Momentum More Than Moxie

(Roadtrip Day 1)

The day began with plenty of tears after saying goodbye to my family this morning. Even pursuing the "right" destination is hard when you're leaving loved ones. Of course it is supposed to be a "see you soon", but the pain is deep and the void is wide where my favorite people reside in my heart and in my life. Both Joshua and I admitted to making up scenarios in our mind about how or why we should stay in DFW at least a little longer, simply needing and wanting more time, not wanting to say goodbye. It makes me misty eyed to think about it and really all I could do today was think and talk about other things in order to bring myself to the present and really enjoy this journey we are on. To some degree, the resolution to stay on the westbound road was more momentum than moxie. I had no great bravery, resolution, or revelation. I simply knew that our spirits and our circumstances were like headed like a wave to the shore: timely and inevitable. So we drove.


Windmills in west Texas


Our open road

We made an 8 hour, 461 mile dent in our roadtrip for Day 1. It was mostly quiet, relaxing, and uneventful until just outside of Roswell. Our gas gauge read empty when we were about thirty miles outside of Tatum and forty miles away from Roswell. We pulled over to a rest stop thinking that it would be easier for someone to find us but after several phone calls to police stations and wrecker services, we realized it would be hours or lots of money before we would be taken care of. Even AT&T required 72 hours to activate roadside assistance. I think we both got tired of trying at the same time and I told Joshua, "I kind of want to just start driving." So we did. Miraculously (for sure), we made it 35 miles on an "empty" tank and pulling a trailer! There is just no other way to call it anything but God's grace.



Once in Roswell, we filled up on gas and checked into our hotel. After a quick shower, we decided that we would do the UFO Mickey D's tomorrow and headed out to drive around a bit and eat at a Mexican restaurant recommended by a friend. Joshua and I are fans of the 90s [teen drama] tv show, Roswell, so we looked up the original Crashdown Cafe location (even though Roadside America said it's been closed since 2003). We found that it still had the famous spaceship wreck in its facade but is now a very cheesy alien paraphernalia store. A few photos and a short drive through the alien-lamppost-ed Main St. later, we opted to eat at Farley's, a diner/pub that stayed more alongside our alien themed visit.



Tomorrow's plans include the UFO Research Center and the oh-so-special spaceship-inspired McDonald's then an approximate eleven hour drive to Mesa, where Joshua's parents live. I am ready to do my own "crashing" in Roswell.