Download & Print
September 28, 2023
Ace Road Trip
By Mikie Baker
The Bandera Prophet
Once a year, I get to escape from the beautiful Hill County and go to another part of the beautiful Hill Country for the annual Spadette River Trip. No, it’s not a card gambling tournament. It’s a weekend filled with debauchery, hot guys, and parties until 3 am. Except now, we’re too old for all that.
A mere 41 years ago in Dallas, one of my girlfriends and I came up with the idea to play Spades once a month with our friends. We decided 12 women were the perfect number of players to watch me cheat at cards. And I found myself a willing partner who used to say things like, “Oh no! I think the DIAMOND just fell out of my ring.”
So once a month, we played Spades for hours and drank to our HEARTS content. We got tired of going to each other’s houses every month and began visiting one of our favorite bars which had a back room – the perfect place to cheat at cards. We had our monthly CLUB. (Ok, ok, I’ll stop cheating now.)
Then one day, we decided to take a trip down to the Hill Country and float the Guadulupe River. This was back in the day when we actually had rain. Anyway, this float became an annual “thing”, and, through the years, we’ve participated in some pretty wild antics. I’d tell you about them, but what happens on the river stays on the river or, in other words, if I tell you, they’ll kick me out of the group. And then where would I go to cheat at cards?
None of us had any idea this madness would go on for so long. Sadly, through the last few years, we’ve lost three of the girls and some others have moved or just faded away, so we are down to the lucky seven because we still go on the River Trip every year. And this year, Little Lucky Lola got to come along. I’ve managed to keep her alive for three weeks now, so I figured she needed a reward for living and My Future Husband refused to babysit her all weekend, so there was that.
After a solid half an hour of meowing non-stop, Lola finally calmed down and took a nap in the car. I cranked up the music and we cruised. We had to make a quick stop at a country Tractor Supply for more kitten milk so Lola could keep growing. I lugged her carrier inside, got what I needed and then stood in line to pay. The constable was checking out and he, and the lady behind the counter, had a lively conversation about Cindy Lou’s missing dog. That’s when Lola decided to serenade the entire Tractor Supply with her singing voice. Show off. Finally, we escaped and headed down the road to the River Trip.
Now, let me be clear, we no longer float down the river. Too many knee and hip surgeries. A few years ago, we decided to rent a nice, big house with a pool and a spa. We may be old, but we still have style. Luckily no one is allergic to kittens, so Lola was the hit of the weekend, especially because she’s a girl. No men allowed.
I certainly hope you have a close-knit group of friends that keep you entertained and laughing through life. It’s a treasure and you know you’ll always have back up, no matter what mess you just got yourself into. Frankly, I think I’ve got it made in SPADES. (See, still cheating.)
A mere 41 years ago in Dallas, one of my girlfriends and I came up with the idea to play Spades once a month with our friends. We decided 12 women were the perfect number of players to watch me cheat at cards. And I found myself a willing partner who used to say things like, “Oh no! I think the DIAMOND just fell out of my ring.”
So once a month, we played Spades for hours and drank to our HEARTS content. We got tired of going to each other’s houses every month and began visiting one of our favorite bars which had a back room – the perfect place to cheat at cards. We had our monthly CLUB. (Ok, ok, I’ll stop cheating now.)
Then one day, we decided to take a trip down to the Hill Country and float the Guadulupe River. This was back in the day when we actually had rain. Anyway, this float became an annual “thing”, and, through the years, we’ve participated in some pretty wild antics. I’d tell you about them, but what happens on the river stays on the river or, in other words, if I tell you, they’ll kick me out of the group. And then where would I go to cheat at cards?
None of us had any idea this madness would go on for so long. Sadly, through the last few years, we’ve lost three of the girls and some others have moved or just faded away, so we are down to the lucky seven because we still go on the River Trip every year. And this year, Little Lucky Lola got to come along. I’ve managed to keep her alive for three weeks now, so I figured she needed a reward for living and My Future Husband refused to babysit her all weekend, so there was that.
After a solid half an hour of meowing non-stop, Lola finally calmed down and took a nap in the car. I cranked up the music and we cruised. We had to make a quick stop at a country Tractor Supply for more kitten milk so Lola could keep growing. I lugged her carrier inside, got what I needed and then stood in line to pay. The constable was checking out and he, and the lady behind the counter, had a lively conversation about Cindy Lou’s missing dog. That’s when Lola decided to serenade the entire Tractor Supply with her singing voice. Show off. Finally, we escaped and headed down the road to the River Trip.
Now, let me be clear, we no longer float down the river. Too many knee and hip surgeries. A few years ago, we decided to rent a nice, big house with a pool and a spa. We may be old, but we still have style. Luckily no one is allergic to kittens, so Lola was the hit of the weekend, especially because she’s a girl. No men allowed.
I certainly hope you have a close-knit group of friends that keep you entertained and laughing through life. It’s a treasure and you know you’ll always have back up, no matter what mess you just got yourself into. Frankly, I think I’ve got it made in SPADES. (See, still cheating.)