I wasn’t sure if trying to write a post this evening was a good idea. To put it mildly I am beat down, dog tired weary but in a good sort of way.
For the past couple of days I have been working the office and the lot. This means running the counter as well as getting trucks ready to roll. So, I have been spending long hours outside and under the hood, just like old times.
The old Carhart jeans with the double knee, the heavy leather boots, and the long sleeved, khaki Wrangler shirt are the uniform of choice for me. The sun on my neck, the smell of diesel and 90 weight gear oil, and sore muscles that come from mucking out trucks and clambering over hot engines to clean a windshield transport me to a time when I still had all of my teeth, my hair wasn’t grey, my shirts were tight in the chest instead of the waist, and a cold beer at the end of the day made it all seem worthwhile.
To be honest I have always enjoyed physical labor but learned long ago that working a shovel was a sure death, albeit a slower one than starvation. So some years ago I traded the blue collar for a white one and discovered that earning a living by polishing a saddle with my pants or pushing a pen were both a great deal like cleaning stables. The mess comes in different colors but it all smells about the same.
For the past several weeks, evenings have been spent taking care of mom, working on the book, or revamping the website, Route 66 Info center, for a third time. Surprisingly, I am also finding time for a bit of reading at night in bed even though the book often wakes me up when it hits me in the face.
My latest acquisition is a light read. In fact it is more of a picture book. However, the captions and details in the photos and old post cards are filled with detail that encourages the savoring of the book rather than rushing it.
With that said I give Joe Sonderman’s latest book, Route 66 in Arizonahttp://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=1968adventurer&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0738579424&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr, a thumbs up. If you have the slightest interest in Route 66, the evolution of American society between 1920 and 1980, or just like to look into portals from another time this book is a very valuable addition for the library.
Don’t ask how I got my copy before its release. Lets just say I have an inside contact. Would you like a signed copy?
I have also found time for another pursuit, seeking an agent. In my opinion writing has been ridden about as far I can take it.
So, a few months ago I initiated contact with James Fitzgerald. As it turns out he is the agent for Michael Wallis and as a result feels that our work is to similar in nature.
However, I did receive two boosts from the correspondence, one for the ego and, I hope, one for the career. So, lets see where this string leads.
Meanwhile, its time to hit the sack as 4:00 AM rolls around pretty darn quick.
