We moved from Garfield, Arkansas to Oklahoma City today. After a delicious breakfast of homemade waffles and orange slices with coffee at Leroy and Sharon's house, Leroy took us to the summit of Whitney Mountain. We stood on an old pool filled in with cement and that is now used for wedding pictures at a lodge bordering on being defunct. The view was breathtaking. My feeling of being on top on the world was doubled (since it was my birthday too)! Leroy and Sharon even gave me a homemade birthday card which was amazingly sweet of them! Could I have done something right for once?!? We'll see. We swung by the Whitney Mountain chapel, which was such an amazing design. My father will appreciate the pictures when he gets them in his inbox.
The treats weren't over yet! Leroy took us down to his private dock and we jumped in his boat for a guided tour of the Lake. Cool breeze in my face, a rogue tiny wave splashing some mist onto my face, not a care in the world! We even saw a house that Willie Nelson sometimes visits! We stopped at a gas station at another dock and got to feed these giant carp that hung out there. I just needed one hook and five minutes...could have snagged one, beat it, fileted it, freeze-dried it and had it in the mail to my father before the locals found out. On the ride back to Leroy's dock, I lifted up the sleeves of my tee to work on blending my farmer's tan. I also had the stupendous idea of not wearing any sunscreen out on the Lake. I never learn some lessons and this moment was one of them. This was a big mistake.
The heat rash is back, but it is manageable. Arms hurt like hell, but it will pass. I need to invest in a thin, long-sleeved shirt that breathes or else I will sweat like a hog. Nonetheless, Leroy and Sharon treated us to lunch at The Grille in town! Made quite the mess refilling my root beer. I am such a lousy drunk.
Right before gassing up, I purchased my American Spirits, as usual. They come in a yellow box, which I all too often have to notify the cashier of because they simply don't sell enough. I was told by the cashier that "These things only sell during tourist season. What are they anyway, hippie cigarettes?" He looked right at me as he asked the question. I was almost caught off-guard, remembering I had a haircut style that tickled the required cut regulation for the Marine Corps. I also realized I had shaved a day earlier, abandoning all traces of a potential beard and only having the mustache and goatee. I looked like a hippie?!?!? Potentially a hipster, if I had super-tight jeans and wide-rimmed eyeglasses. I bet my accent threw him for a loop as I paid, telling him, "Sorry, I just don't like rat poison in my smokes."
Now, I am happy we are on the same page. I am proud of you for sticking it out this long. I am going to go drown in aloe now, because this heat rash got me good and hard today. My forearms are on fire while the rest of my body is getting chilled by the AC. Guess I am storing up as much sun under my skin's surface as possible before arriving in Seattle. I have heard I will need it!
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