Texas, Pickup Trucks And a Long Past Due Road Trip

09/17/2024 – I was supposed to bring my 2006 Chevy Work Truck back from Texas in October of 2023. The truck was to be a hot rod project, complete with big plans, a big engine and maybe a little drag racing. Unfortunately, I took a nap, lost the inspiration and, when I woke up, I thought I would chase motorcycles for a while. Still chasing.

Why do old men do foolish things? Because they are old men, and because they can. Everyone knows it is essential for an old man to keep moving, if they intend to grow even older.

So, Wednesday, I will board a morning Delta flight at PWM, grit my teeth through two connecting flights and, hopefully, end up in Austin, Texas. Right now, it’s trying to decide what I will forget to pack, and how to get 3 lbs of excess weight out of my suitcase.

If that all comes together, I will visit with family for a week or two, before loading up the truck and heading back up to Maine. I have 72 songs on my Spotify Favorites. What else would I need?

Time travel while standing still…

When my kids were young, and they tried to stubbornly reject forward motion, I would explain to them that, no matter how much they resisted, time and life were moving ahead. They could choose to advance on their own and control their own destiny, or they could stand still and relinquish control of their future to others.

Did that work? I don’t know. They would mostly look up to me from their highchairs, and continue to assume a closed mouth response to spoons full of strained carrots and peas. Still, I believe my situational assessment was, and remains, valid.

Route planning, then and now…

In the fall of 2023, I was going to fly to Texas, get my old truck, and drive it home. The plan was to visit a an old childhood friend and two old Air Force buddies.

The conversations leading up to the planned 2023 trip were fun, as only speaking with old friends can be. After decades of not being in contact, you pick up a phone or call, the voice is instantly familiar, and a comfortable conversation ensues. Weird.

I didn’t make that trip and I don’t even remember why. Perhaps I was worried about prepping for winter; last minute house and winter equipment things? Family visiting for Christmas, so too much change to deal with in a short period of time? Oh, yeah, now I remember, being away from home makes me anxious. The result of too much travel over the years, too many absences, too much loss.

Credit Ella Winter or Thomas Wolfe, you still can’t ever go home again and maybe you can’t revisit old friends again? There is always that concern, that if you leave either, you won’t find them when you attempt to return.

Which all led to a year’s worth of procrastination; my wife is here, my friends are there. What if I lost them all somewhere around Arkansas. My memories could all be wiped, replaced with only the spectacle of the Crater of Diamonds State Park. No, I don’t believe I am overthinking the situation.

You stand still, but time and life go on without you. Oh, yeah…

Within the course of a passing year, one Air Force buddy found a woman desperate enough to be in his company. He sold his home, bought one on wheels, and now they travel the southwest, stopping only to down some beers and margaritas, enjoying the company of other mature people, also traveling the country in RVs. Good for them.

A second Air Force buddy, nicest guy you would ever want to meet, suddenly stopped being easy going and enjoying family, fishing and his old pick up truck. In the midst of a casual conversation, he began to address me, harshly, with scripture based admonishments.

I’m about the same as I was when I met him fifty seven years ago. If anything, old age has firmed up my interpretations of the Ten Commandments, so I saw no need for him to “drive me out of the temple”. I miss his mind… his personality. So I included he and his wife in my daily prayers, and move on.

The final friend, the longest friendship dating back sixty six years, still works on hot rods, but he has to drag an oxygen tank around with him wherever he goes, and he naps between bolts when torquing down cylinder heads. He’s like me, he lives in the boonies, but in a different state. I need to stop in. No more stalling.

I’m thinking I will drive north, through to South Dakota, wave at Ellsworth AFB, make a right turn and follow the Great Lakes. Maybe a couple of three weeks. Or maybe I’ll just head northeast out of Texas, and get home in three days. Lots of winter prep work waiting.

No, I did not stop writing about guns. A couple arrived this week, walnut and blued steel, and I will get started with them when I return. I hope you guys had a great summer.