Saturday, October 18, 2003

Gotta Go, Gotta Go, Gotta Go, Go, Go

I just got back from the town 36 miles to the south of me. That’s 72 miles roundtrip.

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

I just drove there yesterday. Seventy-two miles, roundtrip.

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

I told my husband I was going because I forgot to pick up a few things when I was there yesterday, which is true, but there was nothing that I need right away. I just wanted to drive. Just needed to get in my car and drive.

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

Get in my car and drive that straight black-ribbon of highway and watch as it rolls under my car and spools out behind me. Drive and watch the grain elevators shrink in my rear view mirror as I race away from them. Drive and watch as a translucent half moon rushes to keep up with me. Drive under a cloudless blue sky that hovers over me like a large inverted cup.

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

As I drive I pass any moving vehicle that is traveling less that five miles an hour over the speed limit.
One.
Zoom.
Two.
Zoom.
Three.
Zoom.
Four.
Crap, I am behind a minivan in the No Passing Zone. I watch as the solid yellow line on my side of the road ends and is replaced by the dash-dash-dash yellow line that means it is safe to pass.
Zoom.

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

Five.
Zoom.

I drive into the Wal-Mart parking lot. Hurry in. Shop quickly. Hurry out. Drive over to Mickey D’s. Wolf down a cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke.

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

Why?

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

Why?

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

Why?

Because I’ve got those little town blues.

(Gotta, go, gotta go, gotta, go, go, go)

Because I am tired of being surrounded by small town people who know the price of everything but the value of nothing.

On the drive home I pass only once, a slow moving farm truck.

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