A stop on the highway during our summer vacation. |
Arizona, hot afternoon, tearing apart the Interstate, Ttime to take a break from miles of shimmering desert highway. Six hours at high speed makes the eyes tired. Not a McDonald's to be seen in the last 200 miles. Emily and I stop at Hopi Kiva Cafe outside Phoenix. The only white faces smart enough to dare the local menu were met with friendliness and eagerness to accept tourist dollars. Climb out of the car stretching, back and neck popping, squinting and sun baking, we wander into air conditioned gloom. Mmmm, spicy pepper cooking smells. Kid menu and whatever the pretty native girl with the round smiling face recommended sounded good as we quickly dined. Dad can we go into the gift shop? Activity books and more car fun stuff, Dream Catcher, a bit of turquoise, coloring books and crayons dug into my wallet. I attempted a smile, as I give money to the decidedly non-native grouchy, slouchy teen with the "Here to Help" pin on her apron. Emily climbs on top of an outdoor dining table for a picture in front of poorly done reproductions of Hopi demigods, before we strap back in and turn up air conditioning. Arizona, late afternoon. we were tearing back up an Interstate on-ramp. We broke east into 400 miles of shimmering desert highway. Six more hours at high speed kept smiles on our faces. Emily and I recounted dinner and shopping, before admitting to being tired. |