Terrorist abettor that I am, tomorrow I'm going to start on a 900-mile trip in my gas-guzzling SUV during one of the priciest seasons in many years.

Some time back I told my brother that when the time came, I would go to Dallas and bring a load of delicate things back for him in the Tahoe. He called Monday and asked if I would be available to transport on the 30th, or next Tuesday. So here we go.

Since I'm going that way anyway, I've arranged to visit my sister for the weekend. Come to find out, she has some items stored in Charles' current storage space, so I get to move those a good distance across Dallas, too.

Ain't nothing so stirrin' as drivin' a big box in heavy traffic and high heat. Just sets my soul afire, and pleases me greatly that I am lining the pockets of princes.

I could learn to hate SUVs, too. If I didn't have one, I wouldn't be making this trip.

I told both my brother and my sister that I would appreciate it if they would pick a different month for their life-changing and life-threatening events. October might be nice. This is the third year in a row that I've been called to Texas in high summer.

(I might point out, Mr. Sullivan, that this is my gay brother I'm serving. A straight gentleman of his age would likely not have so many precious things to transport and would probably own his own damned truck. I can only hope that you've convinced all your compadres to downsize when time comes for you to move.)

UPDATE: When I say precious, I'm not being sarcastic. I helped him pack Napoleonic plates when he left Natchez for Dallas in 1993 that sold for $500 apiece.