Arizona clouds: look, but don’t lose sight of the potholes.
What do potholes and clouds have in common? They come in various sizes and shapes and are prolific when driving through Nevada and Northern Arizona. That’s about it. They are more different than they are alike. If you look down at the potholes, it is a constant Whac-a-Mole game trying to dodge them. They present a scourge to smooth sailing. If you look up at the clouds, their vast display across the sky evokes a sense of wonder for their beauty and dynamics. However, best to keep your eyes on the potholes!
Potholes require two factors to be present at the same time: water and traffic. In areas where temperatures fluctuate between freezing and thawing, damage can occur to pavement that creates openings for water to enter, thus weakening the soil beneath. Along comes a two-ton-Tillie car or truck and, voila, you’ve got yourself a pothole. (Aside: Clouds also require two of the same factors — water and temperature change; no traffic required.)
One town I lived in was always plagued with potholes (as are many), so much so that every spring the local radio station requested call-ins for the best/worst pothole. The variety of descriptions could be hilarious. “I imagine the potholes on 15th Street as foxholes in the Battle of Verdun. If you look closely, you can see Wonder Woman coming to the rescue!”
In my lifetime, nothing can compare to the potholes I experienced on a bicycle ride through Vietnam. You best not hit one in a Mini Cooper, lest you disappear down the black hole.
Have you ever sung what you thought were the words to a song for years and years only to find out those weren’t the words at all? For instance, “I can see clearly now. Lorraine is gone.” (Johnny Nash: “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.”) Or, “Then I saw her face, now I’m gonna leave her.” (Monkees: “Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer.”)
Or, created a completely different scenario than what the artist was actually singing about? I’ve just learned that John Lennon wasn’t talking about holes in the roof of Albert Hall in “A Day in the Life,” sung by me many times while Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was spinning on the record player: “I read the news today/oh boy/Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire/And though the holes were rather small/They had to count them all/Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.”
The words were inspired by a news brief in London’s “Daily Mail” under the headline, “The holes in our roads.” It stated, “There are 4,000 holes in the road in Blackburn, Lancashire, or one twenty-sixth of a hole per person.” I wonder how many Beatles fans knew John was talking about potholes.
Here’s an addition to Sarah’s Twisp Valley Life column last week. I was reading her column online while waiting in line at — none other than — a car wash in Phoenix. I was laughing out loud at her description of the dirty Methow Valley cars attending the hockey game on the sleek west side when the attendant rolled up to my window, looked the car over, and asked, “Have you been in the snow?” Have I been in the snow? Have I?
Then I looked around and saw that the myriad of cars in line looked more like my car when it came out of the wash tunnel. I’m not sure what they were washing off. Oh, and not a single one had a deer guard on the front grill!
