B"H
through the tollbooth. The sign indicating the first exit is
surrounded by so many electronic signs and indicators the trip
is like playing an electronic game, hardly worth the buck yo u
chuck to ride away at your disp leasure. One may verge to the
side of the road, and b y honking twice; the driver can ignite a
loud verbal explanation while a film clip portrays the directiona l
map that flips from clip to clip until the driver honks for it to
zoom the image. Cameras register the payment of long-term
users or residents, as determined by the license plate numbers,
paid real time through electron ic bank transfers. The skies above
are covered fro m sight as the driver progresses through a tunne l
illuminated by electric lights.
Far be it from me to exaggerate the displeasure I experience
when pressured into the arena of vehicular thoroughfare, the
twists and turns upset my internal balance, over and under the
bridges and around turnabouts disrupts my gravitation and in my
head the feeling of a shoe tossed around during the mechanica l
rotation of an electric tumbler. Worse than that, I must assert
myself aggressively to weave forward into the ganglion o f
erratic vehicles traveling at high speeds. The world citizenry
may think they'll arrive quickly to a destination; as compared to
travel by beast or on foot, but the pathways into oblivion are
neither one of their choosing, nor compatible with the humanity
within us.
Looky here, "Ye Old Coffee Shoppe," I had stopped to fill my
thermos; find the whole joint is machine operated - bills - eve n
foreign currency, coins, magnetic cards, but not a soul in sight.
Some span of distance fro m where the saloon, barbershop, and
sheriff's office used to share the sa me boardwalk; next to where
the water trough, and rail by which to park the horses had stood,
there is now a three story parking garage , and may enjoy the
destiny of becoming an Urban Agricultural Plot . Fields of myrtle
growing rows upon rows e mitting the fragrance that is pleasant
to recall even after many years having not smelled it. A quick
left turn, and here's Joe, at his happiest to greet a visitor upo n
his arrival to the gateway entrance to his abode.
Not to waste a second, he motions, climbs aboard, and
chaperones me directly to the guest quarters, announcing whe n
I'll be welcome to join the m for a meal, but first to rinse the
travel off my head and give it a mo ment's rest. Happy Joe has a
smile on his face even when he expresses consternation that he
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