The wife and I spent the extended weekend in a little dump just inside the Nevada border. We go with her aunt and uncle. They are the same age we are so its not as bizarre as you may imagine it. The visual appeal of the town is akin to God...non-existent. The casinos are really all there is. Angie's uncle has been teaching me the fine art of craps. His knowledge and research in the area is truly amazing.
IT takes 4 hours to get there. The town may be barren of anything remotely appealing, but the drive.... the drive... the drive is so devoid of stimulation that many passengers simply slip into coma-tic states with no other people in the cars noticing. Further, it is hotter than hell. "So, HappyExmo, what is the appeal then?" you may ask. The answer... last visit we walked away over 1500 dollars richer (between the two of us craps playas). Also, the wife and her aunt desperately needed a break from it all.
Well we arrived, did not win any money, I got sicker than hell, and then we left. Sums it up really well. I wasn't feeling good that day we left, but just thought I could wait it out, and things would eventually get better (headache, pressure, queasy stomach). We arrived just int time to catch the tail-end of the brunch buffet (just before the price goes up 5.00 per person). By midnight our first night I was riding the porcelain bus to Ralph town. Was a real downer. Spend the next day sleeping in the hotel room trying to recover. The next day (today), we left. Four fun-filled driving hours later we were home.
There was laundry to do, a house to clean, and a teenage boy who REALLY wanted to practice driving. I got the mail, and the annual tax and license notice for my trusty truck was there. The wife and I had discussed just when we would have to trade it in on a newer car for the boy to drive (given his upcoming driver's permit and inevitable license). So... the boy and I went driving, ran a few errands, and then stopped at a local car dealer to look at the inventory. IT was labor day, so we could just browse without any salespeople. We stopped, got out, and began to walk around the used car lot. I spotted a car that looked quite appealing. Behind me I heard some footsteps. Guess who was open for business today? The salesman asked if I would like to take it for a test drive. I did. The car was perfect for our needs and drove like a dream.
Three hours later we were driving it home. I traded in my truck. My trusty truck has seen me through ten years of good, bad, and ugly. It has needed a new battery, and that is it for 10 years. The sense of loss is hard to understand. It was just a vehicle. Metal, plastic, and petrol. No mind, behavior, hopes, dreams.... nothin. Yet I have emotionally bonded with it (albeit onesidedly). Think I'll just seep in this petty melancholy for a while. I miss my friend, but food is staying down now.
Best,
HH
3 comments:
When I read or listen to someone describe their nausea, I feel it too. (sympathy nausea?). Although thankfully not as extreme. No Ralph town for me. I agree with your excellent Wendover description. That place is a hole. I have this wierd memory of being in Wendover, sitting in my parents car waiting for them to get back from I'm not sure where, I think it was past midnight and some guy was pissing on a wall in front of the car. I hope that was just a dream.
TT will be okay. He'll find another owner that will love him like you did, scratch behind his tailights, rub his undercarriage, clean up after his oil leaks.
It serves you right. You know Colorado isn't much further; and we have gambling towns here, too!
Glad you're feeling better, man.
I don't know what Wendover is, but it sounds miserable. Colorado gambling is much better. It's even better to barf in Colorado!
Wait... I don't know if I ever did barf in Colorado. Got to think about that. Three and a half years without barfing? Interesting. Did I ever barf in Colorado, Shane?
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