Montana and Texas

I'm sitting in my knitting chair, watching the changeable sky that seems to be the norm here. One minute pouring, the next shining sun. It makes for interesting clouds and light, constant moving and fighting creating strange holes and beams that disappear into castles in a moment. I'm sipping Huckleberry Cream Soda, and I just turned on the heat for the first time. I'm loving Montana.

But Robert Earl Keen is singing little barbs at me; I never really made it to Texas. Two days in Amarillo does not a Texas experience make. How is it that I managed to miss the two states I wanted to hit most? I've dreamt about Louisiana since I was a kid, watching terrible Van Damme movies where he tries to be a Cajun. And Texas... sigh. What have I done?

It's okay, my travelin' ain't over yet. I'll get there. But damn, I wish I had made it on this trip.

The miles that I have traveled, the places I have seen
Just won't let me put a saddle on this crazy cowboy dream.

And yet I wouldn't for the life of me change where I am right now. I guess it's just in me to be torn; I always want to be in two places at once. Or five places.

I braved my bat and strange bug-ridden kitchen yesterday in order to make cookies. Somethings are just too important to let little animals drive you away. I took a plate over to one set of neighbors yesterday, and I think I'll bring some to the others that welcomed me tomorrow. Really I'm only justifying the cookies for myself, but I can always convince myself that others need my cookies.

Jobs are good, although too much. Yes, I do have two jobs now. Silly me, I know, but the coffee stop won't be more than a few days a month as back-up, and I can now add barista to my ever-growing resume fodder. The motel is not holding to the 2 or 3 days I insisted on; I'm sure in a few weeks I will actually say something about it. It's just such a hard choice; sleep and housework, or money? Hmmm. I think the money might win for another couple of weeks.

Still no response from the bug, water, or house repair guys. Grrr. Everything went so quickly and well, and then ground to a halt. It seems like I haven't progressed at all in the past 2 weeks. I still can't take a shower longer than 5 minutes, the bugs still are twitching, and the floor still has spy-holes to the basement. And winter, it is a-comin'.

Speaking of winter, my cable sweater is coming so well!! I love love love it! I'm just asking for something terrible to happen, aren't I? I'm going to discover some terrible flaw in my math, or run out of yarn halfway through. I am using a pattern for a much chunkier yarn, so even with my loose stitches, I had to add 40 stitches or so to get gauge. But it will fit. Oh yes, it will fit.

If I could live my life all over, it wouldn't matter anyway. Because I never could stay sober on the Corpus Christi Bay.

Every state I visited around Texas had things to say about them Texans. I think it was in New Mexico that I heard gripes, often interrupted by wry chuckles, about the crazy trucks with Texas plates that came up to go four-by'ing. They sure knew how to have fun, even if they tore everything to shit in the process. In Amarillo I leaned about mudding, a leisure-time activity that basically consists of tearing around river beds in big trucks, spraying as much mud as you can.

Damn, what else did I miss? Someday...

By the way; pictures are on the way, just need to figure out how to get them where they need to go.

Also by the way; anyone else have dreams about freeways? I'm alternating between horrible nightmares about flooding and the same repetitive nightmare where I drive the same damn interchange, night after night, and yet I never get it right and always end up stuck on a multi-lane interstate with no exit until hell. Is this just evidence of my hatred of interstates, or is there a deeper meaning?

Comments

[Marilyn]

You should definitely get to Louisiana if only for New Orleans--it's not to be missed.

As for Texas, other than changing planes at DFW, my sole Texan experience was working a TV convention for a week in Houston...during which I got stranded at Gilley's nightclub with five other hardy souls and the cleaning crew. (Where they filmed "Urban Cowboy"...it burned down years ago.) I'd love to visit Austin, but my main Texan destination would be Larry McMurtry's bookstores in Archer City...I REALLY wanna go there.

Looking forward to the photos!

[Melissa]

Ahhh, your muddin' comments brought back my wilder days. We used to go muddin' every Friday and Saturday night behind the Summer Twin Drive-In in Memphis.

I love reading about your Montana experience. I've been dreaming of Idaho, sheep, horses and no neighbors for the last couple of weeks.

Right now though the NW Florida Gulf Coast with no tourists would be heaven.

[melissa]

So. I think your dreams of interstates are rooted in what you don't like about interstates - the homoginazation of the trip. Interstates are all the same, no variation, no patience for variations, change, etc. Combine that with the small-town experience you've been having (your church experience especially - the "get our own in office" experience, not the others), and I'd say your dreams are reflective of fears of becoming less liberal, less adventurous, less impulsive, etc.

Now, since you've also just settled into a house after a long time on the road, this is a very understandable subconcious reaction. However, I'm not worried about you :-)

[amy]

Not highways but planes.. ferries.. always trying to catch one to get somewhere... Or living in res at University again (I hated it).

[sarah b.]

If you do make it to Texas one day, I can show you around. I have lived in Dallas and now in Houston. I just completed a statewide scavenger hunt in which we hit Houston, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth in one day. It was insane. Oh, and they go muddin' in Arkansas too, that's where I grew up and it was quite a pasttime. :-)

[Ann]

Exit 80. :)

[Daisy-Winifred]

Or even junction 45 and the A4067 :0)

[Kathleen]

Oh, I hope those repair guys get in there soon. And can't wait to see pics.

[Kira]

In Vermont we call it mud-bogging. Or really, mud-boggin'.

[Sandy]

I never never dream about the road. (Ha!)
Last night I dreamed about a British Smorgasbord.

Wow- isn't that Huckleberry soda the best? Made in Kalispell I believe.
Go to 36 South Last Chance Gulch road sometime on a Saturday before 5 in Helena. No novelties only traditionals and oh so refreshing if you like wool.

What kind of cookies?

[Mj]

Hi Friend,
Sounds like you're settling in nicely...I can't wait to see pictures, either! Life on the island is winding down after a busy summer...bittersweet as the kids are all heading back to far away places...(though my laundry loads will certainly decrease!) Stay well! (ps...if you have any carpentry how to questions, Steve's a good instructor!!!!)

[rachel]

OK, so next time I'll read all of your posts before commenting, because this one answered all the questions I had. I hope you're getting enough rest, we don't want you to get sick. I'll call you soon.

[Rhonda]

Loved reading your Robert Earl Keen verses!! I live in Texas and absolutely love it. If you head down New Braunfels way, look me up! The road goes on forever and the party never ends...