A few responses..

I got a late start this morning, mostly due to the cold but also looking working out and finding a place to charge my battery. My solar has issues and I’d have to pay to camp and plug in my electrical system, which I don’t want to do – that good ole budget thang.

I didn’t make it half-way through Texas without the other good ole white boys in white pickup trucks pulling in front of me and letting go of thick black smoke. Twice.

Another pickup, white again with two white boys, almost catapulted out their respective side windows to make sure I saw their middle fingers jabbing at me and my truck.

They had to suddenly stop, as we ran into traffic, so I almost got to catch up with them but they weaved in and out of almost stationary lanes to work their way ahead.

Hmmm

I also received one blatant heart from a Black male driver who took his hands off the wheel while passing me at his exit to smile broadly making the heart in both hands.

Another Black family honked loudly, fists raised, smiling broadly as they passed me.

And yet another car with a very elderly Black womon passenger raised a shaky hand to wave at me, smiling broadly, as the driver probably her daughter also smiled and honked.

Not so many responses in such a big state.

Disappearing workers

I did find a Krogers in Texas but much to my chagrin, there were no cut-up watermelon or any fruit at all. One of my staple road foods. When I found a red-headed white male employee and asked him about where the cut-up fruit was, he informed me that they used to have an entire department of employees who cut up the fruit and made pico de gallo, guacamole, etc. but everyone up and quit all at once.

We stared each other down, until I broke the silence by asking when this happened. He told me the weekend after the election.

My heart hurt for those workers, those humans so terrified they walked off their jobs.

And I can’t help to think of those excited white people, so happy and wonder.

Texas

There was a time in my life – actually a few times – when I refused to drive through Texas. Way back when I was driving around the country with my partner, we were malevolently introduced to the “Sundown Laws” by menacing white men. We both tried to appear nonplused but later vowed to leave Texas asap and never return.

I relented decades later and only zoomed through on I40, the Texas Panhandle, when Route 66 was replaced. I’d make sure I filled up before entering Texas, refusing to spend a penny in that state.

And then came our war against Iraq and bush became president (not in that order), I didn’t even take I40 then. Finally a few years ago I decided to venture through Texas, both on I20 and I10.

Today I’ll head south on 87 through Bridge City so I can indulge in my daily routines of treadmill (when it’s too cold or too hot for fast walking outside) at the Y, library moments, and checking out reduced produce at Kroger or Safeway.

If it’s still below 40 degrees, I might seek out a Goodwill or thrift shop.