Route 66-based story
written by OC,SH’s founder, inspired by his September 2009 Route 66 road trip

CHAPTER 46: COUSIN CATCH-UP

The youngest brother remained on the air longer than planned for that 1st broadcast, partly because he was having so much fun being back on the air. Halfway through the 1st hour, Kyle texted the youngest brother to ask if he’d stay on at least an extra hour as the feedback WSM was receiving was tremendous. Listeners were loving the different interviews & features the youngest was giving … & this was just the very 1st of many from-along-Route 66 broadcasts! The youngest agreed, so his 1st broadcast extended to 11a US central.

Originally, the day’s hour-long broadcasts were scheduled for 9a US central, noon US central, 2p US central, 5p US central & 7p US central. But, with the extended 1st broadcast, Kyle & the younger brother agreed to this revised 1st-day afternoon & evening schedule: 1p-4p US central & 6p-9p US central. During the evening dinner break, the youngest spoke with his older brother about how best to schedule broadcasts the rest of the trip. Unfortunately, they didn’t come up with much of a solution because their trip, once they left Dwight, was largely unplanned on purpose to enjoy the road as they drove. The youngest wasn’t sure Kyle would like that, but to the youngest’s surprise, Kyle was quite fine with that & had already made some arrangements to alter regular programming as needed along the way.

But, before those evening discussions, the brothers spent lunchtime (from the time the 1st show ended around 11a US central until the 2nd block of time started) talking with their distant cousin & his wife (the man & woman who the older brother had welcomed & ushered into The Old Route 66 Family Restaurant prior to the 9a broadcast start). The brothers were unaware, but their cousin & his wife had been in the running to buy the famed Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari NM when it was on the market a year or so prior. While their bid came up short, it reinforced their cousin’s resolve to some day own a Route 66 business. But, the more he looked, the farther away from his dream he felt. So, with The Old Route 66 Family Restaurant now in a “cash crunch” & threatening to close, the brothers’ cousin & his wife decided they really want to help them out, but weren’t sure if that was a good idea. Both brothers told them it was, & the eldest noted since they don’t have prior ownership experience, an investment might be the best way to get into it. Once others along the route see how serious they are about Route 66 & its traditions & places & people, the better their chances of owning something in the future, perhaps. The eldest added that when his parents opened their Route 66 business, it was a different time & culture. Armed with that advice, the brothers’ cousin & his wife decided to formerly offer their help in keeping The Old Route 66 Family Restaurant alive & well.

Later, just as the younger brother’s 3rd broadcast started at 6p, the eldest spotted a familiar 1978 Ford LTD station wagon pulling into the restaurant’s parking lot….