ohio
if ever pulled-over for speeding in ohio, i recommend the butterfly landing on the hand experience. it was an unexpected yet playful take on the classic traffic stop. the butterfly was soothing and the officer engaging. i got off with warning and a story. how do you get off?
other traffic stops
• 14/Aug2015 – pulled over with the saints
• 29/Mar2012 – pulled over in spartanburg
at target. they’re climbing on everything. i’m buying a lamp, seems like a good idea: more light. we see each other, “you’re awesomeeee”– they pull the headphones out for a listen: Spaceman 3 and they approve. the saints: olivia, jackie, and gg. a cosmic collision for the few days gg and jackie set olivia up for school in saint louis.
that evening they’re at drinks. jackie’s texting how hungry she is, i haven’t eaten all day: though i bought a lamp. it’s 1:44a and we walk into to one of the diner institutions on the south side but it’s cold (physically and metaphorically) and there’s not enough room for us, who seem to need it all.
a bumper sticker on the institution warns: eat rite or don’t eat at all – we have 15 minutes before my favorite spot closes, “or don’t eat at all?” challenge accepted. i drive as fast as i can to get there in time. but when olivia asks about speeding cameras and i brag that this stretch of road’s not patrolled – then we get pulled over. clock’s ticking.
photo by jackie (a few days later)
A Palmetto State of Mind
south carolina
from savannah, i took two-lane state roads through the cradle of reconstruction. this is where lincoln and johnson experimented with giving land to the Freedmen. everyone i met was wonderful though my conversations were more “yes” and “thank you” than talking. im over talking. it’s forced. self-oppressive. i don’t want to talk anymore. i want drive through the south quietly, forever.
the sun isn’t far from setting. i got the biggest coffee the gas station had. then got another biggest coffee another gas station had. it’s not a big deal: i pull over and pee wherever i want cause i can do it standing up cause im a man. i pulled into spartanburg, sc cause it’s on the edge of the smokey mountains. a perfect place to stop before appalachia.
i fill up my tank and drive towards downtown. a police car is to the right of me at a four-way-stop. the police car turns and i pull behind them. then they pull over to the shoulder. i pass them then they get behind me. i can almost hear the benny hill theme playing really slow. then they turn their lights on and i start my voice recorder. it is no longer forever.
oy. remember when i was over talking?
irl is the new rpg 