{"id":2547,"date":"2023-12-05T01:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T01:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/?p=2547"},"modified":"2023-11-09T12:29:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T12:29:33","slug":"epilog-9-parts-4-did-skip-find-what-he-was-looking-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/?p=2547","title":{"rendered":"EPILOG (9 Parts): #4 – Did Skip Find What He Was Looking For?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

4.Did Skip Find What He Was Looking For?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Yes<\/em>!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     The media conference was over.  Skip took a deep breath, \u201cYep, I think we got a great message across – in their questions, the media picked-up on all the right themes,\u201d was his first quick thought.  And then he saw Susie coming, smiling, towards him.  Grabbed her in his arms.  Twirled her in the air three times.  \u201cLet\u2019s walk,\u201d he said.  \u201cYou know, I had this feeling when I saw you walk into the room, maybe you were feeling the same way – you and I could be pretty neat together . . . like maybe we were meant for each other?\u201d  Susie\u2019s broad smile back, and the twinkle in her eyes, made Skip\u2019s heart feel like it filled his entire chest.  Skip continued, \u201cUp until this moment I didn\u2019t really know what it was I was looking for when I left Minnesota four months ago.  But now I know.  I was looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cAnd I think I love you too,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

_________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     In the Land Yacht, traveling back to Westport, everybody exuberant \u2013 and relieved \u2013 Skip broke down shaking and crying.  \u201cI just didn\u2019t know how much tension and stress I was under for the past two months,\u201d he weeped.  \u201cI kept trying to be a Rumpkin, hanging in with all you great folks, but my heart just wasn\u2019t in it . . .  Now my heart is soaring!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Sally said, \u201cMine too, Skip!  And I\u2019m so happy for you two,\u201d blowing Susie a kiss, \u201cand yah, well, that Rumpkins idea you had \u2013 it took me awhile to understand it \u2013 but I get it now!  All along you were doing this as an organizing tool.  Well, congratulations, I think it worked!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Rocky piped in, \u201cAnybody? Steve?  Who\u2019ll give me 10 to 1 Yang shows up at the New Year\u2019s Eve party?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     And then Skip shared one more thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cYou know, another thing, I\u2019m not sure I know why all of you wanted to get on the bus.  Maybe I thought I knew.  Max, yeah, it was your idea \u2013 go fishing, catch-up with old friends.  That I get.  And Sally, I didn\u2019t even know you, when we left town \u2013 had no idea you were looking for something \u2013 did<\/em> you? LOL.  Just kidding, we\u2019re all happy for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cBest-Buddy-Rocky, Christ, You\u2019re the one who taught me what fun is, taught me that fun can trump politics anytime.   Was this trip fun or not!  But listen, I overheard you talking with those reporters, maybe next time, keep it in check?  At least, a little, ok?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cHuck, goddamn it, if it weren\u2019t for that \u2018Hoot\u2019 idea back in San Francisco, probably none of this would have happened.  And I\u2019ve heard you\u2019ve been asked to come back to next year\u2019s Valley of the Vapors Music Festival in Hot Springs \u2013 they really liked your stuff.  Sorry, I took Susie away from you though, laugh, laugh . . . and . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cPatty, I knew what you were looking for \u2013 your next movie.  You know when I knew it was going to be a hit?  When you captured that Shopping While Black scene so definingly and so dramatically, but you know what?  A little birdie told me your Sacramento friend that first told you to turn our trip into a travel adventure movie, she set that whole scene up!  No, seriously, I hope this gets you world acclaim and that you make a mint!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Phyllis jumped in, \u201cWow Patty,\u201d I didn\u2019t know  – the next great road trip movie?  I haven\u2019t seen a good one since Thelma<\/em> and<\/em> Louise<\/em>.  I can\u2019t wait to see it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

       \u201cSteve, what would we have done without you?!  Skip continued, \u201cLet\u2019s hear a round of applause for all that great legal work!  [applause rang out] And by golly, that speech you gave about two wings of the same airplane \u2013 that might be the Greatest American Political Speech I\u2019ve ever heard!.   How does it start, Patty? – – – Here\u2019s what we\u2019re trumpeting?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

—————————————————————————————————————-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cThanks Skip,\u201d Steve said, \u201cBut you know what you guys?  I found what I was looking for too.   And I want to thank Phyllis \u2013 Phyllis, this day\u2019s unsung hero!  Has anybody in the media even picked-up on the role you played?  First to call the cops!  First to spy the get-away car!  Okay, a round of applause for Phyllis!  [applause rang out again] . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

. . . \u201cbut – and Phyllis knows I\u2019m going to say this – Phyllis is the one who got my life straightened around. Everybody knew me & Jodie weren\u2019t exactly hitting it off when I got on the bus, right?  And yes, I was definitely looking for something new, something to make life worth living again, and guess who led me to the roses?  Phyllis!  We had some long talks, me and Phyllis \u2013 me telling her all what was going on, and then Phyllis says, \u2018I think you\u2019re still in love with Jodie.  And, she says, that makes me happy too.  Do this!  Call Jodie right now and apologize for leaving.  Tell her you love her \u2013 you can\u2019t wait to be back in her arms! . . .\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cWell, I did, and Jodie said \u2018I am so glad you called!  I\u2019ve been thinking along the same lines,\u2019 and so we\u2019re getting back together.  [more applause]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cThere\u2019s more,\u201d Steve continued, \u201cYou know I started this trip thinking I always knew better than anybody else.  People who disagreed with me were just plain wrong.  Too many years being a lawyer.  Got to the point I quit appreciating people as people \u2013 with Jodie too.  Phyllis, bless your heart.  Bless all our hearts.  I really am a changed man.  Look at all the things we\u2019ve found out about ourselves.  How our lives have changed.\u201d  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

4.Did Skip Find What He Was Looking For?      Yes!!!      The media conference was over.  Skip took a deep breath, \u201cYep, I think we got a great message across – in their questions, the media picked-up on all the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2547"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2836,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547\/revisions\/2836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}