In February of 2015, a terrible fire ravaged downtown Barnsdall, Oklahoma. It wasn't the first time - many buildings in town have been lost to fire over the years, actually - but this one had a very specific family connection. My great-aunt Estelle ran a beauty parlor in town for most of her life. Her … Continue reading The Barnsdall Letterpresses
As I drove through Wyoming on the morning of May 26, I pulled off of Interstate 25 into the little community of Chugwater: population 212. The iconic bucking bronco that serves as the motif for Wyoming's brand (visible on license plates and many other items), "Steamboat", was born there. Additionally, it's the home of Wyoming's … Continue reading Chugwater, Wyoming
For over a year, I've been telling myself that once I get vaccinated I'm going to take a nice long road trip. My 40th birthday came and went and now, finally, I've gotten to stretch my legs a little bit. I didn't decide on where I was going until two days before I left; it … Continue reading A Long Awaited Journey (Part One)
This is Part II of our early May weekend trip to Oklahoma City. If you missed Part I, it's here. After enjoying an excellent breakfast at the Sunnyside Diner near our motel on Sunday morning, Samantha and I checked out and headed to the Britton District to visit with the owner of Brew Brother Coffee. … Continue reading OKC Weekend – Part II
Sometimes I get stuck in thinking the only valid way to take a vacation is to plan an entire week of exploring places I've never been before. That's a lovely experience and something I enjoy greatly -- but I have to be reminded that a weekend trip, even to an area I've been to many … Continue reading OKC Weekend – Part I
On Friday, I got shot. har har har My second COVID-19 Vaccine shot, that is! I spent most of Saturday feeling like I'd just barely avoided hangover and didn't quite make it. That's good - and today I woke up feeling completely normal. Normal enough for a little bit of driving - so I set … Continue reading Renewal in Osage County
I love it when I come across an unusual postcard; it always encourages me to look a little closer. Sometimes, it is tied to quite a story. Such as this postcard for a grocery store in north Tulsa: I'd never seen a postcard for a grocery store before. The cars in the image are quite … Continue reading Mann’s Grocery
In June of 2014, I discovered a hidden treasure alongside Route 66. I was driving home after a two-day trip; it was the first time I'd traveled Route 66 west of Oklahoma City. I only went as far as the Texas border, but it was enough to know I wanted to explore the rest of … Continue reading New Life for the Lincoln County Express
In war, a foxhole is a space in the ground that troops use as a shelter against enemy fire. When you're on the line, leaving that foxhole is a dangerous and potentially fatal action. The COVID-19 Pandemic isn't war - but I feel the risk when I leave the house. I have to have a … Continue reading Out of the Foxhole
It's odd how the days in 2020 seem to stretch on forever, yet at the same time they become a compressed, jumbled mess in my memory. A lot of that is COVID, sure, but part of that is grief and other stresses. The last few months I've done some scattered traveling but all of my … Continue reading Pieces of the Road
