“ ‘Green Book’, Road Trips, and NBA Fans”

In case you were in Antarctica last week, “Green Book” won the Oscar for best picture of 2019.  It’s time for some family pride.  Our son-in-law Patrick, is the Editor of this delightful story. Last Sunday night our family and many friends celebrated as we watched our beautiful daughter Stephanie, and Patrick take the final stage. This movie basically tells the unlikeliest story of a ‘record promotion’ road trip taken with an erudite Jazz/Classical pianist, who is African American and his ‘low-grade bouncer/thug’ Italian driver. One of the stars of the show is a 1961 lime green Cadillac, in which much of the dialogue of the movie takes place. The trip takes them through the Jim Crow south.  The Green Book was used by blacks to know where they would be welcomed in that brutally racist world.  About a year ago Patrick shared with us about his working on this project. “It is is a great story, with great actors and director.  I am truly proud to be editing this movie”.  His almost 30 years of persistence in the film industry has been rewarded!!! We are so proud of of you, Patrick.

Something very special can happen in a car conversation.  I have been writing these two years about the magic of sharing time in a car.  I love road trips.  My favorite ever was our 8,300 mile camping road trip to Alaska and back with our kids and my sister and nephew.  I have lived long enough to have all of my kids say, “That was one of the highlights of growing up”.  Next year I plan to take my own road trip through the south after Easter, with my golf clubs in tow. My ideal time would involve a van load of friends going with us.  We will see.

About a month the ago I picked up four young men at a hotel in central Denver. They were headed to the Pepsi Center to see the Nuggets play the Houston  Rockets🚀.  It turned out they were from China and they were going to every NBA city in the US and Canada to see a basketball 🏀 game. They were about half way there.  Thinking of it made me tired and envious.  They confirmed that NBA basketball is very popular in China 🇨🇳.  They were headed to Salt Lake, then Phoenix, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Portland… oh yes with a side trip to Vegas.  ROAD TRIP!!!

Onward and Upward,

Mark