After the nirvana-like experience from the day before, I was sure today would be underwhelming, especially when it started off with soup-kitchen style breakfast.
It was actually pretty good. They had a sign at the counter listing the grub that day - toast, bacon, eggs, and oatmeal. I opted out of the eggs because I didn't need my colon singing the song of its people on the road.
I got butt grabbed by a kid, which happens oddly often for someone who's childfree. It's always adorable to see how they react when they look up to talk to "Mom" and see me. Most of the time it's just shock/shyness. One time a little boy cried, but usually kids just laugh that stuff off. This one was a curly haired girl whose mother was hispanic, so I have no idea how that mix up happened. She just looked up and said, "Oh, wrong pants," and scampered off.
After that adorable encounter, I packed and headed over to the Cadillac Ranch. It's basically a field with Cadillac skeletons sticking out of the ground, placed there for the sole purpose of being a perpetual display of ever-changing vandalism.
Fourth of July must have been crazy. The whole area was littered with empty fireworks and spray cans.
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| Irony |
This site is pretty popular, as a steady stream of "artists" were coming and going, peppering the air with paint fumes. I planned ahead and wore sturdy/throwaway clothes just in case.
I know I look like a transgender Slash, but check the background of that picture. There has been so much layering that the paint drips are starting to form stalactites. I regret not whipping out my knife and cutting a small cross-section. Speaking of cut...
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| Not actually a cut |
I thought I had managed to skip through those cars unscathed, only to find later I had smudged, of all colors, blood red paint on my arm and subsequently my shirt/hip. It scared me almost as much as the kid in the gift shop who saw it first and thought I was some sort of bad ass for bleeding and not noticing. There's a period joke in there somewhere.
The gift shop/RV park was kind of cute, with their model Cadillacs and 2nd Amendment Cowboy standing tall outside.
I was parched, and stepped inside to get a water when the shop kid saw my plight. After sorting out that I didn't need a tetanus shot for the wound I didn't have, a purple tank top caught my eye. It's too big, but I made some knots in it when I wore it. I got a free water for being so badass and also mostly because that's the store policy.
So then, I drive off, chugging down that sweet nectar of Mother Earth after the dusty, painted winds of the Ranch. Unfortunately with liquids come potty breaks, so I pulled off not fifteen minutes later to a McDonalds to check my messages and do that litterbox thing.
As I walk to the entry, I hear a yip-yip hollering at me. I looked around and couldn't see where it was, so I shrugged it off as a passenger pup and went inside. I did my thing, and left a few minutes later, only to hear yip-yip hollering at me again. Now at this point all the cars that were there had gone, so it couldn't be a car dog. Maybe a stray?
And then I see, this little booger leashed to a lush tree with a treat and water dish.
As I am wont to do, I went right up to Yip-yip and accosted them, "Hey lil buddy, whatya doin?"
Snuggling me, apparently. Yip-yip all but lept into my arms when I got close, and actually did settle into my lap once I sat down. We became best friends for five minutes.
Then Yip-yip's people came out of McD's, smirking with amusement, "So she got you, huh? Jojo's so spoiled." Yes, Jojo is spoiled. Ten more minutes and Jojo would have been Sam's future wife, cause I was gonna make her my new co-pilot!
We chit-chatted, and I learned that this was a regular thing for them. They'd walk down to McD's for breakfast every day, and Jo-jo would relax under the tree, unless it was over 100 out, in which case they stayed home. She always barks at everyone like no one has ever pet her ever, because like all lap dogs, they need to be pet always.
Then we parted ways, and I ventured on to another unplanned stop when I saw a sign for the world's tallest cross.
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| Much Christian. So Wow. Very Cross. |
I drove up to the site expecting the giant thing and some cheesed up sign from Guinness. I was very much blown away by what I found. As you can see above, the cross is central to a circular stations of the cross, set in a tableau with full-scale statues. The detail was super impressive, especially having grown up with either minimalist Catholic statuary or cartoonish contemporary depictions.
The stations were very thorough, with plaques explaining each in details geared for first-time observers of the tableau. If the circle of stations doesn't get you, the last supper and crucifixion will.
I wish I had found artistic credits, because this shot above is obviously the designer's focus. It's the most detailed and yet minimal part of the "exhibit." I really don't think my shot captured the impact of the display adequately. Obviously for believers this is a poignant image, but even for those looking at an artist, it was for lack of a better word, perfect. I loved the use of space as well as negative space, and the proportions of the two scenes melding almost fluidly.
Being in a place dedicated to selflessness, I didn't even have to ask for help up there. I had taken two of my goofy one-sided steps up when two teen girls came up beside me and offered to help me up and down. They were sweet kids, politely hushed in the very meditative air of the whole place. We really didn't talk because of this, since people were praying kind of everywhere. I just whispered thanks a few times and they both smiled and caught up with their parents.
Behind that hill is the tomb, which was interesting.
I love everything about the outside. In aesthetics, as well as my understanding of the resurrection, the imagery here is so on point. At the angle above, there's an eeriness to it. Like you want to go see what's inside, but at the same time you'd rather not. Me being me, I went in.
I was wearing sunglasses and forgot, so when I went into the dark cavern, I actually jumped because I thought that angel was a real person I had walked in on. I have mixed feelings on that addition, as it felt kind of forced. I think the tomb would have held more meaning if it were completely empty.
It turns out this whole location is a pilgrimage center set up for retreats and congress and such.
Again, gorgeous artistry.
And with that extensive detour, I was off again, headed for
I thought to take a photo of the absent vending machines, but it didn't occur to me to capture the mini poodle I met with the exact same markings as my Sam. She had the eyebrows and everything!
Sometimes I am dumb.
I arrived in Oklahoma City pretty late, again, and found myself getting my noms on at the Whiskey Cake. It's a bar and grill type place, but I didn't care because whiskey and cake appeared to be involved.
I think their front door is a sobriety checkpoint. If you can't open it, they cut you off. It's pretty heavy, and doesn't have push or pull on it anywhere. After a minute long struggle, a girl on her phone outside offered to, "Put your ass into it, it's heavy as all hell." So I did. Luckily I have a huge ass, and it opened.
If you've ever seen those corner booths and thought, "Damn those are dumb. No one in my group wants to be the corner guy," then these guys have your solution - the Forever Alone Table.
It's in a corner between two group booths, and is literally the only table in there with a cloth on it. I was the specialest kid in the club. I was also tickled by their rosemary lightbulbs and cardboard coasters.
What did I order, you ask? Whiskey cake, duh. And to wash it down? Maker's Mark on the rocks, because whiskey and cake.
Even my super personable waitress agreed. I almost threw off her game as we both ran our mouths. Fellow kitty spirits don't often connect, but when we do it's kind of like this.
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