The dirt of Oklahoma is red. Really red. We have red clay dirt at home and New Mexico prides itself on it's terracotta red soil, celebrating it by making almost every building, overpass, or cement structure the same color as the soil. But Oklahoma beats them all in the deep redness of it's soil.
Today was a clear warm day with only a light breeze blowing at our backs. The sky was blue and only a few powder puff clouds lazily drifted across the sky and we zoomed across the Texas Panhandle on into Oklahoma. The drive itself was mostly uneventful. We saw neat things here and there; beautiful hills, rugged plains, long horn cattle, farms, small towns, and all that makes one think of the high plains that are New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. But as far as problems on the road, there were none. As far as unusual and the bizarre, there was none.
I suppose the coolest thing was when we drove through the town we will start performing at tomorrow. Right in the middle of the main hwy crossroads in the middle of town was a large box about 4' high and 3' wide. On each side of the big wood box was our show's poster. Everyone who goes through the town won't miss it. I bet a few truck drivers have cursed it (being in the middle of the road like it is.) Victor Jr. exclaimed when seeing it, "I'm famous!"
Since the town we are to perform in is tiny we are staying 20 miles down the road, a town over. Since OK is wide and open the 20 minute drive felt like an hour. Our hotel is not what we prefer, being the snobs we are. It was built in the 40s or 50s and looks it. I have amended my contracts to stipulate certain level hotels from now on. Funny how this year my contract is going through so many amendments. But for good or bad this joint will be our home for a couple of days. I'm sleeping in the RV. We thought it was nice that the hotel had a banner out front that says, "Jesus is Lord". When we checked in I noticed the owners were of a race that generally don't have many Christians so I asked if they were. "No, the previous owners were." I think they keep the banner up to attract loyal brothers and sisters. Hmmmm?
Right behind our hotel about 100 yards is the cattle auction yards and today the pens are full. Tonight I will sleep to the sound of the mooing cow. Not the first time. Across the street is a 50s style drive-in restaurant that has since become a Mexican Restaurant with it's roof painted red white and green. Next to it is a metal building that houses the local sports bar and grill and ten lane bowling ally. It's a quaint cross roads Okie town and if the audiences turn out as great as the ones we ran into in Watonga (another small Okie town) last year, then we are going to have a blast.
Back to NM for a moment. I mentioned the gas leak problem yesterday. Turned out the overflow hose had rubbed a hole into itself so I hit the Napa Auto parts store (that's twice in two years they have come to my rescue...those other stores seem to have workers that can only think through their computers. The Napa folks just know what you need...they don't need no stinkin' computer....but I bet they use one from time to time). Nick installed it and then we hit the road. While he was installing it, I stopped by the front office to say goodbye (very nice folks run the Kiva RV park in Tucumcari, NM). The former owner was in there chit chatting with the new owners. He pointed to the old fashioned push-lights arrow sign out front that had bends and crinkles in it and told us the story of the local hippy who every morning and night stands on a corner on the main drag and rings bells and chimes and does a sun-up and sundown dance daily. Well, one day he lost his parakeet and went all over town looking for it calling it's name. He noticed a hole in the sign and figured the little fellow must've gone in there. So he bent the sign open and poked his head in calling the bird's name. He hasn't money so the old owner just let it go...what could he do? But the sign has a story now. It would've been neat to see the old guy do his morning and evening thing. Maybe in the future.
One thing I have noticed regarding the towns and cities we have passed through is there is a feeling and a look to them that reminds me of the seventies. A little bit of disrepair and dust has popped up everywhere. Like people are putting off fixing things up. Like the economy is crunching on them a bit. Like I said, in the big and small towns. Though it is more noticeable in the small towns. In the stores I notice people are buying the staples while letting the luxuries on the shelf. I'm seeing dustier, older cars. And at the gas station I have seen people putting in all they have into their tanks. Sometimes it's only $5 or $8....all they have by the looks of it. Then I turned on the radio and heard our Prez tell me things are recovering. I heard the oil execs on Capitol Hill defend their record profits and why they deserve not to be taxed, while we are paying through the nose to bring our show to little towns across America. Just like the 70s.........big spending prez and oil gone wild. Just a rant.
Jambalaya for dinner tonight. Made by the loving hands of Mami. We are all fat and happy on a budget.
That "ahhhh" travel feeling came over me today as we hummed on down the highway. It's good to be on the road again.
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