Funkballs, Creepers, and Goobers OH MY!

"CREEPER!" Zoe yelled as we passed an 18 wheeler with an admittedly creepy looking gentleman driving. Zoe put a tick mark in the "creeper" column, and got ready to peer into the vehicle we were about to pass. Zoe and I were on our way to Atlanta for a concert. Somewhere just north of Montgomery, AL we decided to make a game of classifying the people we saw. We had creepers, funkballs, goobers, freaks, average, princess, and finally Ahhhhhhh! We occasionally had to create a new classification for some unusual person like the guy with the epic sideburns we passed around Auburn, but most people fit nicely into our categories. We laughed as we jammed out to some good road trip music and played our game. Our trip was starting out with a ton of fun and would only get better. We crossed over into Georgia, and stopped for a french fry snack. We were meeting friends for lunch, so we didn't want to fill up. We zipped on into the city and met our friends at the Big Easy Grille. It was a New Orleans style cafe owned by a high school friend. The food was phenomenal, and the atmosphere was such that I felt like I was in the Quarter. After lunch, we headed downtown to our hotel. The hotel was only a couple of blocks from Phillips Arena which thrilled Zoe to no end. We got checked in and headed down to the CNN center to have a look around. I am no fan of CNN, but the center was impressive. After looking around a bit, we filtered into Phillips Arena which adjoins CNN Center. The atmosphere inside was electric, and Zoe was very quiet but visibly excited. I asked Zoe if she wanted a concert tee shirt and she said no. I looked at her quizzically then told her I would buy her one. "Oh", she replied, "sure I'll get one." I guess she thought she was going to have to buy it. The shirts were $35. A bit over priced for sure, but daddy loves to make his girl happy, so it was my pleasure to buy the shirt for her. Of course she had no problem asking for a few extra dollars to get her Sick Puppies poster and CDs to be autographed, but who could blame her! LOL

The concert began with the Sick Puppies. I was truly impressed with this band. Not only was their music awesome, the band members were very real and kind people. Zoe got to meet the band and get pictures and autographs. They were all very sweet to her and even waved at her as we left. Not many bands do that anymore. Zoe floated back to the hotel with her autographed treasures and found it difficult to get to sleep. The next morning, we packed up and headed back home. We had a fun trip home taking pictures of funny things along the way. The trip was absolutely amazing. Zoe and I made memories to last a lifetime. She will not remember what I bought her for Christmas last year at my funeral, but she will remember that concert. I guess my point is that I would much rather spend my money and time making memories than getting stuff. Stuff breaks, rust, and gets lost. Memories last forever!