The hawks playing in the wind welcomed us into the lone star state - they glided so beautifully on the air currents that we both strained our necks to keep watching them float their way across the sky. At times there would be one that would just float in the same place, dipping left and right as if to keep its balance up there. It seems so gentle, so relaxing and so carefree. Until the eagle arrives, I guess! There were a gazillion white and yellow butterflies flittering across the road, all headed for the wheels or the radiator - or so it seemed. Such a pity and later I hand picked about ten beautiful yellow ones off the rv radiator. The purple flowers stretched their way across the countryside, mixed in with more subdued yellow and orange patches. The long grasses on the side of the road whipped their silvery tips in the wind and I tried to capture the full effect on the camera so that I could look at them later and maybe even paint them one day.. if wishes were pennies......
The oil pumps were gently dipping their heads in slow motion, pumping their treasure from underground. Their movement is almost eerie in its slow and constant motion - I would have to paint big bunny pictures on them, or roadrunner heads - something to make it a truely surreal view. Maybe thats why I am not in an oil family - I can just picture the scene of this mad woman running between pumps with cans of paint! We drove through many towns that were obviously dying communities, some of them seemed only to have one or two residents left and so many times we wondered what people do when their little town dies and everyone moves on. It's not like you can even sell your property and start over somewhere.....and must be very scary for that to happen. We could not help but be very thankful after seeing how and where some people live. One of the living towns had a red brick road through the main section and a real, genuine tumbleweed tumbling down the middle of it all - Texas! Many of these places have beautiful wall paintings on a good few of their buildings... they vary from beautiful scenes of the countryside to humongous pictures of people and carraiges and boats and lighthouses..... really lovely. Many buildings were obviously old, not as in falling down old, just beautiful and character-ful old. Some of the signs on these buildings would no doubt bring a fortune on ebay and some of the antique cars slowly rusting in the yards would have definately made some restorers heart sing!
After a long day battling the wind and small roads we found a campground that said it was free! It was difficult to believe but it really was free - there was nowhere to pay at all. This campground is in Brownsfield Texas and was much appreciated! The grounds were level, there were electric and water hookups and a dump station too. Everyone treated the area with respect and there was no trash lying around at all and no one had moved in on a permanent basis either. Really a good stop - thanks Brownsfield! When we left in the morning, one of the other campers stopped us to chat and find out what we were about - what lovely people. After chatting for a good little while they waved us on with good wishes and lovely smiles! A good start to the day.
We took the 380 E which was flat, dusty yet beautiful in a very strange way. There was a patchwork field made up of cows of all colors and sizes - it was truely incredible and really lovely. There were so many cows that we were quite stunned and it really looked quite fascinating with pure white 'tickbirds' dotted inbetween all the cattle. Yes, I got many photos of that too....well, there were miles of cows and the camera had been mostly quiet all day long! All this area is farmlands and we quickly gave up the idea of finding some dead charro (I think!) cactus to take home with us. This cactus has a beautiful wood when dried, but we definately did not want to mess with any of it when still alive and full of those prickles!! And then a beautiful multicolor butterfly flew in my window and sat on my foot for about half an hour before walking its way slowly up the door, waiting for the right wind to pull it out........we just watched each other. Very strange.
There are some really odd road signs along the way - many I have tried to catch on the camera but one that really gets me is a regular along this road - it reads "Hills Obstruct View". No, really? Wow......... In some places there are so many oil pumps going that it looks like some really weird moving metal forest as the pumps line the horizon and everything intween, moving in their slow purposeful way. Somehow I think that being caught out here alone at night could be really uncomfortable. What happens to the spaces where the oil comes out of? Do they refill them or just hope that sinkholes do not appear? That thought held my attention as we scooted down that long, flat road into Benton and to meet a friend there. By this time we had been driving for a good 7 hours, the traffic was a madhouse in Benton and we were both very tired, but looking forward to meeting Gale B, a lady I had met online who also has cml.
