When he hosted late night TV shows both on NBC and CBS, one
of my favorite bits of David Letterman was the Top Ten. I liked the topicality
and use of verbal techniques such as alliteration and puns. From the home
office in Stow, Ohio, here is my Top Ten list of observations about my three
day, nearly 2,000-mile trip coming home from El Paso.
Number 10: Winslow, Arizona.
I’ve posted pictures and reminisced about the mention of this small Arizona town
in the Eagles’ first hit song “Take It Easy.” Still, when I stopped there on a
chilly morning in early April, there was a certain kinship among the dozen or
so Baby-Boomers who slowed down to take a look at the block-long mural that
pays homage to the song.
Number 9: The desert
near the Petrified Forest in Arizona. I did not stop to see this landmark
because I was on a mission to drive 1,600 plus miles from Scottsdale, AZ to
Nashville in two days. However, I did see some spectacular rock formations and
mountains with layers of pink, teal, tan and brown colors clearly visible from
I-40. It is a striking sight.
Number 8: Route 66.
Speaking of I-40, the famed U.S. Route 66 became an iconic part of American
culture in the last century. It ran southwest out of Chicago, through St.
Louis, across Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, New Mexico, Arizona and Southern
California before ending in Los Angeles. Like the wagon train routes west in
the 19th Century, Route 66 was a major passage for millions of
Americans from the East and Midwest seeking a golden lifestyle in California. I
followed the parallel path on I-40 from Winslow to Oklahoma City before I
continued on an eastern course to Nashville. Route 66 has been the subject of a
network TV series starring Martin Milner and George Maharis and their Corvette.
It is also the subject of a song “Route 66” recorded first by Chuck Berry and
also covered by the Rolling Stones and John Mayer. On I-40, you will see dozens
of signs referring to historic sites on this highway.
Number 7: Windmills
and Cattle. As I travelled across northern Texas, I saw hundreds of white,
three-bladed windmills on hilltop ridges that produce electric power. As the
sun was setting, I saw flashing red warning lights turn on on the top of each
unit. A couple of times, I saw the massive blades being transported on the
highway. Each blade is longer that two large semi-truck trailers and requires
special signage and two escort vehicles with flashing yellow lights during the
journey.
Also, there were dozens of ranches along the highway each
containing hundreds of cattle. There was no evidence of a milking parlor on any
of these ranches, so I think they were used for beef cattle. I was tempted to
open the window and shout to the animals, “See you at Outback!” but I didn’t.
Number 6: Toad Suck
Park. Yes, that is the name of a state park on the Arkansas River near
Conway, Arkansas. I have no idea why it is named that, although it did remind
me that some people in the 1960s advocated licking a toad to get high. Also, a
sign as you entered Conway called it “The City of Colleges” and there are three
colleges there: Central Arkansas University, Hendrix College and Central
Baptist College. Take that Research Triangle!
Number 5: The Cranes
of OKC. As I passed through Oklahoma City, that state’s largest city, I was
surprised to see about a dozen large construction cranes in the downtown area.
There were also several impressive looking and fairly new skyscrapers in the
city. I wasn’t anticipating what appeared to be a boom town. Go Figure.
Number 4: The Death
of MLK. As I sat in a traffic jam on I-40 in central Memphis on April 4, I
realized it was the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King
in 1968. I had no time to get off and stop by the Lorraine Motel, the site of
the shooting that is now a memorial. Still, as I waited in line to get by the
wreck that stopped traffic, I reflected on the significance of that event.
Number 3: Meeting
Team #Jenry. The reason I went slightly out of my way to stop in Nashville
was to see my wife’s cousin’s son, Henry and his fiancé Jennifer. They will be
getting married in June in Nashville and I wanted to visit with both of them
before the wedding. We had a good time talking over burgers and beer. I like
the portmanteau they have created with their names “Jenry” and look forward to
seeing them again in June.
Number 2: Bourbon and
Corvettes. As I drove north from Nashville to Louisville, KY on I-65, I saw
several signs denoting distilleries at several exits on what was called the
Kentucky Bourbon Trail. As I approached Bowling Green, KY, there were signs for
a Corvette Museum and references to the fact that the GM plant that produces
this iconic sports car is located in Bowling Green. So, I’ll rework the phrase
I heard in that state years ago about its horses and women to say Kentucky is:
“Home of fast cars and beautiful bourbon.”
Number 1: The
Cincinnati Skyline: As I crossed the bridge from Kentucky to Ohio, I was
once again impressed by that city’s skyline on the north bank of the Ohio
River. I thought of the opening sequence of the hit TV series “WKRP in
Cincinnati” that featured scenes of the city as the theme song intoned:
“Baby, if you've ever wondered,
Wondered whatever became of me.
I'm living on the air in Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, WKRP.”
Wondered whatever became of me.
I'm living on the air in Cincinnati,
Cincinnati, WKRP.”
--Performed by Steve
Carlisle
A professional acquaintance of mine
while I was in public television actually shot the scenes used in the opening
video. He was a native of that city and was hired to go out and shoot scenes
representative of the city. He didn’t know until later that his footage would be
used on a hit network sitcom.
But, the best thing about seeing
Cincinnati was that I only had about four hours or so left on my journey home.
