I Daydream of Route 66 and Blue Whales
On Wednesday morning while I was driving to work tucked behind the rain-spattered windshield of my car, a thought came to me clear as a bell. It was so clear that I asked Siri how far Catoosa, Oklahoma was.
Oklahoma?! What the hell is in Oklahoma, you ask? Well, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, of course.
The most direct route from my house to the Blue Whale involves 1,400 miles on the slab. ::sad trombone::
When you have all the time in the world 1,400 miles is a drop in the bucket. When you have all the time in the world, you probably wouldn’t think about doing them on the slab. At least, I wouldn’t. The slab is always more have-to than want-to.
There would be a lot to see between Long Island and Oklahoma. Especially if I took the backroads or even mixed highway legs and 2-lane roads. Still, I’d have to want to see that stinkin’ whale pretty bad to entertain the idea. The last time I mixed highway and backroads to cover a long distance, I ended up riding about 800 miles for the day. I was messing around on local roads and looking at stuff all day and then pounded out hundreds of miles on the slab from dinnertime on. There is some misery involved in that approach.
I keep vacillating between do it! and don’t do it. How bad I want to do it – that’s the thing.
Ughhhhh, I dunno, I dunnnnoooooooo.
My imaginary version of you is on the other side of the screen saying… You’re an idiot. First of all, what’s the big deal? It’s just some dumb whale. Second, stop whining. Either do it or don’t. Just quit cryin’ about it.
Do something I want to – OR – sit around wishin’. Those are my two options. Why is this even a choice to wrestle with? And yet… it is.
Addendum
[Saturday May 7, 2016] Yesterday morning, after I finished writing my post I got up from the kitchen table where I’d been working and walked to the counter. When I opened the cabinet to pull out a coffee mug, my hand settled on…
It wasn’t a conscious choice. It just sort of happened. I stood a 1 in maybe 15 chance of picking that mug out of the ones lined up on the shelf. The subliminal mind at work?
I understand, I do. But think about it. In a hierarchy of all places calling your name in a 1,400 mile radius… Catoosa Oklahoma.
After you let that simmer for a bit, and the answer is still Catoosa Oklahoma, by all means, book the time, and we’ll come along.
Virtually of course.
You are right… there are a few places calling my name in that circle, but none as fun to say as Catoosa. We’ll see 🙂
What are you waiting for? After all, it’s a whale! In Oklahoma!
Yes, an unlikely spot for a whale, huh? 🙂
Shoot, if you’re coming all this way, you might as well take a side trip south and find a Whispering Giant in Broken Bow, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, see Bo’s Head in Pittsburg, and let me buy you a pizza or some Thai food.
You’re a bad influence, Tracy!
We’d have to go Thai since we’ve already had pizza 🙂
It’s a choice because, as my friend Paul always says, “You’re enslaved to the man”. Meaning I have a job. Those self employed entrepreneurs who can come and go as they please have a different view of the world. He would already be packing for Catoosa saying, “Life only comes along once you know…”.
I think I have an adventure tomorrow to Wal-Mart…
Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks
Fly to Chicago . Rent a car. Travel Route 66 to Catoosa. See the whale and Cadillac Ranch and all the other oddities. Heck go all the way to LA and sleep in a teepee at the Teepee Motel. All the kids are doing it! Visit my Route 66 shop in Pontiac, IL along the way 🙂
The coffee mug seems to me the universe is confirming you should go. Incidentally, there is a Catoosa County in NorthWest Georgia and it IS fun to say!
Just love your carefree blogging style!! I am always cheered up and laughing a bit. Your a fun person. Keep up the good work! A blue whale hua? Nice!!!