02/26/2024
So I suppose it’s not fair to tantalize you with my safety plan for driving to NM and not give you a report on how things went. First, I did essentially drive from Grand Forks to Albuquerque non stop and the same from Albuquerque back to Grand Forks. To be honest, there were 3 short stops at truck stops, where I had short snoozes. But zero spent on motels. And my seats fold back so no problem. The cold was a problem but I had 2 sleeping bags along so no sweat. Compared to the comfort of the boys we routinely send to war, not so bad.
My safety plan also consisted of, when I searched for Pe**te buttons in search of the religious experience that many who have used pe**te report, I would stay out of those areas in S. Texas and Mexico controlled by gangs or the cartel. I’m proud to say that I never strayed from this plan one iota. And to think that some people say I have little self control.
I don’t remember if avoiding high risk situations was part of the safety plan but if it weren’t it should have been. I drove 5 hours on treacherous mountain roads. Dozens of cars and trucks had gone off the road and several were tipped over. On one occasion I was stuck in traffic while a flight to life helicopter came to take a trucker to a hospital after his truck tipped over on its down a steep incline. Now, that got my attention Thank God I have 55 years of experience driving on ice and thank God many times over for helping me safely through that white knuckling terrifying situation.
Then there’s getting busted for being in possession of my my medical ma*****na in Wyoming, where their state laws make possession of any ma*****na a misdemeanor. Anyway, enough for now though the details of this story will likely make you both cringe and laugh. More later on how I exercised superb judgment throughout this trip.