Texas Heartbreakers :: Chapter 2 :: Lubbock Texas

Our first stop! Lubbock, Texas! It wasn't dark out yet, but it was getting late when pulled up to the "free camp area" we had mapped in Lubbock. The "camp area" was a small grassy spot next to a parking lot right off the busy road across from a gas station. No one was there, but it looked legit enough. Our tent went up quickly, and we cooked dinner over a little propane grill we brought. We'd go to downtown Lubbock tomorrow and do a little exploring. We brushed our teeth. Time to sleep. Our first night away from home. We both forgot to bring a pillow. We were comfortable enough though.

Lubbock is a small college town in Texas. The home of Lubbock Christian University, Texas Tech University, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is bound to have some cool kids! Buddy Holly was born here too, so this town MUST like live music! He played all around this small town with his band back in the 50's. We decided to take a little tour around town on the city bus before hittin' the streets to sing.

Money was tight, so we had to be careful what we spent it on or we'd end up heading back to Austin before we even got to the west coast. So we set aside enough money for gas to get back home and penny-pinched our way around. The bus was $1 each, and I put in a $5. First time on a city bus, I guess. You don't get change. Don't argue with the bus driver. Luckily the waiter at the resteraunt we had lunch at didn't charge for our drinks. He must have known, when all we ordered was a taco each, ate 2 baskets of chips, and asked for refills to-go!

There was a small strip of bars downtown going around one tiny block that boasted a huge mural of Buddy Holly. We saw plenty of opportunity there, and went back with the guitar when the sun went down. 

We played in a bunch of different spots, feeling like a rival team at an away game. A few people stopped to talk, but mostly, we just didn't fit in. They weren't used to it, didn't know what we were doing, or what to do. They looked at us like street peddlers, or looked away rather.

It was a discouraging start to our street performing tour. I hoped it wasn't a glimpse of what was to come. We went back to our "campsite" across from the gas station that night feeling low. There wasn't a bathroom, but the gas station was still open. We got ready for bed, packed the jeep to leave in the morning, and went to sleep with the hum of an 18-wheeler nearby. 

I didn't like Lubbock, but we were still having a great time. Anything that replaced the memory of my broken heart was fine by me. And in the morning, we could keep running. Wherever we wanted to go; however fast or slow. I felt so at home on the road.

Singing New Strings (by Miranda Lambert)

Aimlessly Seeking Comfort

Do you ever drive around, wondering where you're going? Sometimes I get all packed up and ready to go, get in my car and start driving somewhere, then decide I should go somewhere else, then almost get there, and decide to go home. It's not as simple as it sounds though.

Like this morning. I took a shower, got dresssed, packed my laptop, a couple notebooks, and another backpack full of stuff. See, that's part of the problem right there. I spend way too much time packing, deciding what to pack, looking for things, moving things, and unpacking things. I always bring more to do than I ever get done, and more than I need. And that's time consuming!

I usually start off knowing where I'm going. My plan was to go to Starbucks and drink coffee while I used their WI-FI and sorted through paperwork. I drove right past it though. Then I changed my mind and went back. I only got a coffee, then I left. I felt like I needed a more comfortable place to work, but I didn't want to go home, because of my furniture moving problem. I would probably get distracted cleaning and rearranging.

I need a good spot, a regular place where I can get coffee and use WI-FI that's comfortable and has a good view. I drove towards the beach wondering if I'd see one, and if I did see one, would I be brave enough to go in a new place...

The ocean air felt good on my skin and I breathed it in deeply as I sat at a red light watching a guy struggle with his surfboard on a bike. I wish I had an open-air cabana right outside my bedroom door. One with curtains for privacy, an amazing view, and lots of pillows and table top space. There would be a ceiling fan, a soft blanket or two, and those little white lights that look like stars in the night sky. The flowers all around would make the breeze smell like heaven, and candles would make the shadows dance when the sun went down. That would be perfect.

I pulled into another Starbucks down the road, giving myself a second chance to get some work done. After sitting in my car doing my makeup in the parking lot for ten minutes, I left. I drove towards my apartment hoping for inspiration, and wound up back home after all, where I laid my paperwork all over my bed, opened the window facing the pool, turned on the fan, and surrounded myself with pillows and candles.