Cadillac Ranch and American Dreams

Sunday, 9/3/2023

Amarillo, Texas, is known for its icon of the Cadillac Ranch. Supposedly this hippie art represents “America’s hopes and dreams, art and commerce, materialism and spiritualism, folly and fame.“ It was ironic that on a Sunday morning so many people had gone out to see these half buried, stripped down, defaced, old cars. We were somewhat surprised to hear a variety of languages as people trudged past graffiti and spray can trash. This is one of the most polyglot places between the UN and Las Vegas. Do stripped down old Cadillacs, half buried in the panhandle sands actually represent the hopes of this nation? Perhaps they better serve to prompt us to search for the source of true hope.

We participated in the online Sunday school class at Autumn Ridge as we drove through the high plains of Texas studded with thousands of wind generators. This was a mesa area, wind-blown with short, dry grass and occasional livestock. At times I would see one loan steer in acres and acres of dry grass.

Nearing New Mexico, the landscape became rolling, gentle hills, and mesas. We could see for miles and miles with clear skies and just a bit of haze. By 10:30 AM it was 91°. It looked much like western movie scenery. The roads were rougher in New Mexico, and the traffic was mostly semis. 

We stopped at Tucumcari in hopes of seeing an old western town center. Mostly, we just saw evidence of a dying town along with cannabis dispensaries.

We pulled off the road at Santa Rosa State Park for lunch. The landscape here had larger bushes, which are more green in color, but still very dry. Woody went into the men's room. When he went to the sink he found a large tarantula looking right at him. He chose to use the hand sanitizer in the car!

We arrived too early to check in to our motel in Albuquerque, so we went for ice cream at a place called I Scream. If you’re ever in Albuquerque, go there!! The owner was really fun, listened well, and made each person feel important. He explained to me that they have 35 flavors from 10 states and 36 toppings. “No matter what size you order, you can choose up to three flavors.“ I told him I wasn’t ready to order yet because I had to decide for my husband who was out with the dog. He replied, “Leave your husband in the car and bring in your dog!“

The store was full of memorabilia, books, games, collections of transistor, radios, and movie projectors. The owner asked if he could give Porsche some whipped cream. She absolutely loved it and discovered a new purpose in life. Whipped cream!! The ice cream was good, but the experience was awesome!

We left Porsche off in our room at the Wyndham Baymont, and the two of us went to Old Town Albuquerque. It was very hot, but we walked around the central Spanish style plaza and artisans shops and enjoyed our "alone" time.

Our room was nice, but noisy. It sounded like the motel’s ice machine was in our very room!