The crossroads. If I were allowed but two words to describe my corner of the world at this time it would be the crossroads.
The celebration of having weekends to write and work on various projects was a bit premature. The six day work schedule is back in force which necessitated some very deft juggling of prior appointments and the needs of customers at the office today.
Fortunately the customers were most understanding and agreed to wait until 11:00 to pick up their trucks. Fortunately, Norm was able to meet me at 6:30 this morning instead of 7:30. Fortunately, I was able to reschedule most of the other appointments. I am again standing at the crossroads.
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| The original alignment of Route 66, and the course of the National Old Trails Highway west of Kingman. |
As the appointment with Norm Fisk had been postponed once before, I felt this was a priority. Several weeks ago I had agreed to serve as his guide to assist with the creation of a video for the Kingman tourism office. For those unfamiliar with his work may I suggest the award winning video Route 66 Arizona?
As we visited various sites such as the historic wagon road at White Cliffs, Fort Beale, the original alignment of Route 66 that was also the National Old Trails Highway, the stunning vistas of Red Ghost Canyon, and stood above the canyon that funneled the Beale Wagon Road, as well as the railroad from the Hualapai Valley to the Sacramento Valley, I found myself thinking a great deal about crossroads. After all, each of these sites was a tangible link to an historical crossroads.
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| Red Ghost Canyon |
For more than two decades I have been riding hell for leather toward the goal of transforming a childhood fantasy into a reality. I have no clue as to how many times there was an absolute conviction that the long awaited destination was looming at the top of the next hill. Yet, the crest of each hill was just another crossroads.
I sold my first feature article in 1990 and the childhood dream of becoming a writer was reborn. That was several hundred feature articles, including three for Legends of America in the past month, ago. That was eight books ago.
Two books under contract are indications that I have negotiated the maze of crossroads with a degree of success and am still on the right road. Accolades and words of praise from peers such as the legendary Bob “Boze” Bell of True West magazine, and Michael Wallis would be another indicator.
Now, looming on the hill is another interview with Tonya Mock of AM Arizona who called yesterday after reviewing a copy of The Route 66 Encyclopedia. Do I postpone, again? Do I reschedule, again? The crossroads …
The Kingman Daily Miner just published an interview. Last week they ran a story about the window mural project at the Old Trails Garage, stage one of the beautification project that I recently found myself spearheading. Another crossroads.
The photography is also moving along. Zdnek Jurasek of the Czech Route 66 Association just informed me that our work will be the subject of a gallery showing next week. Another crossroads.
In looking back over the years I see great blessing at every crossroads, and opportunities that we have had to be a blessing unto others. The interviews with Jay Leno and volunteering to assist as a guide for Norm Fisk, the job that pays the bills and the donation of photos to assist Zdnek’s endeavors to create a Route 66 museum, donating books to libraries and writing articles, and books, that encourage and enlighten. Unquestionably, the greatest blessing has been the delightful people we have met at every crossroads.
Now, as we stand at another crossroads there is the familiar sense of apprehension, of excitement, and of adventure. Now, as we stand at another crossroads there is the frustration of a seemingly endless string of six day work weeks stretching into a new year and the sense of blessing that comes from having a job in these trying times.
At this crossroads do we turn left or right, or do we stay the current course? What adventures await the journey into a new year? Who will we meet at the next crossroads?
