Posted on by Phil Strawn

Just Another Day Full Of Things


Before I kicked the smoking habit, I look better now

Old people do odd things: I know this firsthand. I’m good at it. A few months ago, the urge to gather and distribute my personal items to family and friends took hold. 2 am in the wee hours, wide awake, I wrote a list of my treasures and who might be the recipient when I assume room temperature. I found that over the years, I have accumulated more useless crap that no one would want.

My tool shed, art studio, storage shed, and junk pile will likely go to the nice folks at the local Goodwill store. The handicap shower chair and the two walkers will stay. The nice walker, the one with four wheels, a handbrake, and a seat, will likely be my new ride. Some guys get a Corvette; I get a souped-up walker. My friend Mooch says he can add a battery-powered motor to make the baby run 30 MPH.

A few weeks back, I bought back one of my acoustic guitars that I sold to Mooch when Momo and I moved to Georgetown, Texas in 2008. It’s a real beaut: a Gibson-made Epiphone E J160 e. Only fifty of them were made in Bozeman, Montana, likely by some of the Yellowstone Dutton family. Now, I have one guitar for each of my three grandchildren, of whom two play guitar.

Us’un humans collect things throughout our lives; it’s our nature. At the time, we might have needed them, but eventually, the things become useless “things” taking up space.

Momo and I are taking a road trip in mid-April. Back to Marfa and Fort Davis, Texas, the Big Bend Chihuahuan Desert. God’s country, big sky and brilliant stars. Marfa is our go-to escape. The town is full of eccentric street-rat crazy folks, and we enjoy interacting with them. I plan to interview a few while sitting at the bar in Planet Marfa, where most of them congregate nightly to swap lies and tell tall tales. I fit right in, my kind of folks, and I need fodder for my stories and yarns. I may fill my pickup full of “things” and give them to the characters I meet. Folks like free stuff and can give the things to their friends down the line.

Discover more from Notes From The Cactus Patch

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

9 Replies to “Just Another Day Full Of Things”

  1. I had to look up Marfa on a map. Each year, we try to take a bit of a different route home from the RGV so we can see and experience new places and things. This year, we’re heading up through Langtree so we can check out Judge Roy Bean’s gig. Surprisingly, Marfa is just a couple of hours west of there, so you never know. I hear you about giving “stuff” away. Hubs and I have been doing the same for a few years. At the end of the day, it’s only stuff, and it’ll be far less for our daughter to have to deal with when we become room temperature (I love that expression, so thank you!) Another great read.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Completely understand. We head out that way about one or twice a year. We unsuccessfully camped at Davis Mountains State Park & enjoyed the McDonald Observatory. Waiting for their Bear Lodge to reopen after their refurbishment. We also like the Hotel Olympia. No more camping. We also enjoy eating at Stella’s Cafe in Van Horn.

    I need to take Dodie down Marfa way as she enjoys the surrealism of West Texas lure. Enjoy yourselves.

    Like

  3. My Texas daughter happens to be in town right now and when I read your post, I asked if she knew Marfa. She’s only heard of the faux Prada store on route 90. That is the most peculiar thing plopped in a desert for two decades?! Then, we traveled down a Marfa rabbit hole and also discovered a (pop) song by country singer Kimberly Perry titled Marfa Prada😄. Have fun with the eccentric folks during the upcoming travels!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We haven’t seen the Prada building; it’s too far out of town and we got scared that it might get dark and that’s when the little demon dog Chihuahua’s come out of the desert. The Hotel Paisano is historical as is Planet Marfa. The cast and crew stayed at the Paisano during filming of Giant in 1955. We stayed in Chill Wills room, and I don’t see how he got his big ole Texas butt in that small 1930s shower. Hoping to reconnect with a few of the characters we met on the times before. Check out this story from one of our visits. https://notesfromthecactuspatch.com/2024/11/19/unraveling-the-vanishing-girl-of-marfa/

      Liked by 1 person

  4. You’re such a thoughtful Grandpa. Hopefully, earmarking your prized guitars for your grandchildren will continue their enjoyment of music in the Strawn family. I look forward to more of your Marfa tales and run-ins with wild saber-toothed chihuahuas. Thanks for sharing, Phil. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We will spend some time at Planet Marfa and its outside bar and Tepee. That’s where we meet the real desert scrub character’s. Haven’t seen the nuclear waste Chihuahuas yet but still looking.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Sounds like a plan! Having just settled an estate, it is sooo helpful to find out what people want us to do with their crap! Lists, lists, lists! And don’t forget a list of passwords so your crap can be canceled. 🙂

    Oh! And my excitement went up a level at the word Epiphone. I know this! My husband used to have one. I don’t know the details specifically, but it was beautiful and awesome. He wanted to learn rock ‘n roll, but his dad told him he would only buy the guitar for him if he trained classical. Gosh, he could play some pretty stuff on that guitar. Glad you could buy yours back!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.