road thoughts

Driving back from New Orleans I watch the changing roadkill. As I came North it changes from turtles to armadillos to groundhogs to deer. Pretty awful but that's the price that is paid for road travel, I guess.

The road is the place I meditate. Staying in the Now is a given but, except for the immediate areas around major cities, the Now is pretty much the same - long stretches of monotony broken only by signs for food,gas&lodging; an occasional hawk spotting; a herd of deer contemplating suicide.

This is when I decide what everyone I know should do with his/her life. This is when I decide to sell the island house; move permanently to NOLA; leave NOLA & move to the island full time. This is when I start my on-going rant against the steamship AUTHORITY. I decide to move back to my hometown-until I remember it is full of Jesus Savers & Fashion is not an option. on&on&on.

I also notice this year- there are suddenly more red cars than usual. other colors,too. but definitely more red ones. I wonder, does this show an upswing in the economy? an optimism about the future? That would be nice. It could be that people are finally tired of beige & gray. I know I am.

Also I notice the changes in car decals. Not so many Babies on Board & Support our troops. But these little stick figures that show a little mom,dad, any #of kids (large&small), dogs, cats, other pets. I start a riff on what I might put on my rear window... old broad, 2 dogs,4cats, an assortment of glassware, chairs, boxes of books.

I start thinking that I could keep driving & go visit Tony in San Francisco, Jon McBride in L.A., could I possibly drive to Antarctica & see my darling KarenGrace? The possibilities are endless & skanky foul motels are available everywhere.

When did chain motels get so awful? They used to be where one was certain of cleanliness. The private ones( well, at least those without hourly rates) are clean & clever. I think about doing a road trip just to check out what hotels/motels are the most interesting.

I think about buying an RV & having no known address & wandering at will.

I think about what will happen if I run out of gas in Mississippi with Mass. plates.

I think about why I never stop at roadside attractions & am always in such a hurry to get wherever it is I'm going.

I think about driving all night.

I think about how my shoulder hurts from all this wind.

I think about how clever I am not to have gone off the road.