K2R2 turning 2
Part I
As we have traveled the last two years across the fruited plains over hills, hollows, valleys, mountains, rivers, lakes, and through countless thousands of cites, towns and settlements the K2R2 has attracted a lot of attention. For the first year we kept notes on our interactions with the people regarding the K2R2 which is the topic of this post. A typical encounter starts like this: “What is that thing (or more colloquially ‘thang’)?” At first I would reply, “It’s a Sportsmobile.” Now I say, “Home.” The repartee of the American people is a remarkable and humbling thing to encounter when one is unprepared. So, let us explore this phenomenon in a three part series.
Pop Culture: TV, Movies and Digital Media
When it comes to TV, movies, and the digital world we are most often spotted by a starry-eyed adolescent, teenager, or young adult male, mouth agape as we drive by. We were puzzled at first until one mouthed the word “Rumpo” in awe as we passed slowly by in a campground loop road in Arkansas. We wondered, who Rumpo is? We finally got schooled by Nature’s Own delivery driver sporting a Batman logo mask outside a Walmart in Marble Falls, TX pumping gas.
He came around the pumps and said, “Your van is awesome!”
“Thank you.”
I sensed a broad smile behind the Batman logo and he said, “It looks like Rumpo.”
Then I asked what or who this “Rumpo”is.
He replied enthusiastically, “It looks like Rumpo from G.T.A.!”
I replied rather flatly while showering him with total lack of geezer wokeness, “What is G.T.A.?”
He replied politely, “It’s a computer game, Grand Theft Auto and Rumpo is an urban Dodge Bravado that’s been in GTA since version 3!”
Not being able to stop the further erosion of my street cred, I have to ask the obvious, “What is the latest version?”
“Five.” he says rushing off to stock the supercenter shelves.
I returned to driving Mrs. Rebecca with a new alias, “Woke”.
Rumpo the van Grand Theft Auto V
Next on the list is typified by an incident in Blue Ridge Summit, PA. While we stopped on the roadside across from an automobile repair shop consulting the maps we were startled by a loud warhoop followed by the outburst, “A-TEAM!” coming from one of the service bay doors. It came from a greasemonkey standing in the opening waving and smiling broadly with his few remaining teeth. A-team? Minus the red stripe I guess? I pity the fool!
A-Team Van from NBC 1983 – 1987
The most bizarre media reference was at a Krystal Burger drive thru window where a young horror movie aficionado told us she thought the K2R2 looked like the Jeepers Creeper truck. “What is a creeper truck?” I asked.
“Oh, you know, from the movie Jeepers Creepers. Your order comes to $7.47.” she said smiling.
Jeepers Creepers Truck Jeepers Creepers the movie 1, 3, and 4
Stay tuned next we will explore K2R2 and money!