Photo-Op
It was a perfect Las Vegas weekend.
She hit every one of her football bets. Literal perfection.
As for me? I scarfed down a month’s worth of red meat, lost my voice, and almost came close to breaking even.
Good times were had. The memories shall live on. But all reminiscing is now officially paused. Because it’s time to put the ol’ game face on. Gotta check in with myself. Yup, both palms are sweaty. Breathing is elevated. That’s right…
It’s time for the trip home.
This demanding trek is not for the faint of heart. Look, if you haven’t driven from Vegas back to the west coast…
You’ve never met pure terror.
Ok, here’s the situation…
California drivers only know traffic. They have zero clue what to do with themselves when unleashed. Like, imagine if you were starving to death. And then, out of nowhere, hamburgers started raining from the sky. How would you feel? How does a human even react? That…my friends…is what it’s like when Californians see 300 miles of open desert highway.
So, how do they react?
I’ll tell you how. By driving absolutely batshit crazy. Visualize the energy of a crackhead sprinting to a pot of crack at the end of a rainbow. That’s exactly what Interstate 15 back to Los Angeles is like.
This desert drive might as well be a Formula 1 race. With no need for Ferraris or Lamborghinis. On this journey, a Honda Civic can move at the same speed. Over here, every awkward Californian becomes Vin Diesel from the Fast And Furious movies. This trip should take 5 hours. Everyone around me is trying to do it in 90 minutes.
So, I remain focused.
Eye of the tiger activated.
Game face on.
Fords and Toyotas whip past me like Usain Bolt by a turtle. I can’t even look down for a sip of water. This herculean task requires all my focus. Now an hour into the madness, I’m deep in the belly of the beast. No food or gas exits to be found. No reprieve at all. Just a whole lot of endless desert. And a collection of maniacs trying to break the speed of sound.
I haven’t spoken aloud for the past 45 minutes.
She asks if I’m doing ok.
Apparently, I look stressed.
Like Samuel L Jackson from A Time To Kill, I yell out:
“Yes, I’m feeling stressed! And I hope they burn in hell!”
(Narrator: He was, in fact, not doing ok)
Then, suddenly, all the zooming cars come to a complete halt…
Nothing but brake lights. The entirety of Interstate 15 is now at a standstill. Our long line of lunatics in road rockets? All back to their natural habitat. Sitting in traffic. But what on earth is causing this? I mean, the I-15 is Nevada’s version of the Autobahn.
And then I realize how dark it is…
Nothing blue above me.
No clouds to be found.
Wait, this is early afternoon. What on earth is HAPPENING IN THE SKY?
I can’t describe it as anything but apocalyptic. Truly what this feels like. No other words in the dictionary for it. The entire sky is darkness and smoke. Impossible to see more than a few yards ahead.
Things stay like this for a few minutes. Until we gradually creep forward. Darkness now clearing up. And then she spots it. Points her finger at something ahead…
On the shoulder of Interstate 15 is an RV on fire. Everyone has safely escaped. But, visually, this is just incredible. Such an insane sight to behold. We’re deep in the middle of the desert looking at an RV engulfed in flames. Never seen anything like this in my life. Easily the most incredible photo opportunity of the year.
Traffic is moving a bit faster, so I quickly hand her my phone.
I ask, “Can you get this shot???”
She snaps the picture and says with more confidence than I’ve ever heard from another human:
“I got the shot.”
I start imagining all the photography competitions we’ll win. This visual is stunningly original. No way to properly describe it. But, then again, I guess a picture does speak a thousand words.
Editor’s Note:
The following image is the picture that was taken in this moment.
