KC/Texas--Day 2 headed West

KC/Tx—Day 2

I woke up a bit later than I planned—but man, driving takes it out of you.  And I am NOT a morning person!  I had some delish golden grahams and hung out with the Fraiponts a bit more and then HIT the road!  I had 12 hours today, so I was pretty concerned.  Thankfully, had a bunch of podcasts lined up.  The road was long, but my iphone battery was longer.  Every Texas town followed the same pattern:  speed limits went from 65 to 45, some minor trailers and dwellings on the outskirts of town, a silo, a mill, a bar or 2, and an off-brand grocery store. I must have gone through 6 of these, seemingly spaced every 10 miles.  I always think “What is Christmas eve like here?” and I think of that amazing Loretta Lynn song “One’s on the Way” about Topeka, KS, and how life keeps trucking along in middle America, even as women libbers are marching in NYC.  Good God—I just looked that song up---written by Shel Silverstein!  Say what???  He also wrote a “A boy named Sue”.    

Anyway, back in Dalhart, it was twilight and sun was setting.  The gloaning! I saw the swirl of police lights and was pulled over.  I felt panicky---like shit, what did I do?  The officer walked up, and stared at me, at my old beagle, and my overstuffed car, and said “Your headlight is out” and I immediately thought---I AM BEING RACIALLY PROFILED AND HE IS LYING!  But then, I remembered my age and race and knew my headlight was out.  He took my license and registration and I panicked and thought “MY INSURANCE CARD IS OUT OF DATE” but it wasn’t, and I have my Geico app handy.

He took a long time running my plates, and I thought “I’M NOT GONNA MAKE IT TO ALBUQUERQUE TONIGHT” and sure enough, I was a good citizen and the officer LET ME OFF!

He directed me to an auto parts store, which had closed at 7p, 5 minutes before.  If only he had run my plates quicker.  I tried a gas station and they said “Sunday night, 7p.  No way”.   So I reluctantly found a hotel, and went with the pricier option for “safety” and there I was.  I can’t even recall what I ate that night, as my Kefir had spoiled more than it’s natural state.  Oh!  Pickle peed on the bedspread, so I folded it all up in to a ball and took off---sorry cleaning lady!  The internet had once told me that they see a lot worse from rock stars and frat guys, so I left a tip and headed out. 

I packed up, and headed to Santa Fe.  (By the way---Dalhart is right by the town Wilco!  My favorite favorite band of all the time!!)