2/9/15 – 2/10/15
It was a Monday and before I took off on this trip, I had an agreement with the boss to do some work on Monday mornings. Since I was supposed to meet Ann in Springfield in the evening, I decided to just find a Starbucks along the way to work. To get to Springfield, MO from Arlington, TX, my trusty GPS advised me to drive through Oklahoma. After I left Texas, the change in landscape is marked and remarkable, There were miles of farm and occasional small towns devoid of anything that closely resembles a coffee shop with wifi. In all the 300 miles through Oklahoma, there wasn’t a single Starbucks. They must not like it very much in this place. I stopped at one of the towns for gas. The people are super nice, down-to-earth, unused to seeing an Asian, and speak with an accent that made me doubt my understanding of the English language. When I got to Missouri, a few more interesting observations highlighted my drive.
- Most of the radio stations are country music (which was cool) and there is no hip-hop station
- The billboards had Christian messages
- Saw Amish stores and Amish folks on horse carriages along the freeway
- Heard on the radio: Some people should use the glue-stick instead of chap-stick
In the night, the gals and I went to Bass Pro Shop, the first there ever was. There happens to be a filming there by the Outdoor Channel, and we got our 15 seconds of fame of being background fans. We proceeded to eat at the restaurant upstairs (Hemingway’s) which doubled as a belated birthday celebration for Ann. Amazing Ozark fish (native to the area) found its way to my dinner plate.
The following day, Ann and I parted ways temporarily but not before a surprisingly authentic and hole-in-the-wall pho lunch. The drive on highway 63 out of Missouri was just gorgeous as I basked in the beautiful sunshine and flanked by cattle and horses grazing on the grass, rolling hills and winding streams. Gorgeous.
P.S. The first city I came across after entering Oklahoma was Durant. Sorry, just had to share this. Basketball fans will get me. I love it.
chewingvampire 