A Greyhound Closure

 

This weekend I traveled to Amarillo, TX to do some research for my thesis. The morning, however, was a bit sluggish as it took a few efforts, sleep, get up, ok sleep, get up...etc... to get out of bed, but the mind eventually got tired of the situation and said, "yes sir, time to get up!" Got the jeans, boots, t shirt and dirty brown Carhartt jacket and traveled onto I-40 east for a few miles. I logged off at the US 87/287 exit, which coincides with the US 60 west and I-27 south to Lubbock ramp and meant praying and using the wheel accordingly. After coming to grips with the situation I maintained the position to the right, ala US 87 and McMasters Ave. After a few lights I made a left then saw the library was closed. At that point it was time to waste a few minutes and check out an old stomping ground, the Greyhound stop.

It was here where I eventually met Amarillo for the first time in 2005. Earlier that spring, I decided to book a trip out of Brooklyn, NY and move on from doing nothing, but memorizing Marty McFly's lines, to Tucumcari, NM for a car show and chance to be on a road I was barely familiar with, Route 66. The flight from NY to Dallas was smooth and on the connecting flight to Amarillo I met local Bruce Cude. From discussing his background to my desire to be on 66 the conversation was pleasant despite our vast geographical and other differences.

After we reached Rick Husband Airport in Amarillo, I got nervous. "How will I get around and eventually to my destinations?" (this point, even at age 24, being from NYC , high insurance premiums and a low encouragement kept the desire to drive at a minimum) However, as we strolled out of the gate he offered to take me into town. For a few minutes he took me down SW 6th Ave, a portion of Route 66 in Hub City. My eyes were absorbed with the new surroundings as much as I was impressed by his gesture. Nonetheless, after showing me his bank office, which I admit I don't remember the name, he took me to the Greyhound station.

 

Once I got inside, got the ticket to Tucumcari and Albuquerque, I sat down and just looked at the out-of-town-scoreboard, Flagstaff 11:30, Springfield 8:45. At which point, I figured people like me were trying to get to their destinations, wherever it was. At six, the bus was reading to go. The headphones came on, then "Take It Easy," by the Eagles serenaded me. The ride was dark, except for sparks of lightening, but the ride was smooth heading west along I-40. After dealing with lightening and a brief rainstorm, the bus brought us to Tucumcari, just over a two hour drive and time zone away. "Those for Tucumcari, we have arrived at your destination," said the gentleman, who was kind enough to help me off. At which point, I walked a few blocks to the Pow Wow Inn where the first experience in the Land of Enchantment was ready to begin.

As I turned onto 702 S. Tyler heading back towards the public library yesterday morning, I looked at the men cleaning the roof and those behind the counter and remembered where I was almost 10 years ago. Another trip down memory lane.