Are we there yet?

Twisting and turning north on Interstate 5, I attempted to quiet my mind.

On a road trip there are no real expectations to have of children other than the frequency in which you will hear the inevitable, "Are we there yet?"

All bets are off on the road. The only given is whether the aforementioned question will be proposed more or less than 19 times.

I had already received the Children's Inquisition twelve times after a mere 45 minutes into what would ultimately prove to be a 6 hour road trip to California's central coast. I could only laugh, the shoe now firmly on the other foot as an adult*.

*This stage of development is often questionable.

Driving through San Juan Capistrano, my mind silent, I thought back to my family's arrival in California.

I looked at Mrs. AJM and said, "Father AJM had initially thought of relocating us to Orange County rather than San Diego."

She submitted a nod and question. "Really?"

Looking ahead at the armada of Sunday afternoon break lights, which become more prevalent as one transitions to Los Angeles, I nodded in affirmation.

"Yeah . . .", my voice trailing off in a reflective pause.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Mrs. AJM waiting for more, as if to say, "You're the one who brought it up. What's your point?"

I acquiesced.

"Yeah. If my parents would have moved to Orange County I 'd be an Angels fan. And then my life would have been a lot easier."

Mrs. AJM laughed.

From the back of the car I heard a committed, "Are we there yet?"

Lucky number thirteen! There was little doubt that this trip would be recollected for hitting the "over" on the Children's Inquisition very early in the day.

When we arrived in Pismo Beach yesterday I learned that the Padres had extended Huston Street: Two years at $7M a piece. Surprised that Street would take less than he's earning in 2012 for the guarantee of an extra year on his contract I thought back to Carlos Quentin's contract extension of a week ago.

As a Padres fan I silently asked, "Are we there yet?"

The Padres have more issues to address than just a left fielder and a closer. Of course the Padres aren't there yet! Like the AJM family 45 minutes into a six hour drive there's still driving to be done . . .

***
I watched the Red Sox play the Yankees last night with a sick daughter. She said, "Why are people Yankees fans?"

I didn't have the heart to feed her propaganda in such a weakened state. I opted to tell her the truth...

***
XX1090 comes in perfectly all the way up here in the Central Coast. I haven't met any Padres fans yet...

***
I totally just went Nick "Sez Me" Canepa on you. %&*#! I apologize...

***
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