what defines a scentic highway-- part 3

there was a waffle house adjacent to the motel.  that was a good sign.  i imagined late night coffee and hash browns.  i'm not a big waffle house girl, but still...

literally a couple blocks away there was a funky little smoke house.  they had smoked salmon dip, and french fries.  and the most exciting discovery--  alabama white bbq sauce.  i mean, goddamn roll tide, or whatever.  that shit is good on fries.  and i imagine it's real good on pulled pork too, whatever.

so far, so good.  this was lookin up!

the next morning, however, started the downward spiral.  i had to go check in at the music festival.  there was no designated parking.  everywhere was somewhere i wasn't supposed to park.  this set me on edge right off the bat.

i went in.  i waited in line.  i got a wrist band and a schedule.  i looked at the information.

i have a question, i said.

ok.  what's your question.

where is this dinner?

what dinner?

well they're having one saturday night and one sunday night and i am signed up for sunday.

oh,  well, probably it is at the roadhouse.  there was an add on show at the roadhouse.

no.  this was not add on. this is like a full-on tasting menu with "regional chef"

oh.  sorry.  don't know.

well, excuse me, i don't want to be rude or anything, but isn't this where i'm supposed to get that kind of information?  isn't there somebody you can call, or something?

probably they haven't decided yet.  somebody will know sometime.  worry about it later.

wow.  really?!



ok.  so i am officially not having a good time--  10am friday, official.


i'm of course not going to go to the main stage, at all,ever, no matter who is playing there, because that is just fucking way too many people.

i have scoped it out in the information and decided on one coffee shop that feels like a place i would like to spend time.  i plan to make that my base of operations.  i had originally hoped to stay there, but they were booked up.  oh well, i'm happier with my destin lodging anyway.  i saw every show, but one at that location.  ate there all three days.  it wasn't too bad.

there was one thing it still haunts me a year and a half later.  at one point.  i had a chai.  and i was hanging around.  and the man at the counter said can i get a chai to go.  inexplicably, it brought back my father in the hospital room.

do you want me to go, i had asked.

he smiled up at me beatifically, would you?

it crushed my heart.

and something in the man at the counter's face.  and something in the way he said go.

it was like replaying everything in my mind.  body.  soul.

yeah, whatever.