Somewhere Between Here and Dallas

I spent the night in the Cracker Barrel parking lot.

I was so exhausted from fighting the traffic, and that blaring hot sun staring me in the face the whole way. It was a real relief to finally pull into the lot just after dusk — engine off, the day done with me at last.

I washed my face with cold water and drank a can of Arizona iced tea over ice. Ate a few peanut butter crackers, and then I tucked myself into bed. Between the sheets, I cracked both windows about twelve inches to get a good airflow going, and ran my two USB fans — one of them blowing right over my body.

I knocked out fast.

Woke up natural, right with the crack of dawn. I’ve done this for years. It comes naturally to me now — no alarm needed, my body just knows when the morning’s here. It was May, and even early the air already had that warmth to it. You could tell the day was going to be a hot one. No need for a heater — the morning was doing all the work itself.

I made myself a cup of coffee and took my medicine while I waited for Cracker Barrel to open up. And I’ll tell you — I was getting hungry for some biscuits and sausage gravy.

I stretched out on my twin mattress, lying down, working the stiffness out from my shoulders all the way to my feet. Took my time with it. Then I wiped the sleep out of my eyes.

Pulled on my knee-high white pants. Climbed up to the front seat, combed my hair, got my sunglasses on — going to need them with that sun coming. Folded a twenty-dollar bill and slid it in my pocket. Grabbed my keys.

Walked on into the restaurant.

Ordered two eggs over easy with a side of biscuits, sausage gravy, and coffee. While I waited, I watched the waitress get her day started — moving table to table, refilling cups, keeping the whole floor running smooth. I chitchatted a little with her and the cashier both. Easy morning talk, nothing heavy.

Paid my bill, thanked them, and walked back out to the car.

The air was already warming up good. I pulled out of that lot and headed east on I-10 toward Dallas — windows down, sun climbing, the road long and straight ahead of me.