I feel like I’ve been slacking and letting my readers (both of you) down by not posting anything since the middle of September. Part of that is due to the fact that nothing that occurs this year could come close to matching the births of Owen Dickens and, more recently, Ruby Rumrill (Baby Roo). After Owen was born, I could still look forward to Baby Roo. However, after Ruby joined us in the here and now, the rest of the year is pretty much going to be a let down in comparison.
Still, I like blogging, in spite of the futility of it all. So, to kick-start my blogging again, I’m going to take the easy road and just try to infect you with the same ear worm that has been bothering me for the past week (My Facebook Friends may have already seen this). I was recently listening to the Bluegrass channel on XM Satellite radio and heard the following song:
I grew up in Tennessee, but it wasn’t until my move to the DC area that I became more than vaguely aware of the Caney Fork River. I had just left the Army and was headed to Tysons Corner, Virginia for my first job as a free man. My really good friend, Greg, was traveling with me to help me move all of my belongings. Somewhere between Nashville and Knoxville, Greg pointed at a sign as we were crossing a small river. “Caney Fork River. That’s the first one,” he said. “See if you can count how many times we cross this river before we’re done.”
“Five,” I said as we crossed the final bridge several miles down the road.
Every time I drive that stretch of Interstate 40, I find myself counting every Caney Fork River sign. The number hasn’t changed. It’s still five. It occurred to me as this song was playing that most people who hear this song won’t understand exactly what the lyrics mean. So, I’m cluing you, the reader, in on a little inside knowledge about East Tennessee. If you’re ever a fugitive driving I-40 heading to North Carolina, you’ll need to cross the Caney Fork River (and still drive for a while) five times before you’re home free.
Now, many of you may be wondering why I called this entry “Ear Worm.” You should be able to figure it out by reading the entry posted HERE.
Things People Say