“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
― George Orwell, 1984
Tuesday, I set up my tent. There was no reason for me to have the tent up, but I wanted to go into town, and the tent makes a good place holder. It tells anyone thinking of jumping into my spot that this site is already taken. I’ve walked with Cosmo and ridden my bike around several times searching for alternate sites. I’ve got a tiny spot, but every other available spot is either close to a big rig, or in a wide-open space. I love that I’m surrounded by shrubs on 3 sides. It makes me feel very secluded.
On Wednesday I woke up with the sun, and after coffee, I tidied up a bit and battened down everything and drove into Town. For whatever reason, I was craving a donut and a cup of coffee that I didn’t make myself. The carrot capital didn’t disappoint. I found a donut/burrito shop and pulled in. They had several display cases full of freshly made donuts, croissants, and fritters. The booths and tables were filled with (I’m guessing) locals, eating breakfast burritos and getting ready for their workday. I got a glazed jelly donut and a croissant for tomorrow’s breakfast and a small coffee. I went back to my van and ate half the donut. As delicious as it was, I could only manage to eat half. I put the other half aside for my afternoon coffee break. I drove a block of so and got gas and topped off my water and then to the dollar store where I found most of the items on my grocery list at a much better price than I thought I’d get at the neighborhood bodega which was my next stop. At the bodega, I found a surprising variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. I got half a papaya which I had for lunch (I can’t remember the last time I ate something so delicious) and got some kale, avocados, cilantro, cucumbers, home-made tortillas, bean sprouts and cabbage. I made eggrolls for dinner with the cabbage and bean sprouts. Later in the week I made burritos with the beans, rice, avocados, fresh cilantro and jalapenos.
I have taken lazy to a whole ‘nother level this week. I am loving my spot tucked away near the hot springs. I see nothing but creosote trees, a few Palo Verde, and one palm tree from my site. I have been riding my e-bike across the road twice a day and soaking with the people du jour and then riding it “back home” where I veg out most of the time. I’ve had a nap many afternoons and sleep quite soundly through the night, waking with the sunrise.
I’m getting quite proficient on my e-bike. (That means I have not fallen off it again.) It makes it so easy to get back and forth from my van to the hot springs.
My odometer says I’ve ridden it for 12 miles so far. I cringe when I take the price I paid for the bike, upgraded seat, and handlebars, helmet, and various locks, and divide the total by the mileage. I figure that so far it has cost me almost $100 a mile. On the bright side, I bet I can cut that cost per mile in half before I leave this area.
I am so happy this week. I’m convinced that soaking in the mineral pool has some beneficial effects pertaining to my health, both mental and physical. It’s calming. It’s relieved most of the pain in my shoulders. And it’s making me crave healthy food (glazed jelly donut not withstanding). I often have a glass of V-8 for lunch, served over ice. It is what my body craves. I have been eating a lot of beans and rice, serving them up with jalapeno slices, diced tomatoes, or avocado. Instead of cooking, I’ll cut up a fresh pineapple or eat a pear. I don’t know how it could be possible, but the mineral baths seem to heighten my sense of taste, and simple, fresh, whole food just tastes amazing to me. For many months, I would have a cookie and cup of coffee in the afternoon. This week I often just eat a banana or an apple instead. I don’t know why that is, but I hope it lasts. I feel so much better eating that way.
Lessons From The Road: I fell down a rabbit hole (again) this week watching SNL’s 50th anniversary clips on YouTube. I remember the early days of SNL when I was in my early 20’s. I remember Garret Morris doing the news for the hard of hearing causing me to blow Pepsi out my nose because I thought it was so funny. It was so fun to watch some of the old Not Ready For Prime Time Players and some of the older (funnier) skits. The YouTube algorithm kept stacking up SNL clips and I kept clicking. Then I came across one I hadn’t seen. Some bleach-blond bimbo wearing a cross around her neck scolding a reporter saying that if she felt that there were lies being spread by news outlets, they would no longer be able to attend the press briefing and that “It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America.” I thought it was another SNL parody and that this could be the new Melissa McCarthy “Spicey” and then realized that it was a real press briefing. I’m sure Gilda is saying “It’s always something…” and I bet George Orwell is saying “Told you so.” What have we come to?
Sitting in the hot springs, I’m learning to bite my tongue and just listen. I am appalled by just how stupid Americans are. They spout off the most ridiculous nonsense, but they do it as if they were Carl Sagan explaining the workings of the cosmos. They are confident they are the brightest bulb in the pack. It would be funny if it weren’t so sad. A man with only a couple of teeth from Kentucky is there quite often. He shouts every word he speaks so that everyone there can benefit from his wisdom. He talks in run-on sentences, often explaining in detail old war stories from when he was in the navy. Another man with a gravely voice like Robert Kennedy, Jr. (and I’d bet, a brain-worm to match) drinks one beer after another, tells dad jokes and laughs hysterically at himself. A woman who looks a lot like Mrs. Potato Head, makes exaggerated hand motions as she explains some fact she just read on Facebook as if she were teaching a kindergarten class.
But every visit, I manage to have at least one nice chat with someone traveling from somewhere else. I’m thinking of getting a Canadian Flag sticker to put on my bike so people from other countries might give me the benefit of the doubt. The hot springs seem to be a crossroads of the universe, and there are people here from all over the world. It’s funny, but sitting quietly, I always end up making eye-contact with someone else who is biting their tongue. They catch my eye, and they giggle, knowing they are hearing the same bullshit and they seem delighted when they can see by my expression that I’m just as flabbergasted by the degree of stupidity as they are. I’m convinced that some of the people I’ve enjoyed may be aliens in search of intelligent life. None have offered me a ride on their spaceship, so I suppose I too have failed to convince them that humans have something worthwhile to offer.