Devil-May-Care II: Cross-Country with Faraz

As we headed along Interstate 44, Faraz and I listened to Barack Obama’s newly released audio book. I don’t recall much of the material, but it surely sounded presidential and bona fide. Faraz had brought along a bluetooth speaker that provided aid to the Buick’s broken tape deck and kaputt CD player. The Buick’s Bose sound system brought our ears in tune with some conservative talk radio and preaching throughout the country roads. When crossing the country, it’s advisable to go in style with a powerful machine.

I bought the Buick Regal from my grandfather for $8000, well under market value. I remember taking it for a test drive with my cousin and driving the car throughout high school. The Regal has been my favorite car since I was 17, especially the 1987 Regal Grand National. This car shattered track records and could outpace the latest Ferrari all with its turbocharged 6 cylinder engine. My car’s 3.8 liter V6 and its 17 gallon tank kept us going throughout our journey.

1987 Buick Regal Grand National

I peered down to check my phone as we pulled into a gas station just outside of St. Louis. A former lover’s text appeared and I felt my heart skip. She expressed regret that we were not able to see each other one last time, but wished me well on my journey to California. Reading the text gave me a sickening feeling and I responded with haste. This longing feeling of the life and loving relationship I could have had back home lingered throughout our journey. Relentlessly, we carried on. Our next stop was Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Tulsa had a lovely and quaint downtown area. We stopped for a beer at James E. McNellie’s, a friendly Irish pub. We did not engage in any particular conversation while we dined, but enjoyed the satiating meal that an Irish-American bar could offer. The next day we got in line at 9:00 AM at the best barbecue spot I’d ever been to. Burn Co. BBQ. I sampled the brisket, pulled pork, and even grabbed a beer to wash everything down. My mind had been fixated on this former relationship of mine, but this heavenly indulgence took my thoughts to far away places. Post-BBQ, we stopped at a local coffee roaster. Faraz insisted that we buy the coffee concentrate in case of emergency. When you’re on a road trip with a finite coffee supply, there’s no telling what could go wrong.

The Buick’s windshield suffered a crack from debris flying off a truck. We stopped at a Wal Mart near Oklahoma City, identified a patching kit, purchased it, and set out to fix the damaged machine. The patch worked exceptionally well and it’s lasted to this day, nearly 4 years later. Inevitably we continued our travels onward. Next stop. Amarillo, Texas. Amarillo was a quick venture, but we had a chance to stop by the Cadillac ranch. This work of art consisted of several antique Cadillacs rammed into the ground. There were spray paint cans all over the place. We put our amateur tagging skills to the test and mounted the decorative cars.

With Texas out of the way, we booked it to Albuquerque. Our first stop was at a local brewery for some pub and grub. I remember my traveling partner and I having a minor disagreement. He suggested we tail it back to Santa Fe and spend some time at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. While I was convinced we should keep traveling onward and see my old friend, Katlan, when would I ever go to Santa Fe again? Quickly finishing lunch, we took a short detour to Santa Fe. Georgia O’Keeffe was repulsed by her critics stating that her flower’s design looked like that of a labia! While some of her works engendered the perception of vaginal resemblance, Georgia was able to reinvent herself throughout the decades, changing her work to appeal to the masses. This is a sign of a truly gifted artist. Even as O’Keeffe became nearly blind in her late life, she continued to paint and galvanize her audience.

Georgia O’Keeffe, “Grey Line with Black, Blue and Yellow” (1923), oil on canvas (photo by Cliff/Flickr)

I don’t regret my move to Los Angeles, but sometimes I wonder if I've made the right decision. I often ponder of what would have become of me had I never left the City of Steel. It’s been a wild 4 years and I’ve got many more stories to share. Devil-May-Care III to come shortly.