Contraria

Edward C. "Coe" Heller is a Los Angeles-based film producer who believes that if everyone knows something to be true it is probably false. A friend, tired of listening to rants has suggested a blog as a harmless outlet. Coe believes it is vanity, and a chasing after the wind, but is unsure it is harmless.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Route 66 Revisited



      “Route 66” brings to mind iconic images.  US 66,  the road West from Chicago to Santa Monica.  Okies in the 1930’s:

            It’s out of that dustbowl and westward we rolled.
            Your deserts were hot but your mountains were cold

            In the 1960’s TV show George Maharis with his Jack Kerouac On the Road slouch and his wingman traveled around the country in a Corvette, a mirror to America, some road trip combination of Odysseus, knights errant and Forrest Gump.

            Get your kicks on Route 66

            I have decided to drive across the country, and Trophy Wife has graciously agreed.  What does Route 66 mean when it is updated by 50 years?  Pretty much the same conceptually, well, not exactly, but after 50 years we might expect some minor tweaks.

            First, there is a 66 involved, as I will be 66 upon our return.  And the driving will be on other roads as Route 66 has been abandoned.   We have friends joining us in Jackson Wyoming for part of the trip, so instead of a Corvette we’ll have an updated version – that would be a Dodge Grand Caravan.  We expect to visit Millennium Park in Chicago, the Mary Tyler Moore statue in Minneapolis, the Corn Palace and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, Old Faithful in Yellowstone, a college roommate in Idaho, Reno, Monterey and whatever else will fit into not 4 years of TV but 11 days.   Time has sped up a good deal in 50 years.  Certain accommodations to age are also required - we’ll be light on roadside motels and more inclined to Hyatts.  

            The kids say “YOLO” – you only live once.  I am grateful to be able to fulfill whims, for Trophy Wife’s accommodations and for friends who are also just a little whacky.  Saddle up!

            On the road again
            Just can’t wait to be on the road again