After settling into the new campground, Gale and her husband Bill arrived to meet us. What a wonderful couple! This is the lady that ran a marathon in a pink energiser bunny costume that they made, powered by Gleevec bottles on her back and putting her finger on others that were slowing down saying "I energize thee!", spurring them on to finish! What a lady. We chatted non stop for three hours, not getting everything said by a long way, or having enough time at all! It was such an easy evening with many laughs. I listened to some of her stories of pre gleevec times and shuddered to think what would have been for Steven and so many others, had the progress to gleevec and now others not been made! I counted my blessings so many times that evening while I listened to some of their stories. I also listened to how Bill went through everything with her and realised just how absolutely important a caregiver, partner and or friend is. Cancer is not something just experienced by the person that has it and the help, understanding, love and patience of a caregiver is critical. I honestly think that someone who is close like that should write a book of their experiences and thoughts - it would really help other newly diagnosed caregivers to know what can be expected along the way.
A good few photos later, more laughs, sad goodbyes and hopes of future visits, they left and we sank into bed, wishing that the evening could have gone on for a good lot longer. Hopefully soon.........
So we left Benton and headed south with good gentle jazz music playing, airconditioner pumping in good cold air and feeling wonderful after a good nights sleep. We both need the beach, the gentle wind, open spaces and the sand between our toes again.... The airconditioner in the motorhome was already kicking on at 8am and it was hot already, inside and out. We found a road almost directly south, past the Big Thicket National Preserve, Jasper, Beaumont, into Louisana where we spent one night - dropped a few coins in a machine - won nothing and today we scooted across into Mississippi on the interstate. We have not done much interstate driving at all and it was great, making good time and bringing us closer to those long lazy beach walks. We could not see much hurricane damage along this road at all, although there were a goodly number of trees snapped and twisted off in a few areas. In places the road was terrible and the noise inside the rv was stupendous. The cutlery drawer flew open with all its contents screaming at each other; we could hear the stuff in the refridgerator bouncing around and just waiting to jump out when we opened it; the crockery rattled as did the pots and pans and the whole 'house' generally screamed at every seam. We drove right between different storms and heard on the radio how one right behind us had dropped a huge oak tree on someones car - fortunately no injuries, but the sky looked a very ominous gray/black and we were glad to have missed that one.
The cows gathered in big beef puddles under the shade of the few trees that were in their fields and one could almost hear the beef cooking! My favorite road sign arrived on this road - "Beef - Why The Space Aliens Steal Our Cows!" I laughed for a good few miles about that one.......
We are now stopped at some or other park along the way - it has high speed internet and I have been able to catch up on my emails, post more pictures to the site and read some blogs that I have missed keeping up with. We had some really bouncers of storms earlier right after we stopped, thankfully! The RV literally vibrated and bounced with each boom and lit up with the lightening that seemed to be all around us....... interesting, to say the least. There is no space under the bed, so I was brave and just sat it out..
Today while driving along the interstate, a good few people waved at us or gave the thumbs up, but one will always stand out in my mind. The kid could not have been older than about ten years old, but he turned and waved and smiled at us with such purpose, for as long as we could see him. I don't know if its me - but he knew. He knew more than other kids knew. He knew more than he should know at that age with his ball cap covering what looked like a bald head. His smile was wide and excited. I wish I could have hugged him. It's this that really makes this trip worthwhile - this kid knows that there are yet another couple of people that care. He knew.
I have been really honored by Notes and Hopes (projectbenefit.org), a Canadian group that is raising money for cancer. They have put out a cd single with my "The Penny" painting on the cover of their first single and asked whether they could use my painting of "Happy Apples" for their next one! If you have the time - go and see what they are doing - we are all in this together and just seeing that others are doing everything they can is wonderful and empowering. Every step is a step closer.
And for Penny and her family, please spare just a moment and a good wish, a happy thought, a prayer for them all in this very difficult time. Read her blog pensclc.blogspot.com - it's truely awesome and really heartwrenching. She is an incredible lady who is losing the fight with lung cancer. An incredible lady.
Love and Light to each one of you
Especially U3
Annie & Frank
XXXxxxxxxxxxx www.RoadrunnersUSA.com www.livingwithcml.blogspot.com www.PenniesforCancer.com
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