The Paper 09-20-18

Page 1

Volume 48 - No. 38

By Pete Peterson

Jack and Mildred Terrell hadn’t visited their Tennessee homeland for over fifteen years. Now, nine days into their twelve-day reunion, the call from Jack’s nephew had them excited. Sure, they could change their itinerary to squeeze in a visit with him. Other relatives had described his beautiful 80-acre horse ranch, and the plans he laid out in his phone call sounded more than fun. “I breed and train Tennessee Walking horses, Uncle Jack,” Ron The The Paper Paper -- 760.747.7119 760.747.7119

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September 20, 2018

said. “I want to meet Mom’s only living brother. We’ll enjoy a mint julep or two while my staff shows my prize-winning horses, then you and I’ll see if the bass are biting at one of my lakes. While we’re catching Moby Dick, my wife will show Aunt Mildred her quilt collection and give her a tour of her flower garden. Zinnias are in bloom now. Long about sundown, we’ll fire up the barbeque and burn a steak or two. Sound good?” “It sounds great,” Jack said, with Mildred nodding her agreement. True they’d have to cancel their

scheduled visit to the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat factory and drive three hours to Shelbyville, but they could catch up on sleep later. After a laugh-filled Italian dinner with Jack’s sister highlighted by a seeming array of family photos on her iPhone, and several glasses of red wine, Mildred and Jack retired to an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar motel room. Neither of them slept well. They were up and on the road early after a breakfast of sweet rolls and cereal topped off with plenty of hot coffee. They probably felt a bit groggy, but Jack shrugged this off, he’d wake

up soon, now he had a road trip to complete. He tuned his car radio to a country music station and turned the volume up. How do we know this? Because the eighteen-wheel driver told the highway patrol dispatcher to instruct the emergency vehicles responding to his call to listen for loud country music coming from the crumpled car that hit him. A few miles from their destination, Jack fell asleep. His rental car crossed the median strip and plowed into the semi. He died instantly. Mildred lingered in ICU for three days. They never saw Ron’s prize walking horses or his

America’s Search for a Better Night’s Sleep - See Page 2


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