Ira's black Ford Escort. Since we were all of legal driving age, we concluded that we would drive non-stop until we got there. Taking breaks for fuel, food, and health purposes only.

We knew we were going to hit a few of the parks when we got there: Disney, Epcot, and Busch Gardens were all on the list. We also knew we were going to stop by and see our cousin, Greg, who had moved to Florida the year before, after our aunt Miriam and uncle Shelly (his mom and dad) got divorced. Uncle Shelly had passed away shortly before our trip. He was killed by a drunk driver. We were all still grieving, and the trip was a way to help bring us together.

Here are some of the things I learned while taking my first road trip:

• When you are speeding on the highway, and you either see a police officer or your "fuzz buster" goes off, you should NOT press on the breaks. It's a sign to the cop that you were speeding;


• When you get a bucket of chicken from Kentucky Fried Chicken (before they called themselves KFC), and you do not finish the entire bucket, it's okay to eat the leftovers the next morning. Even if you did not refrigerate the said contents of the bucket. Even if your advice is received by deaf ears;


• When you go to Clearwater Florida to a strip club, they will not let you in the doors before 1am, unless you are over 21. When you finally get in, lap dances will cost $10, and Lacy will be your hostess who will sing along with Terrence Trent D'Arby. She will be tired, but less frustrated than you, after three songs in a row;


• When your oldest companion strikes up a conversation with a married woman staying alone in the hotel, she will complain about her husband a lot. Married people who are staying alone in a motel, might be interested in more than the wine coolers you have to offer. According to the make-out session you might see;


• It's hard to find a Georgia Peach off the highway in Atlanta;


• Every girl working in theme parks for the summer wants to be your friend, until the next group of single guys show up;


• Space Mountain is scary;


• Saying, "like I said, like I said," is funny the first three times, but then it kind of gets annoying seven days later;


• Driving in a car with two other guys for 18 hours, spending six days in a small motel room together, and then driving another 18 hours can be taxing on a relationship. I never knew we could all get so irritated by little things so easily. Okay, I did, but I forgot;


• Taking your first road trip to Disney will always be a great memory.