On the Road With Mopey and Harry

Yesterday morning I was really looking forward to flying from Billings to Denver, and then driving from Denver to Grand Junction, straight through the Rockies. I had gotten a good night’s sleep and was very relaxed, and got to the airport in plenty of time for the flight.

Unfortunately, my dear friend Mopey Murphy decided to tag along with me, so things got a bit hairy, although Harry Halffull did his best to help – here’s a snippet of the dialogue that ensued:

Mopey: Hey Starbucker, check it out – the plane is late on a perfectly clear day. Don’t you just LOVE to stew around at an airport, getting all worked up and jacking up your blood pressure?

Starbucker: C’mon Mopey, it’s no big deal, we’re talking about 15 minutes here; I’ll still have plenty of time to get my rental car and make it to Grand Junction in time for my dinner meeting there. Isn’t that right Harry?

Harry: Yep, we’re good to go Terry. We’re hours away from your absolute favorite drive through the mountains. Sweet!

(Terry gets on plane 15 minutes late, plane backs up from gate, and then just sits on the tarmac for another 10 minutes, not moving)

Mopey: Now this is gettin’ good – we’re at a dead stop, and you’re fidgeting. That glass is emptying pretty fast. Go ahead, get angry – you KNOW you want to!

Harry: So what? The world won’t come to an end if we go back to the gate – there are other alternatives. You could fly from Denver to GJ, for example. Chill dude!

Starbucker: Ack! I hate sitting in planes like this, and the pilot doesn’t tell us anything.

Mopey:

(plane does end up going to the runway and taking off, about 40 minutes late – we make up a few minutes in the air and arrive only 20 minutes late, and I’m in my car about 30 minutes later, cruising up I-70)

Mopey: Don’t you just love those pokey drivers who stay in the left lane – go ahead and pass them on the right. Keep getting worked up about this, because nothing ruins a horrible day like relaxing and enjoying the scenery!

Harry: Starbucker, look at those mountains! You’ve got plenty of time to get to GJ. Just slow down and enjoy the ride. Relax.

Starbucker: I know, I know, but why is this person in front of me going so slow! I’m like that Sammy Hagar song “I can’t drive 55″.

Mopey: Well done, young Skywalker, your getting closer to Empire material every second now…..

(a few miles later a couple of motorcycles cut me off just a bit as they merged onto the freeway – I waved them in as I hit the brakes and gave them a bit of an unapproving look)

Mopey: That’s it – make everyone else’s day bad with your negative vibes and bad looks. Wow, I think I have you now. The transformation is almost complete!

Harry: Terry Starbucker, get a grip man! Did I tell you about those mountains? Or how about those great tunes coming out of your I-pod; check this one out, “Night Fever” by the Bee Gees. Remember when you put on that white suit and vest and won that disco dancing contest back in ‘78?

Starbucker: Yes Harry, I do. Great tune (pounds steering wheel in time to the disco beat). Oh, are those the Rockies over there?

Mopey: No, no, no! Harry, what are you doing – I’m losing him!

Harry: Watch me now Mopey. Hey Starbucker, check out the next tune – Barry White! You love that song. Let’s sing along: “I’m never ever gonna give you up, no I’m never ever gonna stop, stop the way I feel about you, girl I just can’t live without you……”

Starbucker:

Mopey: Drats, foiled again!

Harry: Works every time [wink]

The rest of the drive went fine, and I was back on track. But it just goes to show that you should never let your guard down- Mopey is always around. The trick is to focus on those things that REALLY matter. Like mountains and Barry White love songs……..

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