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I wake up, shower, pack the truck, and drive to breakfast at the Claim Jumper
Restaurant across the street. There are two waitresses, a cook, and a busboy.
The waitresses are dressed in jeans and western-looking shirts. The menu
is extensive, and it takes me a while to decide what I want. I settle on
the Tostado Omelette and short stack of pancakes. It is a large breakfast,
and will last me till dinner.
I leave and begin the last day of the expedition that has taken me over
6,000 miles. By now the radio stations are plentiful and my batteries are
all charged, so I listen to some music and the catch up on the news.
Eventually the mountains change to farm fields change to golden grassy hills,
and I know I am nearing the San Francisco Bay Area.
My gas gauge is broken again, but it doesn't matter much now. I have to
stop once because I run out, and I empty one of the jerry cans into the
tank. It doesn't bother me, having dealt with much more troublesome things
in past miles.
As the sun sets and I find myself in California again, it's much the same
feeling as when I came to California for the first time three years ago.
It's a strange, but warm and friendly place. I know I'll have to search
for a place to live again, but I can stay with friends in the meantime.
I checked my voice mail the other day and learned that the The Learning
Company is merging with Broderbund, one of our largest competitors. That
will bring a few more changes.As I was driving today I thought about a name
for the truck. It is definitely a female - the motherly type. Always gets
me home.
I thought about calling her Louise, since that is my mother's middle name,
and it rolls off the tongue nice and smooth. On the other hand I thought
about naming her Weber, after my Grandmother who died earlier this year.
She was 94 and had 13 children, my mother being the last. I am the youngest
grandson, and as a child my grandmother , "maw", cared for me
while my mother was busy at work. I have many fond memories of playing at
maw's house, which was a large white house on hill in Alabama, dating back
to before the Civil War. Last year lightning struck the house and it burned
to the ground. Weber was a strong and determined woman, and this truck certainly
has been strong for me on this trip.
After my sister's suggestion, I think I'll name her Weber Louise, or Weesie,
for short.
PM
8/17/95
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© 1995 by Patrick Malone