On The Road

     I greet you from the Arby’s in Raton.  I think that’s Spanish (or should I write “Hispanic”) for “rat,” but I’m not at all concerned as I bite into my supposed roast beef sandwich.  I needed a rest after driving about 500 miles up I-25 from El Paso this morning.  I have actually felt a little lonely today.  Yes, I’m still two days away from reuniting with the woman of my youth, but that’s not the source of this solitary funk.  There just doesn’t seem to be very many people out on the highway with me.  I understood the lack of companionship when I eased onto the highway at 4:30 this Sunday morning, but it’s 1:30 now and this freeway is practically deserted.  I began feeling a kinship with the other four vehicles that were traveling at about the same speed as I was, and got a little sad when one of them would disappear down an exit.  I kept my spirits up by observing the many billboard messages for Buffalo Thunder Casino and Resort.  There aren’t that many words on the signs, but if I am correctly interpreting the message being conveyed by the pictures, I can be certain there are several beautiful, sexy women waiting for me there.  They want to play golf with me, sing to me and help me beat the odds at the poker table.  Don’t ask me how they know it’s me driving north to be with them; some new technology, I suppose.  Anyway, it’s nice to know I’m loved while driving solo on a lonely interstate.

I have been keeping an eye on the well-defined line of clouds off to the west.  I had hoped to turn west once I reach Colorado Springs, but having just checked with weather.com and discovering that Buena Vista (pronounced buoo-na vista as officially declared by the city’s council members) is receiving snow and wind, I have decided to press on for another two to three hours and stay with relatives in Highlands Ranch tonight.  It may be possible to head out to B.V. (as the locals refer to it) tomorrow.

     I stopped for a rest in Socorro and came across what I thought was a misspelling of the famous seat of financial activity in New York City, Wall Street.  Then I looked to the right and realized that their spelling accurately reflected the financial center of Socorro.

     It’s back to northbound I-25.  I hope to make a few friends at 75 mph.  They are the best kind, by the way.  I’ll never feel obligated to help them move, pick them up at the airport or lend them money.  Besides, I always have my real friends at Buffalo Thunder.

American Flag Gets Teen in Trouble

Photo from Fox40.com

     When is displaying an American flag at an American school unacceptable?  NEVER!  Yet it took thousands of phone calls, some from military personnel in combat zones, to convince the superintendent of Denair Unified School District in California to decide to "allow" Cody Alicea to leave his small flag on the back of the bike he rides to school every day.
     There apparently was a problem, not involving Cody, on Cinco de Mayo that set the stage for this past week's decision.  Some students brought Mexican flags to school on that day, resulting is what the campus supervisor described as "a little issue."  Flash forward to November and observe Cody riding his bicycle to school with a small American flag waving off the back, as it has been this entire school year.  Some students complained about it, and the campus supervisor decided, for Cody's safety, it would be best if he removed it.  He did, but then went through channels to protest the decision.
     Why did the other students complain?  They apparently had been told they couldn't display the Mexican flag at school because that action would be likely to disrupt the educational process.  If they couldn't bring their flag to school, Cody shouldn't be allowed to bring his flag to school.  As they saw it, this was a question of fairness.  There is just one piece of information they failed to consider.  This is the United States of America, not Mexico!
     It should not have taken thousands of phone calls from around the world to bring about the action by the superintendent to rescind the decision.  It's a no-brainer.  The presence of the American flag is always appropriate on any campus in the United States.  It flies from the flagpoles in front of every school.  It is the object of a pledge recited by millions of students every morning.  In California every elementary school and secondary school is required to begin each day of instruction with a "patriotic exercise."  The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance satisfies this requirement, as does the instruction in the various elements of the Pledge (CA Ed Code 52720).  If the campus supervisor was truly concerned about Cody's safety, she should have focused her attention on the prospective perpetrators.  Denying a person a Constitutional right because the exercise of that right may put that person at risk is a dangerous precedent to set.  Instead, every effort should be made to ensure the exercise of those rights.
     As I look at the picture of Cody on his bike, it is not difficult to imagine him being perceived by many other students to be anything but whatever the current term is for cool or hip.  To me, he's a courageous young man, and I applaud him.  Superintendent Parraz, on the other hand, should learn a lesson from Cody, man up and take a stand for the U. S. Constitution.

Freedom to Love

                One huge benefit of retirement is the freedom to change our daily schedules almost at will.  When we found out our next grandchild was to be born overseas, my wife was free to travel there and stay for over a month, helping with the various duties associated with such a dramatic family change. 

                I've been living the life of a bachelor for about three weeks.  The first week was euphoric.  I ate stew every evening, munched on chips whenever I felt like it, watched sports and war movies without interruption and went to bed after I woke up from my reclining position on the couch.  The second week was not quite as much fun, but I still enjoyed the freedom to take off and go hunting without advance planning, to spontaneously take in a movie, to listen to music instead of having the television on and to eat chili every evening.  I could have disassembled and reassembled my chain saw in the living room…had I been so inclined.  Now I am in my fourth week and find myself mostly thinking about when she is coming home.  I am reminded of a song from the early '70s with the words, "looking back and longing for the freedom of my chains…"  I have always been struck with the irony of that thought.  My present situation drives home the point that I am actually much freer when I am experiencing that fullness that only another person can provide. 

                This extended separation is different from the last one we experienced a few years ago because I am only about 30 minutes from my son and his family and because I have so much work to do on the house.  The busier I am, the less chance to think about being lonely.  However, I do think about it.  That is, I find myself thinking about the reunion.  I plan to pick her up at the airport.  Will we see each other from a distance, run toward each other in slow motion and embrace with the kiss of the century?  Not likely.  Maybe we will just hug for several minutes, basking in the warmth of each other's arms.  That is not really our style either.  It is quite possible there will be a quick kiss just before she hands me her luggage, sighs and comments about how tiring that flight was.  After almost 39 years we may be just a little too comfortable with each other.  But I can dream. 

                I suspect that it will be a little bit of a chore to adjust to being "chained" again.  Power tools will have to be worked on in the garage.  I may have to retreat to some place quiet to listen to my music.  In addition, I will not have total control of the remote.  On the bright side, however, perhaps all of these half-completed New York Times Sunday Crossword Puzzles that are lying here will finally be finished.  

               No matter, I thank God I have someone to love.