Characters Along the Trail

Outside Nashville:  Trio of Mexican American Woman...and their ancient mother of 12....traveling up to Knoxville to visit a missionary priest who had served them in the tomato fields of CA years ago when they were migrant workers.  These jolly American Born women, and their single tongued mother adored all the kids.  They loved Benny's hair color and wished us all well.

Memphis after Camping:  African American Cashier who would've loved more kids, but the men just wouldn't co-operate!  She had 3 children by three, or was it four, dads.  Quite simply a tragedy!  BTW, the Kroger's itself was a cultural experience!  NO deli, only fried chicken type stuff and nasty packaged meats.

Arkansas:  Crop dusters provided great air show entertainment.  Some planes, dazzled the eye with their bright colors.

Dallas:  The brave young widow and her daughter about to ship off to West Point.  The husband/father passed away one year ago while out training on his bike.  He had been director of admissions at West Point for years and the family had just moved to Dallas right before his tragic death.  George W.Bush paid respects at the house.  She generously loaned us Army cots, and wished us well.  She and her daughter were headed out to a Rangers game.  I perceived amazing courage and dignity, along with graciousness in these women. 

Amarillo:  "Siri", yes of iPad fame, for searching, and searching, and searching, in vain for an open pizza parlor.  It was Sunday.  The kids ate CCs.  I wouldn't dare, but settled for a Jason's deli Reuben instead, that I shared, along with a hot turkey sandwich.  Kirsten and Rebekah don't eat CCs either apparently. 

Tucumcari, NM: 1.) Nasty "roadsters" in knock off BMWs of various sorts,  pretending to be cool, as they traveled Rt 66.  From Michigan, they showed NO southern hospitality as they kicked me, in my über maneuverable   "sports car", out of my space so they could all snuggle together in consecutive parking spots....I hope a hail storm hits your pathetic, narcissistic selves!!!

2.)Hail and Dust Storm Survivors:  Yep!  We came across some of each.  Hail storms "hailed" from Oklahoma, and dust stormers had blown in from Nevada.

3.)Days Inn Breakfast bar-maid, and all bar-maids in fact:  Thanks for busting your tails to give us the BEST start to the day possible.  I sure have gotten my money's worth of Malto-Meal waffles!

Santa Fe: 1.0 Navajo College kid, proud of his studies, encouraging my kids to study hard and go to college. (this theme played out among several Navajo.)  Native artisans. very friendly and converse-ive.

2.) Woman (the artisan) who sold me my turquoise necklace.  She was excited for us.  Turns out she's NEITHER Navajo Nor Hopi, but rather of Spanish descent.  Her ancestors settled in Santa Fe in the 1500s. 

Just Inside Arizona:  Navajo teen-aged clerk, proud of her hand made silver jewelry.  She shared that her sister had put herself through college selling it.  Sadly, we think al Kirsten's personal belongings were stolen here by some Navajo girls hanging around the parking lot.

Before the Petrified Wood Forest:  John and Katie back home scouring the internet for a place for us to stay.  In between service and No Service, they reserved a Days Inn for us.  As we approached along 

I-40, we all gagged at it and kept on driving into the dusk.

Petrified Wood Forest:  Nasty Ranger!!!! She apparently knew nothing about anything, eg if we could even make the drive around the park, snakes at a rock drop (roadside campsite with NO facilities).

Grand Canyon: Ranger who as we arrived asked, "Are you some kind of a group?"  "Yes!  The Peterson Family Group!"

2.) Terrific, but very harried camp reservation worker who rearranged my camping dates!!!! Huge help!  He didn't seem like he was going to make our changed dates work,but then did a whiz-bang job!

3.)Two French sisters, around 60, saturated with sweat, climbing up and out of Grand Canyon via the 

Bright Angel Trail.  I later saw them much cooled, dry, unshod and with band aids on their blisters.  They had hiked "Rim-to-Rim", which is a four day hike:  down, DOWN,  across the Colorado River, and  Up!  They obviously slept on the trail!  Amazing women!  I offered them a sprit of Chanel #5, which they readily accepted with huge smiles!!!  Unfortunately, I had just taken it out of my purse and left it in my suitcase.  Who would've thunk you'd need THAT on the trail!?

4.) Tourists---  The bozo kids jumping inward off ledges in hopes of the perfect action shot "Big Air in Grand Canyon!".  Families perched on ledges for the amazing camera shot of floating in Grand Canyon! (Are you nuts!  what difference does a couple ft make in a photo?  This is YOUR LIFE you're risking!) Jovial people for the most part, wanting to enjoy their vacation! Appreciative family groups when you offer to take a family picture.  We met Nigerians, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, Russians, Germans...Everybody "Coming To America" (Neal Diamond).

5.) Fellow Campers---young family who had migrated from Seattle, their place of birth, to Yuma, AZ.  (NUTSO!!  It's hot as heck there!)  Supposedly there was work to be found.  The dad showed me how to light my Colman lantern while Mom nursed their infant.  The 18 month old flopped with exhaustion while the two school aged girls sat and listened to conversation.  Sweet family, and I wish them well (he's just getting an Associate Degree and she works as an Administrative Assistant)

Young woman, in search of herself, and very protective of Grand Canyon's water (All the water on the South Rim,where we were, is piped over from North Rim.)  She reminded us we were in a desert as my kids ran over and used the well several times (to wash a Brat that had fallen in the fire pit, for example) I scolded the kids to save face, and educated them later.  Apparently the forests around her town were burning.  We DID see the smoke billowing as we drove down to Phoenix several days later.

Phoenix:  my dear friends Kate and Ken Warren and their lovely family!  Thanks for a great--too short--visit and wonderful dinner:  cold cuts, homemade potato salad, and homemade blueberry muffins!  A shot of to Norman Felder, my high school buddy, who opened his home to us for the night, and taught the girls about Aloe Vera as a sunburn relief agent. (Grand Canyon:  tough on skin!)

L.A.:  Parking Lot Guys, MAN!  Can you whip a car around and slide it into a coin slot!  No personality, but who cars?  You can sure maneuver a van, and keep it safe, for a few bucks.

Peter and Alden Egan, who welcomed us into their urban LA apartment 
AND shared Peter's amazing home-fermented yogurt...that's my next hobby:  yogurt making!

Doing Laundry...again.!!!