Triva Nights.................

            A couple of years ago "Special K" started going to triva at the American Legion. This is the start of her weekend. When ya work in the service industry one gets used to odd days off and not even two in a row. She's been a memeber of the daughters of the American Legion for years beings that Mo, her father was a Vet. So, every Tuesday she goes and asks me to go too. I do go everyonce in a while but not regularly. I like testing my brain power sometimes. LOL! It really is amazing how much totally useless information we store up in our little brains over the years. "K" and her small group are kind they off anyone to be apart of their triva team. So, with that being said of course I'm a member of that team, its a odd collection and at times we can reason things down and get the answers based on the questions, usuing brain power. Triva doesn't start until 7pm, and usually I ride to "Special's" house, then drive to triva. See "Special" sold her bike a few months back you might remember that or is ya continue reading my blogs because she developed greys disease. It's a condition brought on my hperthyroidism. She said it made her feel like she was looking through to fish bowls, and her perseption is way off as well as really surper bad night vision. For these reasons she sold her bike and I drive her home from triva. I didn't have to do that tonight as her sister was visiting her from Oklahoma.
              I left here I guess about 5:45pm the sun was still shining and would do so for several hours. I rode in to town cause man the price of gass here on the island is just plain stupid so I like to ride or walk whenever I can. I arrived just before it started and took my seat. No one really could see me as I entered the door looking scarey I guess? I sat down introduced to K's sister and the games began. Ugh the questions asked were just plain silly. Such as: "if a titter is the dot above the letter i, then what is the dot above the letter j called?"  really, who would know this information or who would care? The next questions was about NASCAR, and that answer was easy "who was the current points leader?"  Greg Biffle. Then we went back to the questions of who cares and why would anyone worry about that, like "How many different animals in a box of Animal Crackers.?" we tried to count them out but were wrong. Needless, to say we were in like last, we usually are in the top 4. Now beings this is a mixed group, not everyone knows every one really well, but most were discusted because of doing very poorly. Me I looked at it as a night out, enjoying the company of a friend and trying to make more friends. Not everyone views it the same.
            Since I go every now and then I will be the runner the one to take the answer up. I usually stand there and get a yes or no. I got more nos so I decided to have fun with it. I'd went back to the table and yelled, "yeah, woohoo, we got it wrong! YEAH" "K" laughed the rest just staired. I did it with the next answer, for the thrid time I came back and yelled, "Yeah, WooHoo, we got it worng! We'er jamming in last! yeah" "K" says," good job!" the rest of the group stared then Ken comes up with, "High five are we the brains or what!" LOL! I figured what the heck so what ya might as well have fun ya can't win every night and loosing gracefully is a true test of character. Something that I was trying to come a cross this mostly group of seniors and that is man something's in life just aren't important. I would have figured they would have gotten that one by now if not long ago.
             The finial question was here no one was paying attention. They really didn't care kind of like take my ball and go home tudes, however the finial question was on the Hawiian Alphabet and to list 12 of the 13 letters. No one was into it heads in the sand each answer for the 12 is 5 points there's still a chance that we might pull through and finish mid pack instead of dead last if we answer this queston. Now, this group always treats "K" and myself like doodoo birds, ya know I'm real trashy, wild woman that rides. Really, I read medical journals and understand them, go to triva at the American Legion, volunteer for the American Red Cross Animal divison and I'm an out of control wild woman with no sense. Most the time they burry my answers, and usually I'm right but to night these were questions about things that were less than worth thingking about except for this alphabet thing. Not one interested in it so I grab the sheet and "K", her sister and my self fill out the paper. They were all babbling like I'd know anything about the Hawiian Alphabet and how would you gals know. I went and turned in the answer sheet. OK, hold your hats folks we went from last place to first. It's all about the travel for me and "K" and her sister. We like to meet people travel and we babble with them as well and have a great time. So "K" was military and lived in Hawiian for 1 year, ya think she learned something.................they were all happy yeah!

