My younger brother, Adam, Henry and I rode in the CR-V for the 980 mile trip south. That was the longest amount of time I have spent with Adam since I graduated from high school. While we did not talk continuously (we listened to the same five cds at least three times) throughout the trip, we did spend a majority of the time discussing a variety of topics some of which I want to share some detail, which I will henceforth refer to as Adam-isms.
I think to really appreciate these Adam-isms a little background on Adam is warranted. Adam is kind of a pop-culture/American sports savant. He devotes a number of his waking hours to watching sports, reading about sports, watching television shows and movies, and yes, playing a variety of sports video games. He attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND for his undergraduate degree. He finished just shy under 7 years with a degree in education with an emphasis in social studies. He has yet to find a job in this economy since graduating in December but is substitute teaching in our hometown area schools. Hence making him the perfect victim for helping me and Max move.
Adam-ism 1: Somehow while we were driving (maybe we passed a Hardee's sign with a thick burger or a Hardee's)
Me: "Have you had a thick-burger?"
Adam: "Yes, but a thick-burger is not a twice-a-week burger, it is more a like every six month kind-of burger."
Me: "What don't you like it? Can you explain that logic (I am a long time near vegetarian)?"
Adam: "Well, is not like I don't like it, it is just really intense. It is like, I like the movies "In the Heat of the Night" and "A Bridge to Far". Even though I own those and like those movies, I do not watch them twice a week. They are just really intense."
Me: "A Bridge to Far?"
Adam: "It is a great WW2 film...[followed by an explanation of the plot and the group of actors in it and how it could never be made again]...Adam-ism 2: " But really World War 1 is a more interesting war when you think about."
Me: "Can you explain that?"
Adam: "Well, it is simple. WW1 was really the result of alliances. Every country that entered the war did so based on alliance....[quiz time] You know what set off the war, don't you?"
Me: "The assination of Duke Ferdinand..."
Adam: "Yeah, he was just the heir to the throne, not the leader. Even if that Serb nationalist assissin had not shot him the war would have started. The political tension in the region was too great. The assassination was just the catalyst that could have easily been something else."
Perhaps a cycle of CDs later and me making a comment about Adam's being, Adam-ism 3:
Adam: "I am who I am. You know that is a Popeye quote, "Popeye, now there was a great man. Do you know why? Because his motto was: I am what I am. Do you think Popeye ever worried about what he wore just so he could get Olive Oil in the sack? I should say not, Dude. And do you know why? Because he is what he is." You gotta know what movie that is far from."
Me: No. Popeye said that?
Adam: No, Shane McDermott.
Me: Shane McDermott?
Adam: You don't remember Shane McDermott? Come on from Airborne?!
Me: No, of course not that was nearly 15 years ago.
Adam: Well, I have the VHS. I have not been able to find a DVD of it.
Perhaps a few hours later on the road, after Adam received a call asking him to go donate blood and Adam-ism 4:
Me: Who was that?
Adam: Blood bank.
Me: You donate blood?
Adam: Yeah, sometimes.
Me: What is your blood type?
Adam: I don't know.
Me: You are probably A+
Adam: "I am who I am. You know that is a Popeye quote, "Popeye, now there was a great man. Do you know why? Because his motto was: I am what I am. Do you think Popeye ever worried about what he wore just so he could get Olive Oil in the sack? I should say not, Dude. And do you know why? Because he is what he is." You gotta know what movie that is far from."
Me: No. Popeye said that?
Adam: No, Shane McDermott.
Me: Shane McDermott?
Adam: You don't remember Shane McDermott? Come on from Airborne?!
Me: No, of course not that was nearly 15 years ago.
Adam: Well, I have the VHS. I have not been able to find a DVD of it.
Perhaps a few hours later on the road, after Adam received a call asking him to go donate blood and Adam-ism 4:
Me: Who was that?
Adam: Blood bank.
Me: You donate blood?
Adam: Yeah, sometimes.
Me: What is your blood type?
Adam: I don't know.
Me: You are probably A+
Adam: +? What does that mean?
Me: That you have the positive genes for Rh factor.
Adam: What is the Rh factor?
Me: Don't you remember learning about that in 8th grade biology.
Adam: How am I suppose to remember 8th grade biology?! (This coming from the man who had earlier reprimanded me on not remembering my Airborne history.)
Me: It is a blood group antigen. People are either Rh+ or Rh-.
That is really all I wanted to share about my enlightening conversations with Adam. I encouraged Adam to start some sort of Pod cast where he discusses he thoughts and ideas on pop culture and sports. Adam had this very interesting lecture on pro-sports, risk, contracts and pay...
During the trip, when we would stop and interact with people or over hear people I had to keep reminding myself this is not a vacation. I was on the road to my new humid, home.
Me: That you have the positive genes for Rh factor.
Adam: What is the Rh factor?
Me: Don't you remember learning about that in 8th grade biology.
Adam: How am I suppose to remember 8th grade biology?! (This coming from the man who had earlier reprimanded me on not remembering my Airborne history.)
Me: It is a blood group antigen. People are either Rh+ or Rh-.
That is really all I wanted to share about my enlightening conversations with Adam. I encouraged Adam to start some sort of Pod cast where he discusses he thoughts and ideas on pop culture and sports. Adam had this very interesting lecture on pro-sports, risk, contracts and pay...
During the trip, when we would stop and interact with people or over hear people I had to keep reminding myself this is not a vacation. I was on the road to my new humid, home.
Henry
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