Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike…

In a fit of classic sitcom-like coincidence and chance for bonding, my stepfather and I… In a fit of classic sitcom-like coincidence and chance for bonding, my stepfather and I drove six and a half hours to Red Bank, N.J., to see America and Al Stewart perform. And then we drove back.

I learned of both musical acts through my stepfather, who had made mix tapes of both before he sold his record collection. I had been listening to his America tape since I was 2 and he wasn’t even my stepfather yet. I began listening to his Al Stewart tapes last year.

So on Thursday afternoon, armed with cheese sandwiches and more tapes from the featured musicians, we hopped in his red Maxima.

And, after promising my mother that we’d call when we arrived, we took off.

Six hours, two wrong turns and directions from one non-English speaking gas station owner later, we ran into Red Bank