        I left them all with drinks on the table, talking and babbling, went out to the parking lot and rode off. The night air was cool so I was glad I brought my leather jacket, gloves. I have to say it was rather refreshing as I turned from FT. Caroline and headed towards 9A north. I was stoped at the light righ before the on ramp and had a chance to look around. This was a pretty area as far as a city goes, its one of the older parts of the city though revitialized now. When I look to the right the St. John's river is seen however ist just dark and black hole in the landscape everyonce in awhile there would be a glimmer off a ripple in the warters surface breaking up the blackness. I could see the dim lights of the Dam's Point Bridge, and the bright ones of JEA. The light turned green and I headed up the on ramp to 9A, as soon as I hit 9A it was there the sliveryblue glow of the Moon and planet just below her. She was just a Thumbnail moon and it appeared low enough to touch. Best not be distracted right here as I was approaching another on ramp. I began the climb of the hump of the bridge and just as I crested it the Moon was righ there, it was breath taking if it were not for the things of man. I was a little freer to look around abit  as this isn't a high traffic time the folks here roll up the side walks by 9pm, something I still hadn't gotten used to after all these years here.  I hit the off ramp on to Heckshure Drive and navigated my way into the left lane.
             I passed the bright of JEA and its tower stackes and was moving towards Jaxport, over the railroad tracks and past the small shripming company. Only one boat in dock so I"m guess the other 3 were out at sea. here is were the marsh and creeks collide, both sides off the road were black but I could feel the dampness and warmth so I knew it was the waters around me. It must have been High tide because that marshie smell wasn't prestent.  The stars were shining brightly as there were no thngs of man for a few miles here. The thumbnail moon was turning from sliveryblue to orange gold but she still seemed close enought to touch. I wished I had brought my camera and tripod on this trip what a great shot that thumpnail would have been. I snaked my way north towards home. I was stopped by one of the draw bridges nere the old Atlantic Marina, I looked into what they had in dry dock. Since the Navey pulled their contract with them they've suffered and inturn the area suffered. The place used to have 3 shifts working 24 hours 7 days a week, the jobs have yet to be replaced yet. I watched a tug boat pass slowly out of view and under the bridge giving the traditional two toot "thank you".
              As I continued on my way the tempeture felt like it dropped and I could feel that tingling icey sensation on my cheeks. I was glad that I picked my heavy leather coat for thing nights journey, as at this moment is when I really needed. I wouldn't be too much longer I just had to cross over two of the larger bridges then was back on my own island. Its easy at these times to get lost in ones thoughts but not so lost that ya don't see that raccoon or bobcat crossing the road, or ya just didn't pay attention as a car came at ya and you left your high beams on. These is the time to think maybe of problems, solutions or a time to empty the brain. Real relaxed yet alert. I reached the Amelia River or Nassau Sound, that thumbnail moon was just hanging there watching and was a surreal scene from the waters of the river. I pulled off the side of to the shoulder no one was coming now.........I just looked at the blackness that was the river, the dark shadows that was the point and above the poin the orangish glowing thumb nail moon with the planet shining ever so brightly below it. I could hear the water sloshing around the pilings of the bridges footings, will the salt on the breezes, hear the night bugs in the distance and the ones that buzzed me. There was silence nothing put the occational ping of coolng pipes.  I don't know how long I stood there, just taking in the sight, with out a thought passing through my mind but I knew it was a time of great peace and stillness. We all should take more time to enjoy the wonders of this world. Just hust, look, listen and feel, its all here for us to enjoy, so why bypass it in a rush to get to somewhere that has little importatace in the end.
                I left the bridge and continued north along the area of the island where the wealthy live. Here they put a bunch of round abouts in so the residents don't have to stop, as well as slow traffic down. I hit the finial round about and headed north on Fletcher. I will have to slow to 35 miles an hour here as I went passed the third golf course along this journey. I passed the tall towers and soon will see the ocean. She was just a blackhole as well the moon very small offered no bright dazzling display of reflect nightlight, but I could see all the shrimp boats out trolling. I came to my street trun down it hit the garage door button and pulled right in. As I was take stuff off I thought I ought to have stayed home this night, cause I don't like to go to triva too much. However if I didn't go I would have missed a real nice peaceful night's ride. Maybe I'll skip next week we shall see.           Have a great  one  "T"