Day 19 (Kernersville, NC)

Monday morning was a blur. People running up and down the stairs, hot weather outside, a kid itching to get outside, conference calls, getting ready for a trip, new IKEA in town. Too bad we managed to rush in the night before Chris and Bess were leaving for Europe. I hope they had a chance to pack and settle down for few minutes after our "tornado" swept through their household. However, they managed to sit down for a photo session in their front lawn. By the way, if you need tennis outfits for junior girls, I can find you some good deals for the products from here: Tennis Star. Hopefully, next time we have a bit longer visit and we can make it to, say, a tennis court. Hey, our backgammon game found its way back home. It was "on loan" for 5 years. Anybody want to play a game or three? Regardless, we emptied our hosts' fridge and hit the highway. We made it only 25 miles until we had to pull over for a brand new IKEA store and have some Swedish Meatballs. I have always wondered what makes those meatballs Swedish, I still do. I have to ask how they differ from Finnish or Norwegian meatballs? It is probably because when you mention Scandinavia here, people think of Sweden first, it is something exotic for the local folk.

The rest of the way to central NC was very familiar since we have driven it tens of times before. The circle had closed and we were back in Kernersville at Missy and Danny's Roadhouse. Danny proudly showed us his new firetruck-red track shoes. He thinks he is the fastest man in his family now. His daughter and wife had their reservations but quietly agreed.

On a side note, I had a chance to see yesterday's Formula 1 race from Turkey. What is the deal with Ferrari and McLaren? They seem to be "badder than worse"... Jenson Button, I am getting tired of hearing his name on top every time. Just like Rafa Nadal's. Luckily that streak was just snapped by a Swedish meatball, I mean a tennis player.