BE OPEN
Kenny Pepper always told me to just write, here we go bro! I reflect today on the lost art of open relationship. So often we want to talk of the things that get us through conversation verses those things that get us into conversation. We grow up learning how to get through things. We need to get through school, boy scouts, a sports season and our youth. This is not true for all of us but it is for most. We spend so much time focused on "getting through" that we lose out on the experience we are in. The old cliche', The treasure is not in the destination, but the journey. This could not be more true than my cross country trip in 2002.
We set off on a journey to cross the country in 9 days. You say to yourself, nine days? We planned to take our time and enjoy this awesome country. We planned to take two lane highways and hit every cool restaurant and diner along the way. The trek took us through some of the greatest places; San Diego, Disneyland, Vegas, The Grand Canyon, and New Orleans. Yet our most triumphed memories came in Tucamacari, New Mexico!!
Tucamacari New Mexico is a desert town with nothing, I mean nothing. Tucamacari was made famous as the town of 10,oo0 motel rooms on the historic Route66. 10,000 rooms is all they had, it was the ultimate hype campaign. Well today it stands as the land of 2,000 rooms. We were blown away by the story the modern folklore and the history of the name of the town. For this place to be one of the most famous towns on all of Route66 is beyond belief. The road that connected the country to the Pacific Ocean, from Chicago to L.A., it had everything. You could go to a zoo with lions, tigers and bears on the side of the road in Texas. There were trading posts, amusement parks and water parks. Why would tucamacari have such an impact?
The impact on me was as it was for many, I am sure. It appears to be nothing on the way to everything. It stood as the shining example of the joy being in the journey not the destination. We had great fellowship and spent years just laughing over the stupid name. My wife, sister and future brother in law, forged a relationship in the middle of nowhere out almost nothing. While our supporting cast was the greatest man-made and natural structures this country has to offer. Hey Jeff, was that a freaken Elk?
Bottom line! Your Tucamacari could be on the bus, train or in your cubicle. It does not have to be on some cruise ship or elaborate setting. If we stop and make it today, or everyday, how much more will we enjoy the incredible people, places and times we will have?