Fifteen years ago today:
A drive through Memphis in search of Beale Street and original Holiday Inns, followed by a trek across Little Rock, and a landing in Oklahoma City.
Fifteen years ago today:
A grand tour of various incarnations of Route 66 in Oklahoma City and west toward Amarillo, with stops in Clinton OK, Shamrock TX, and other spots, plus a visit to Pop Hicks Restaurant and the Route 66 Museum in Clinton.
Fifteen years ago today:
More Route 66 in Amarillo, Tucumcari, Albuquerque, and finally Gallup by twilight.
Having dinner with my dad in a crummy diner in the crummy town of Thomasville on the way to see my mom, and doing it to the accompaniment of “Under the Milly Way” by The Church. There’s something horribly wrong with all this.
Fifteen years ago today:
Gallup, New Mexico. Flagstaff, Arizona. Don’t forget Winona. Kingman. And that’s it for today. The Route 66 tour continues after a flat tire in Gallup with a visit to Bedrock in lieu of the Grand Canyon…and a Wigwam Motel in Holbrook.
I used to do these all the time but I haven’t recently. Tonight seems like a good night since I haven’t much of anything to say tonight that doesn’t revolve around (a) whininess about the fact that I’m not in Canada right now like I’m supposed to be, (b) misplaced resentment that’s making me feel a little guilty, or (c) new techniques in the avoidance of starch and sugar.
We’ve already established that October is my reflective month and that I’m not averse to reruns, so here’s early October through the years:
- One year ago: Preparing for one of the best road trips ever.
- Two years ago: When the fair stopped being fun.
- Three years ago: Landed my first full-time library job.
- Four years ago: Godless Americans.
- Six years ago: Visitors.
- Ten years ago:
CelebratingDiscussing ten years in San Francisco. - Twelve years ago: Another anniversary entry (where most of the links no longer work because I removed my high school journal excerpts).
- Fifteen years ago: Finishing up the 1997 US Tour.
- Sixteen years ago: In Minnesota. I need to go back.
Fifteen years ago today:
From Kingman across the Mojave Dessert via a very old and deserted version of Route 66, then to Bakersfield. This was pretty much the last leg of the Joads’ journey and it’s pretty close to the end for me too.
Fifteen years ago today:
On the final day, I make my way through the Central Valley from Bakersfield to Stockton, then over Altamont Pass, through the East Bay, across the Bay Bridge and back South of Market where I’d started more than a month before.
Talk Talk
It’s My Life (1984)
It always comes on the radio right when I need to hear it. I love that.