On this trip I've noticed my parents can talk about ANYTHING at all. Just today my dad said, "Hey everybody, I have to go to the RESTroom, if you know what I mean..." I could definitely tell what he meant when he put an emphasis on the "rest." "Yea, I kind of have to go too." My mom said. "Hold on, let me get some shorts on..." 10 min. later, "Kathy! Hurry up, I have to go!!" My dad says. "Hold on, here I come!"

My dad rushes out of the boat and down the dock and sees someone he knows, his needs are temporarily gone. He talks. His victims eyes get cloudy, he hunches over, and his arms dangle at his sides. My dad stands there and talks until the victim can't support his own weight and limps to his boat, he'll be a lucky man if my dad doesn't follow him and ask to see how he arranged his septic tubes.

My mom doesn't even hit the dock before she becomes a talking zombie. The victim walks down the dock and says "Hi Kathy." Big mistake. The victim is sucked in to our dock and is a hostage, trapped by the invisible force field of politeness. The victims muscles grow limp, her hair falls out and, a drop of spittle hangs from the side of her mouth.

My parents can, on rare occasions, bring up intiresting topics. I don't doubt that. But to a kid like me, some of their topics can be pretty mundane. My dad's primary subjects are boat parts, places he's been, and the incredibly long story of his life (Yyou know, Tara, when I was boy..."). Whereas my mom enjoys giveing alittle too much info, "LOOK Guys! I squished a giant bug on my shoe! I think it's still alive. It's moving!" or " Ewww, don't go into that stall over there, someone left a burrito, grande sized..." But no matter how stupid, boring, gross, and/or exausting it is to talk to my parents, I still love them (especially when I have my earplugs).