Destination: Motown

* * * * *

Destination: Motown

[The following entries are being written a month after the fact. I have no
excuse, other than laziness and a severe case of procrastination; story of my
life. So, without further ado … ]

Driving through Atlanta [1] felt like driving through Tokyo [2] in an anime
movie (Akira) [3]—miles of monstrous buildings looming over the endless rain-
slicked highways for what seemed like hours on end, crotch rockets warping
past us, screaming "Akira" and "Kaneda" either at each other, or at us. I
couldn't tell.

And yes, the rain.

The rain.

It was nothing but rain once we hit northern Georgia. It wasn't that bad
until we hit Tennessee [4], when the wind kicked in, and it made driving
through the moutains, at night, with rain, and wind, a real intense
experience. Kentucky [5] was just as bad, first with the mountains, and by
the time we got though that, we hit Ohio [6]. And bumper to bumper traffic at
6:30 am going through Cincinnati [7]. It took us over an hour to travel some
ten miles and past the parking lot of I-75 in Cincinnati.

Then Bunny took over driving, and I fell asleep for a few hours. The next
thing I remember, We're pulling over somewhere just south of Detroit [8] as I
take over driving duties, since I'm more familiar with the area.

Dramatis Personæ

* Aunt (Dad's sister) and Uncle
* * Cousin and spouse (if applicable)
* * * First cousin once removed [9]

* Kay and Dale
* * Joshua
* * Aaron and Audrey
* * * Aiden
* * * Ashley

* * Jordan
* * Caitlin
* * Ethan

* Jan and Ed
* * Seth and Amy
* * * Caleb
* * * Cameron
* * * Carson

* * Levi
* * Mallory and Chris

* Amy (deceased) and Bill
* * **Nathan** (groom) and **Melanie** (bride)
* * Harmony
* * Easton

We drove by my dad's parents' house, the one were I spent many a summer, just
to see it again. That neighborhood hasn't changed in the twenty years since I
last saw it (I last visited in I think 1993 or 1994—a few months before
Grandpa died, but no one else in the family seems to recall that visit; my
prior visit was the summer of 1987). We then drove to Jan and Ed's house. Jan
was at work, but Ed was still there. We chatted briefly about things. Then we
drove by Kay and Dale's house, but they weren't there (at first, I got the
wrong house as I was a block off, but it ultimately turns out they no longer
lived there—boy, things do have a way of changing).

Since we were hungry by this time (it was around 1:00 pm or so) we drove back
into Detroit to eat at Buddy's [10]. It's not much to look at on the outside:

[Buddy's] [11]

but it's cozy on the inside:

[Buddy's on the inside] [12]

and the pizza is incredible (honestly, I don't know if they serve anything
else but pizza; I don't think I've ever looked at their menu).

After lunch, we checked into the hotel.

[The Hotel] [13]

It was quite nice.

A few hours to relax, and we get together with Kay, Dale and Ethan and head
to Plymouth Roc [14] for dinner. It seems that their son (my cousin) Jordan
is a partner in the restaurant. Sweet. While there, we met up with Jordan,
Aaron and family and Caitlin. I somewhat remember Jordan, and I barely
remember Caitlin and Ethan. It's also weird to think of Aaron as a family
man, seeing how the last time I saw him he was in high school.

[The Plymouth Roc] [15]
[16]

This is something I had to grow used to, cousins I knew having families, and
meeting several new cousins.

We spent the next few hours eating (execellent food, although as a
disclaimer, I do have to mention it's a restaurant that's in the family, so I
might be a bit biased) and getting caught up. Then it was back to the hotel
for some much needed sleep.

[1] http://www.atlantaga.gov/
[2] http://www.planettokyo.com/
[3] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094625/
[4] http://www.tn.gov/
[5] http://www.kentucky.gov/
[6] http://www.ohio.gov/
[7] http://www.cinconnati-oh.gov/
[8] http://www.detroitmi.gov/
[9] gopher://gopher.conman.org/gPhlog:2011/10/20/cousins-chart.gif
[10] http://www.buddyspizza.com/
[11] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2011/10/20/buddys.jpg
[12] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2011/10/20/buddysinside.jpg
[13] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2011/10/20/hotel.jpg
[14] http://plymouthrocbar.com/
[15] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2011/10/20/t-phymouthroc.jpg
[16] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2011/10/20/plymouthroc.jpg

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