Things you learn on a fourteen hour road trip. . .

My family and I recently made a fourteen hour sojourn from Bardstown, Kentucky to Logansport, Louisiana. The mere thought of this sent chills down my spine. Fourteen hours of driving, using public restrooms and fastfood. Fourteen hours of Disney songs by Hannah Montana for my two year old daughter and five year old son (although my son will not admit to his affection for Miley Cyrus's alter ego.)

I learned that it is a bad idea to stop at Opry Mills in Nashville, Tennessee. You can blow most of your travel budget in a mall that size, no matter how cool the Bass Pro Shop is, or great deals at the Disney outlet.

I learned that all of Kentucky and Tennessee is basically a duplication of the same small town.

I learned that when a five year old boy sees the three enormous crosses erected by the Bellvue Baptist Church in Memphis his immeadiate reaction is that "if Jesus had been up there he would have been huge!"

I learned that West Memphis, Arkansas at night is a very scary place where a great many illegal and illicit activities take place.

I learned that a night clerk in West Memphis can be very kind to a man in need of a restroom.

I learned that outside of the Clinton Liabrary in Little Rock, there doesn't seem to be a lot in Arkansas.

I learned that there is a place called Nick's BBQ and Catfish in Carlise, Arkansas that is well worth the trip.

I learned that there are plenty of natural gas wells in Louisanna.

I learned that you cannot buy a Texas mug in Joaquin, Texas.

I also learned that a trip with my family while difficult, was also quite enjoyable.