Part 2: The Soundtrack Begins

5/22 ~ 9:30am
I had stayed up late last night packing the car and scrapped the idea of leaving at sunrise. It was a good thought, a nice metaphor, but I needed the sleep. I woke up at 8:30, but did not hit the road until an hour later. Though I had packed the car in advance, I still had some errands to run. Feeling anxious because I was leaving later than intended, I was a bit frazzled.

I started the car and turned on the radio. I shit you not, I immediately heard the words "Looking out on the road, but I’m runnin behind." It was the beginning of a song by Jackson Browne called Running on Empty. The full lyrics are here.

Damn if the Universe did not pick the perfect song for the moment. The words "Running into the sun, but I’m running behind" were especially poignant, for I was pointing my car east to an ascending sun, and one reason for the trip was that lately I feel like I am running out of time to point my life in a more fulfilling direction, more in line with my spirit.

Next came "Hard to Handle", by the Black Crowes and it had me in a better mood. I now had the window rolled down and was slapping the outside of my door like a real badass. My spirits were high, for though it was Saturday morning and I was running errands, I took joy in the fact that these were not your normal Saturday morning errands: not your milk and produce.

First stop, fuel. On my way to the station, driving south on Price, waiting at the light at Apache, I saw a woman my age standing on the sidewalk. She looked to be about six months pregnant, and was wearing a traveler’s backpack. I tried to imagine what journey she was on. Unfortunately, by the look in her eyes and the place she was waiting, I feared for the path she was heading down and I wished I could take her out of the sun and out of her misery, help her see how beautiful she is.

9:38
At the gas station, I splurged and bought what to my knowledge is the best gasoline that money can buy: Chevron Supreme with Techron. As I was washing what would be my second camera lens (my windshield), the woman next to me was speaking Spanish to her man. I appreciated the fact that I live in a city with many Spanish speakers, especially Spanish speaking women. My car ate up the gas and left the station with some serious attitude. I whispered a quiet Adios as I pulled out from the station.

"Anywhere you go, I’ll follow you down" sang the Gin Blossoms, a product of my hometown Tempe. Was this Tempe bidding me bon voyage?

One last stop to grab camera batteries and film and I would be on my way.