seeing the southwest
in a u-haul truck
Arizona Red sandstone appears as deep wounds cut into the earth. There is an uncommon beauty to Arizona - Its just there's miles and miles of it. Western space may be dry, but its not bland. Grassland that is mustard yellow, occasional tufts of green, then in the distance, mountains of a purplish hue. Its as if you've landed in a gigantic salad bowl.

"Look out there."
"At what? There's nothing for miles."
"Right, I'm just about due for a big dose of nothing."
"How about these biscuits. They're really dry and bland."
"Yeah, just like the scenery."
Cars continually pass you. You have to check your frustration, though, because passing someone else becomes a very calculated decision in a U-Haul truck. Is there enough room on the right? Are there any cars following? Travelling cross country is like that - a constant guessing game. Guessing if the gas in the tank will get you to the next stop. Guessing if you gain enough speed going downhill, you can make it over the next rise without downshifting. Guessing you won't be hungry for the next four hours so you can save money by eating only two meals day.

"This trip is like a big "E-ticket" ride at Disneyland!"
In Flagstaff, the small town atmosphere was quite surprising. Everyone was nice. Maybe everyone was nice because everyone knows everyone else. Since we're strangers, we don't have to be nice.

"Look, a virtual cornucopia of fast food restaurants to choose from."
"We're looking for the best BBQ place in Amarillo."
"You're telling us that the best BBQ place in Amarillo is in a shopping mall?"
In Gallup, the road into town was worn and dusty. Ramshackle and empty buildings lined the main streets. We pulled into a gas station were the native-american attendant was really intent on pumping our gas, even though it was self-serve. Gallup seemed like a town in the throes of death.

In Tucumcari, many of the motels have signs that say "American-owned." Does it mean all Americans in the heartland have Chevy Suburbans, big flags flying, and a southern country drawl? Enclosed in our little cocoon of Berkeley, we don't realize how strong and pervasive a force Middle America is. They are the majority, and there's nothing we can do to change them. Corey believes its sad to see American society like this. As compared to the Greeks, we've lost all our values and morals, the ones that give us 'culture'. I wonder if its us Californians, though, that may have lost our way? 


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june 1996