JUNKET JOKE

JUNKET JOKE

Roger A. Davis

The tradition of our family vacation
Colorado mountains, main location
Timeline, late 50s, early 60s
Living in tents, no amenities

The Coleman stove we always took
Mom, Bobbie Jean, the cook
Stream water to wash each dish
Supper, fried Spam or fish

Day in, day out, we pursued trout
Every year, a Colorado camp out
When wheat harvest was done
We headed toward the setting sun

I think the year was 1962
Of the Davis family coup
In regard to our fishing trips
Bobbie said, "No way," hands on hips

"No Colorado, and a room with a view
And no cooking, too"
Dad didn’t confide in a travel guide
Chose Missouri to please his bride

Area called Ha Ha Tonka, our destination
Five days of rest and relaxation
When we left Kansas, it was awful hot
On arriving, not much of a temperature drop

Our small two room cabin had no AC
And God forbid, no TV
There was a little kitchenette
Dad started to sweat and fret

We opened all two windows
And shed most of our clothes
Also prayed for a little breeze
Amongst all those dang trees

Hungry, Dad checked on eating spots
Nearby, only a mom & pop grocery shop
The other store, last chance gas stop
Mom stewed, but used the cooking pots

The sights to see from the cabin's porch
A bluff with a mansion, ruined and scorched
Small lake, hills and a sign, "No Swimming"
Our emotions and bodies were simmering

No one was interested in taking a hike
Nor was there any place to rent a bike
Us kids complained of nothing to do
Also, sarcastically saying, " Ha Ha Tonka, woo hoo"

So after two days and two nights
Of knife cutting tension and fights
We took flight before daylight
With every mile, we became less uptight

The highlight was on the way back
A Dad incident, a serious lack of tack
Pulled into an A&W Rootbeer Stand
Finally, a meal Bobbie didn't fix by hand

The carhop came up to get our order
R. L. acted spastic with a speech disorder
Mom turned red, us kids thought it neat
And Rick gave the order from the back seat

"Ha Ha Tonka" became a catch phrase
This lasted at least 362 days
It was used jokingly in the Davis clan
And in the next year's Colorado vacation plan

(Disclaimer: In 1978, Ha Ha Tonka became
a state park. Much development has made
Missouri a premiere vacation area.)