Home at last!

Got into Emeryville last night and am now at my Mom’s in Oakland.

Salt Lake City – August 24th, 1 AM

Finally got bumped up to sleeper class earlier today:
fold down seats that turn into beds, showers, and free meals.

Ended up being a good deal because I split it with Kristina from Jersey. She’s going to Burning Man and is really 25 years old even though she looks like she should be worrying about her SAT scores or something.

She and I strategically plan for each “smoke break” stop over. She packs her metal cigarette pipe with bud and I make sure to have the real cigarettes and lighter ready. Then out the doors and light up all three things at once! The train is behind schedule so they usually only stop for a few minutes max and we have to make the most out of these brief opportunities.

Now that I’m finally able to stretch out and relax, I’m really enjoying the train. High and full, power for my computer and headphones on, I’m watching the blackness of Utah slide by, punctuated by yellow bursts of mercury-vapor streetlights and the occasional 18-wheeler sliding slowly past as we overtake it.

Billboards tell me I need more living space, that it’s 68 degrees out, where to get pool supplies, and a number to call that promises that I will “never shave again.” Something involving lasers – I think it’s intended for women.

On the outskirts of Provo we pass some sort of outdoor welding/smelting locale. It’s midnight and there’s some sort of circle of metal debris and a large round oven like thing (maybe 8 feet tall?). Fire and sparks are glowing behind this ball, and steam is pouring forth into the dark night. Whatever is going on it looks very makeshift, and very very hot. As if someone had just decided that they had some smelting to do out in the abandoned junk yard tonight. Maybe someone attending Burning Man making some last minute fixes to his hand crafted suit of armor.

A few seconds is all I get and the blacksmith shoots off into the night behind me. The train rattles on.