Road Warrior

 

Blood pressure has never been a problem for me … until today. Of all places to escalate, it happened while pumping gas in Gallup, NM.

 

Her high heels elevated her body to about 5’10. The tank halter did the miraculous, by divine intervention, of protecting assets equaling 42 to 44 (ok ... I had no tape ... nice educated guess). Most disturbing was the length of unclothed leg and the short … short … Levi denim hip huggers. She appeared to be having trouble placing the fuel nozzle into her Hummer’s tank.

 

She kept twisting her head to fling the long black raven hair out of her eyes and brushing her wrist across her ruby lipped mouth. It appeared the fumes were bothering her.  What red-blooded male would not come to her rescue … wrench the nozzle from her bejeweled hands and fill her tank.

 

Well it sure would not be me … “John … what’s taking so long to fill our tank,” Susan called out, “and don’t forget our receipt.”

 

When I finished and hopped in the car, Susan asked if I felt all right … “your face is redder than usual,” … “I’m ok, never felt better!!!”

 

This trip really has its rewards!

 

This is our Blue Collar adventure as opposed to the Executive kind. The latter involves advance reservations, airport security (where I’m body searched because of two knee implants … I set off all the bells and whistles). Then there are scheduled timetables, plane delays, obnoxious seating on planes where one has to climb over another to get to the aisle. Rushing, upon landing, to get to the next gate. Peering out the window, praying for a safe takeoff and an even safer landing. The mind does not handle well the visions of turmoil that could change your life forever. Which is why our Blue Collar sojourn is so welcomed.

 

In this venue you meet really nice folks. Like the Hispanic couple from Texas I met over a glass of orange juice at the Microtel in Gallup. A lodging facility whose hallway carpet looked like the Marine Corps Mud Run had happened there and a manager from India who had the most ridiculous toupee. Words here could not truly convey how such a large hairpiece can cover such a small head … almost hiding the eyes.

 

Where was I … oh yeah … The couple was returning to Texas, just having delivered their middle son, a freshman, to Stanford University. Their oldest, already there on a full scholarship, Engineering, was now a senior. Their oldest daughter is a student at Texas El Paso, also on full scholarship. The father and mother are mainstream Blue Collar. Both working one to two jobs so their children can have what they knew they could never have, growing up. When asked how proud they are of their children … the father jumped up … swelled up his chest … raised his arms and shouted … ‘THIS MUCH’.

 

It’s such pleasure to witness the beauty of the land we travel. Large vistas of open range, soaring mountain ranges, unparalleled mesas carved by draining waters during the time of creation. Prong Horned antelope grazing, Elk hidden within stands of soaring pines … Blue Collar is truly the way to travel.

 

Until next time … Best to all …