Somewhere in the Panhandle....

During my drive across the Texas Panhandle, in a tiny town whose name I can’t remember, I entered into an interesting conversation. I’d stopped for gas and something to drink, and when I approached the counter to pay I overheard the clerk and another woman discussing their health insurance woes.

This is a subject dear to my heart (The Man and I are both self-employed, so we pay through the wazoo for coverage), so I began to commiserate. “This may make me unpopular in this part of the country,” I said (expecting cold shoulders), “but I’m really hopeful that President Obama will improve things for all of us.

“No,” they replied in near-unison, “we’re all about Obama.”

Lesson: appearance can be deceiving and hope lives everywhere.

Dispatch from SLC

Some random musings from the cross-country drive:


• What do you do when you pull out of your driveway to log 2200 miles, turn on your radio, and get NOTHING? That means no NPR, no random Tejano, no books on iPod. You decide to be in the moment, as deep introspection interferes with driving acuity.

• The taste of fear: being in the middle of the pack of cars and trucks driving 85 mph on I-25, even when it’s down to one lane.

• Even though the amber waves of grain have been harvested to frankly unattractive stubble, the purple mountains’ majesty is out in full force, last lingerings of snow on top.

• Breathtaking? Two huge thunderstorm cells outlining a clear alley when you turn west into Wyoming. Alas, the alley did not stay clear; a truly horrendous thunderstorm (and, as a Texan, I’ve seen my share) with an active lightning display, followed by pea-soup fog on a twisty bit of I-80, makes the last room at the overpriced Best Western look mighty good indeed.

• Little America is still scary. I've never seen so many blond children in one place. Never.

• The Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City is featuring white sangria in its fabled Wine Hour. Yum.

Kelly and Kaiser hit the road....

If you're interested in a thoughtful reflection on my day's drive, click here.

I've been on the road a solid eight hours, so I'm going to postpone a post until I'm more rested.

I will say that the grass is drier and the small towns more boarded up than on my last pass through.

Trip Prep, One

I began, today, the ritual Sorting of the Clothes.

First stop? Melange Mountain, the stratified heap of miscellany in my dressing area. I recovered a few missing items, uncovered two forgotten purchases, and discovered many things that Simply Will No Longer Do.

Next stop? The Oregon Pile, where I re-heap the clothes I may need for my trip, including long sleeved items and light jackets that make me sweat on sight, even in my air conditioned rooms.

Final Stop? Laundry Junction, where I de-dirt the delicates and soap the sturdy.

Tomorrow actual packing begins!

Hovering

...is how I feel. Since Mother died the 29th, we've had the memorial service (the 5th), the burial (the 12th), and we have probate tomorrow.

Then it's on to executor stuff.

I promise I'll return, most likely while on the road to Oregon, beginning June 24th.

Requiscat in Pace

My mother died around 11 p.m. Friday night.

Many thanks to all of you who have surrounded me with love and support throughout this difficult period.

And We Wait....

I've decided to take a break from blogging until after my mother dies.

I suspect this will be sooner, rather than later. Her decline has been exponential over the last three days. I'm almost certain she still recognizes me, but she has little to say. She's eating and drinking less and sleeping more. She is not in pain.

Thanks for all your support.....I shall return.