Tuna
Me and Bubba got off fairly early this morning. My Darling Dot called to wake me up, as usual. We had a mostly incoherent conversation and then I had coffee and a cigar....and we rolled.
Toward noon we decided to stop at one of Missouri's fabulous rest areas for Tuna Mac. Never heard of Tuna Mac? It's produced as follows.
Get out of Truck.......crawl up on the catwalk, being SURE (repeat ABSOLUTELY SURE) that the lift axle is DOWN. If you step on that lift axle when it's up....YOU go down. Remove cover from generator, check oil, check gas....pull start generator. (amazingly it starts)....
Open door to truck. Bubba is in drivers seat...he looks at me an says "MEOW!!!!" This is no sissy kitty meow...this is a black panther exclamatory prounounciation of territorial rights.
"Come On Bubba...get out the Seat..." I say....
"MEOW"....not moving
"But I need to get in"....I plead...
"MEOW~!"....cat for nyuh uh...
So I pick him up and put him on the steering wheel....while climbing into the truck.
I climb up in the back and open a drawer. Instantly Bubba is there. I didn't see or hear him jump...he's just THERE.. helping.
I pull out a package of Instant Macaroni and Cheese and an Envelope of Tuna. Then I look for a plastic (disposable) bowl and spoon. Have to hunt. Bubba moved them.
Sitting down to my little "table" I open the TUNA. Bubba is RIGHT THERE. "MEOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!" as in...."I WANT SOME".
So I pull off a chunk for him and set it where he can eat it.
Then I pour the remaining Tuna in the bowl...pour in the Macaroni..add a touch of water...mix with the spoon.
Nuke it for a bit. (microwave oven....is why the generator is running).
After a little bit it's done....remove from MicroWave...and Bubba is RIGHT THERE!!!! smells good.
Brushing Bubba aside. I set it down and mix in cheese....with Bubba's help.
After it's all mixed properly I move toward the front to get in my seat so I can eat.
Bubba is in my seat....."MEOW!!!"
"Awww come on Bubba....I need to sit down"
"Mewwwwwwwwwwoooooooow"...nyuh uh.
....all the while juggleing a HOT bowl of tuna mac.....
(sigh)...
After awhile I'm done. I make a pot of coffee (with Bubba's help)....put it in the thermos...and climb out of the truck
Shutting the generator off I go for a walk around the rest area (NICE rest area) while the motor cools.
After about ten minutes I come back to the truck...Make SURE the lift axle is DOWN...and climb up on the catwalk to secure the generator (put canvas cover back on etc).
Climbing down I then raise the lift axle....and walk up to the cab.
Opening the door....Bubba is in the driver's seat....."Meoooooow.!!!!"
"Aw come on Bubba....we got to go"....
"Mewoooooooooooooooowwwww"....Nyah Uh
.................and so it goes.
I'm in Illinois now....Flying J in East St. Louis....gonna grab a bite to eat then head on in to morton....
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