Where the Interstates divide--10 and 20---I choose 20
Does this peak your curiosity? A bit of green lushness surrounded by miles of drab brown. What's so special about that spot? Will go find out! Park my rig and (carefully) make my way to it.
Yes--of course--it's very near the water collection point---BUT NOT IN IT. Might have drowned there. mmmmmm a metaphor for something. Walked all round it--enjoyed it and imagined that it enjoyed my company.
I move on to the ghost town of Toya---walk all round---boarded up school? Courthouse? Houses and church--even swimming pool-- abandoned. Any life here at all?
Well yes! Goats---lively and social--one has wool instead of hair. Did not see the caretaker.
Oil wells--a pumping--lots and lots of them. At an information center I stopped and got the story: There's a fresh new oil boom---old "dry" wells can be revitalized by the new fracking technique---AND they've found fresh pools down deeper. Things are booming from Pecos to Abilene. Unemployment is down to 3%--hiring signs everywhere. Beginning McDonalds workers earn $13 an hour. Teachers quit their classrooms to work in the oil fields
How many wind turbines are there in Texas? 10,000---and they each--on average generate enough power for 500 homes. The story is a bit more complicated ,however.
In Sweetwater, Tx--I wake to this sight---someone has tried to donate a dog to me---complete with water and food bowl. I ponder it for about a minute---but No. I fill both bowls and drive away.
Texas has lots of picnic and rest areas---far more than other states.
Newsbreak---I just get off the road a ways -- park in a churchyard--aim my satellite and watch the news--vaguely hoping someone will come and confront me---(I like to keep my relational skills fresh) No one came. This was a fundamentalist Church.
A free dumpsite at the Louisiana welcome center. Much appreciated.
I call it a night in Shreveport, La---see an empty lot among the Casinos and settle in.
No one disturbed me.
Next morning I discover I was the guest of Larry Flint's Hustler club---featuring Leather and Lace and $2 drinks.
Paused at La Downs racetrack to see the horses do their early morning workout.
Moved on to Minden, La and scratched a paranormal itch. There is an odd house along this creek that has appeared several times in my dreams. Don't know why. Or who lives there.
Today, I'm feeling bold---so I park and walk to the house---take pictures---and just stand outside. Soon a nice lady came out and I explained about my dream. She puzzles with me--said she bought it two years ago---that the seller told her it was built by an artist who had something to do with the song Blue Moon. She let me walk around and take pictures. I thanked her. Didn't notice any striking feelings--just a pleasant warmth from the lady. I left while she was still feeling comfortable.
Then I visited my Mother's grave. She bought this twin tombstone for her 2nd husband and herself---had everything but her death date engraved on it--- brought me here several times ---said it comforted her to know she had a resting place prepared.
I knelt and meditated with as clear a mind as I could manage. An image of a flowing river came into my mind.
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: Hindu's envisage life in 3 stages: Student: (learn learn learn ) Householder: (career, family) and Holy person: (spiritual pursuits, simplicity, wandering). I'm told that indeed SADHU's by the hundreds of thousand wander the continent---experiencing life---sustained by people they meet ---craving nothing, clinging to nothing---simply BEING---and let the physical world flow through them.
I sometimes think of myself as an American Sadhu.
Tomorrow I will begin to engage with my family. Do I still love them? Do they love me? Respect me?
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