Dateline Dayton – A final take on our Florida vacation: It was Friday and we were on our way home. Unlike past trips, we took two days instead of one to come home, and that doubled our enjoyment.

Leaving Lake City, FL, our second stop was for food.  With few choices, we picked a chain restaurant. Pauline and I both ordered fish sandwiches since it was a Friday during Lent.

I don’t like any condiments on my sandwich. I always order plain.  You guessed it, Not only did the cook put sauce on both the top and bottom bun, he did the same with Pauline’s. I was stuck.  I couldn’t change.  Since we had been driving awhile and both of us were hungry, I was furious.

It turned out right, though.  I received a new sandwich plus an apple pie and an apology from the manager.

We drove for a few more hours and stopped for the evening at an overpriced motel.  Since we had recently eaten, we skipped supper.

Next morning we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, and soon we were on our way.  We arrived in Cherokee, NC, at 2 o’clock. A casino was our first stop – for lunch.  I couldn’t believe how busy the place was, but we did find a slot machine where we each donated $5 to the Indians.  Sure makes a difference when your casino is the only game in town, and I believe in the state.

By 3, we were on our way through the Smoky Mountains. Not long before there had been a terrible fire in the Smokies, with fatalities and extensive damage.  I was surprised that you could only see a small amount of damage.

Gatlinburg, TN,  was busy, so we stuck to the main road and missed the fire damage just one block off the main road.  We didn’t make any stops until we got to our motel outside of Knoxville.

Saturday night’s motel only cost half of Friday night’s.

We reached home, happily, Sunday afternoon.

By Monday I was at the hospital because my youngest sister, Sara, was undergoing cancer surgery.  She did well, but unfortunately she will need chemotherapy and radiation.  She was hoping only to need  radiation.

A new chapter opened in our lives last Sunday. My youngest son Jon and I were on our way to Michigan with my brother’s truck and trailer, to move our daughter, Darlene and her husband to Centerville.

Next week, we will talk about The Move.

Happy Easter to my Christian friends and Happy Passover to my Jewish friends.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcgobal.net