Today we're in Elk City, Oklahoma. Not far from the Texas border. We're coming down from the high altitudes into the bleached white-gold grasses that stretch for miles with no mountains in sight. The oil pumps have stopped their push-pull. Now and then, there is an emerald green field of something. Dad would know.
Maybe because I am Oklahoma born and raised, it feels good to be here.
I went into town today while Andre rested. I was rewarded by finding two consignment shops, friendly exchanges with people, hearing an accent that warms me—and wandering through an "antiques" (and collectibles?) group shop that also sold seeds and fertilizers. I am not happy to say that there were very few items of interest there, although there were a few rewards in the clothing stores.
But the biggest pleasure was driving Business-40/Old Route 66, and walking downtown, just getting the feel of things. I did pull into a Braums, my parents' favorite hangout for a small burger, fries and 12 ounce milk shake—totally as an homage to them. Totally.
The owners here at Elk Run RV Park have had to raise their prices. Seems when they were at their busiest a few months ago, with the front row full of big rigs, their electric bill was $8000. So the guy in the office said. He also reported that they were full because wind turbines were being built here. 82, to be exact. With 164 more planned. And lots of people working at something connected with natural gas. I don't know who employed them all. But he says that "the oil companies were making billions; now they are only making millions, so they shut everything down."
When I came back from exploring, I found that we were finally receiving our promised wifi service; something was wrong with it when we arrived. Because Andre pursued it, the office had to call the provider, who found that the trouble was at their end, and corrected it. Now, to top things off, the grand finale, the musical Oklahoma! is on at this moment. We sang along to the soundtrack as kids, and it's always been a thrill to this Rodgers and Hammerstein lover, Oklahoman or not. Of course as you might guess, this is a deeply painful experience for Andre. In fact, before I can magnanimously suggest that he can change to something else, he has announced that in 8 minutes I will be shut down. All the more reason to live each moment fully.
Maybe because I am Oklahoma born and raised, it feels good to be here.
I went into town today while Andre rested. I was rewarded by finding two consignment shops, friendly exchanges with people, hearing an accent that warms me—and wandering through an "antiques" (and collectibles?) group shop that also sold seeds and fertilizers. I am not happy to say that there were very few items of interest there, although there were a few rewards in the clothing stores.
But the biggest pleasure was driving Business-40/Old Route 66, and walking downtown, just getting the feel of things. I did pull into a Braums, my parents' favorite hangout for a small burger, fries and 12 ounce milk shake—totally as an homage to them. Totally.
The owners here at Elk Run RV Park have had to raise their prices. Seems when they were at their busiest a few months ago, with the front row full of big rigs, their electric bill was $8000. So the guy in the office said. He also reported that they were full because wind turbines were being built here. 82, to be exact. With 164 more planned. And lots of people working at something connected with natural gas. I don't know who employed them all. But he says that "the oil companies were making billions; now they are only making millions, so they shut everything down."
When I came back from exploring, I found that we were finally receiving our promised wifi service; something was wrong with it when we arrived. Because Andre pursued it, the office had to call the provider, who found that the trouble was at their end, and corrected it. Now, to top things off, the grand finale, the musical Oklahoma! is on at this moment. We sang along to the soundtrack as kids, and it's always been a thrill to this Rodgers and Hammerstein lover, Oklahoman or not. Of course as you might guess, this is a deeply painful experience for Andre. In fact, before I can magnanimously suggest that he can change to something else, he has announced that in 8 minutes I will be shut down. All the more reason to live each moment fully.
posted by Susan at 5:09 PM
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