Incredible Journey--Part II

     Onward we go! After the graveside service, we were invited out to my cousin Steve's home for lunch. Now, I can't speak for other places, but the funeral meals in the South are awesome! I was looking forward to some of that delicious, home-made food. Unfortunately, right before the funeral began, my sister whispered to me that I had missed out. The "good" supper had been eaten the night before, after the viewing. So, Doc and I were getting leftovers. Still, we could eat and reminisce about our Granny.

 Just a sample of the supper I missed!

     When we got to Steve's, there were lots of hugs and kisses, and we were told to go in to the kitchen to get a little something to eat. I picked around the food, and I was a little suspicious about the meat. I finally asked the guys who were sitting in there at the kitchen table what exactly was the meat? Beef? Pork? Nope. Venison. Well, that wasn't sitting well with my tummy, so I passed on the deer meat. Got myself a Coke and plopped down to eat and talk.
     And there was a lot of talk! The homey Southern patois swirled around me. Snippets of this conversation. Snippets of that. "Do y'all remember when..." "My granddaughter calls me 'Honey.' I ain't gonna be called Granny."  "Cheryl, Cheryl!" "Donna Jo, you a teacher?" "Those are pictures of me riding a bull at the rodeo." "Cheryl!!" "Granny used to..."  "Sure miss Granddaddy!"  "They're having a great reunion in heaven!" "One night I was out on the lake and I saw me a UFO" "You kids settle down!" "Y'all get enough to eat?" "CHERYL!!!"
     I finished off my food and Coke. I could see where I could throw away the paper plate, but I was looking for where everyone had put their cans. Wandering into the kitchen, I was looking for the recycling bin. There at the table sat the men of the family--Uncle Larry, Clint, Steve, James. Finally, I asked, "Where do I put my Coke can? Where is your recycling bin?" Apparently, that was a funny question. They all snickered a bit, and Larry said, "Hey, just open the door. It's out yonder." So, I opened the door. There was just a drop off to the ground. "Hey, where....." Then I saw the "recycling" bin--it was a pyramid of cans, at least five feet high. " Donna Jo, just throw your can on top." They laughed. A lot. I swear I heard one of them say, "She's been Yankeefied!"  I was red-faced, but did as I was told.

 Florida Cracker Recycling

     Finally, it was time to drive home. Doc and I had a pretty uneventful ride home, well, except for one final incident. We pulled into the turnpike rest stop to get some gas. And, you guessed it, I went in to pay. Doc filled the pump. Before I could pay, he started to pull up for the next car to get to the pump. The lady inside got a little panicky--"Runner! We've got a runner!"  "Wait! Wait! I'm with him. I'm paying!" Poor Doc. Poor me. But, this was an incredible journey my brother and I had together. Actually, the only journey I think we've ever taken that was just us. Hey, Doc! Wanna do it again?