Traveling Jones
A "Jones" is a habit or addiction. Lynard Skynard used the term in their song "You got that right", "...here comes that old travelin' Jones once again." I figure some of my desire to be on the road comes from either being a reincarnated Hobo or my older sister Joyce influencing me. During my job hopping phase of the late 70's and early 80's Joyce told me, "always let the employer know you're willing to travel." I hired on with a computer field service firm in 1986 and stayed with them for 9 years. I worked from Los Angeles, CA to Comiso, Sicily and from Rota, Spain to Molesworth, England. When the offer for a permanent European position came up I was first in line and got it! I owe it all to Joyce for that little suggestion back in '79.
Joyce has the whole family beat on world travel, having visited at least 32 countries and five continents. Once she makes it to Alaska she'll have bested me in stateside travel as well.
Joyce and I had several road trips together: we drove a Pontiac GTO 1000 miles to Washington D.C in 26 hours, navigated the same vehicle 720 miles way down south to Austin, Texas for a 4 day weekend. I recall drag racing on the drag with Joyce and her friends screaming at the top of their lungs.
A Volkswagen slug-bug took us out to Colorado for a ski trip, we spun out 3 times in an I-70 ice storm. Crossing one of the mountain passes Joyce photographed a mysterious cloud of steam rising next to me at the roadside.
We delivered an MGB-GT to San Diego that began to fall apart in the stinking desert. When we dropped off the car the electrical system was completely shorted and the drive shaft was bent!
Since those road trip days we've met up in: Firenze Italia, Los Angeles CA, Charndon England, New York City NY, Galveston TX, Lihue Hawaii, Galapagos Ecuador and Sigtuna, Sweden.
Joyce and I seem more affected by this nomadic affliction then our siblings. My other sister and brothers seem to have the desire to travel but are more inclined to resist temptation. I still drag my family on weekend road trips sometimes clocking over 1500 miles. The kids are well seasoned travelers and have been known to go 200 miles without complaint. My wife is quite the keen traveler and takes the wheel when I'm seeing double, pays my ticket when I speed.
