Criminal investigators always use the phrase "someone of interest" when they refer to suspects regarding criminal activity. In this case, the term is used differently.
We are always on the lookout for a good cup of coffee; not the Seattle, Washington stuff, but one of the myriads of other good coffees. The Seattle people would like you to think that there is only one coffee worth paying $3 per cup. Discerning drinkers like us always shy away from the hot-pot-on-a burner coffee because they have a reputation of having set on the burner for a long time. The bigger urns with specialty coffee may not be any different but they seem different.
Alpine does not have but one or two specialty coffee shops, and they are all Seattle prices (oh, yes, that's another criterion for good coffee, it has to be reasonably priced).
So, we have learned to stop at those big service stations for a cup of coffee because they often go big time for good coffee. We hit the Stripes gasoline station on main street at the east end of town. Good looking coffee station, so we did our usual sip and taste before buying. Good coffee, bought two cups and then discovered a real bonus: a small row of three tables and chairs to sit and drink.
After only a few minutes, an older man, turned out to be the same age as myself, walked in, got a soda from the self dispenser, and sat down at the table next to us. As he passed us, I said "good day for a cold beer" and he grunted something that made me think that here was a man that didn't want to talk about anything- especially with a stranger. But, that changed.
We struck up a conversation and it ranged to just about anything. We covered all the old times and even some current issues like: should feral burros be shot, has the town of Marfa gone berserk, etc. The man was a rancher all his life and now is taking life easier. He recalled the days when they were filming the movie starring James Dean in the town of Marfa, including the lone ranch house as a prop that still stands as a reminder of the movie. You can try to recall the name of the movie, but I tried and can not recall it. The rancher said that he was in the movie as an extra and even provided driver service for James Dean. He and Dean even went hunting rabbits as a pastime. Well, those days are gone, but he went on to tell how Marfa has been taken over by the self proclaimed artists from Austin, New York City and California. Prices have skyrocketed and the elite have a great time talking to each other, but the locals think they are all wacky.
Now, take rabbits for example. He said that one week, when he was a young man, he and a friend shot 800 cotton tail rabbits. Some they ate for dinner, but most they just let lay where they dropped. the area was apparently overrun by rabbits. Now that's curious, because one would not think that this dry, poor cover country would be a good place for rabbits. But, think again, the ranchers hate the because they eat the little bit of greenery that is needed by the sheep and goats. But the ranchers also kill off the coyotes, and it is the coyote that has to keep the rabbit population under control. So, another example of how nature is all connected and when disrupted like it sometimes is, things go out of kilter.
Later, another man walked in and joined the conversation. He mentioned that he was born in the area, just as the rancher was, but he was from the other side of the tracks so to speak. Here was a man that was full of experiences in the area. He told us all about schooling when he was a mere lad and his adventures climbing to the top of Mitre Peak. Like I imagined, climbing up was work, but coming down was scary as a slip could more easily occur going down rather than up. And, if one slipped coming down, you would likely come down in a hurry. I didn't ask him, but should have, how much of a platform there is at the very top. Because from the bottom of the peak, it appears the top is but a point. Wondering if the top was so pointed, one would have to stand on one foot...nah, not probable. Entropy takes care of that worry.
This fellow said he was mostly of Apache heritage. We talked about the importance of maintaining touch with ones heritage. As he should, he certainly is proud of his heritage of a native American.
Here again, we found some individuals who are most interesting to talk to, and one would never find them in any place but a gasoline station, and then never find them until one makes the move to open up the chat line.
We are always on the lookout for a good cup of coffee; not the Seattle, Washington stuff, but one of the myriads of other good coffees. The Seattle people would like you to think that there is only one coffee worth paying $3 per cup. Discerning drinkers like us always shy away from the hot-pot-on-a burner coffee because they have a reputation of having set on the burner for a long time. The bigger urns with specialty coffee may not be any different but they seem different.
Alpine does not have but one or two specialty coffee shops, and they are all Seattle prices (oh, yes, that's another criterion for good coffee, it has to be reasonably priced).
So, we have learned to stop at those big service stations for a cup of coffee because they often go big time for good coffee. We hit the Stripes gasoline station on main street at the east end of town. Good looking coffee station, so we did our usual sip and taste before buying. Good coffee, bought two cups and then discovered a real bonus: a small row of three tables and chairs to sit and drink.
After only a few minutes, an older man, turned out to be the same age as myself, walked in, got a soda from the self dispenser, and sat down at the table next to us. As he passed us, I said "good day for a cold beer" and he grunted something that made me think that here was a man that didn't want to talk about anything- especially with a stranger. But, that changed.
We struck up a conversation and it ranged to just about anything. We covered all the old times and even some current issues like: should feral burros be shot, has the town of Marfa gone berserk, etc. The man was a rancher all his life and now is taking life easier. He recalled the days when they were filming the movie starring James Dean in the town of Marfa, including the lone ranch house as a prop that still stands as a reminder of the movie. You can try to recall the name of the movie, but I tried and can not recall it. The rancher said that he was in the movie as an extra and even provided driver service for James Dean. He and Dean even went hunting rabbits as a pastime. Well, those days are gone, but he went on to tell how Marfa has been taken over by the self proclaimed artists from Austin, New York City and California. Prices have skyrocketed and the elite have a great time talking to each other, but the locals think they are all wacky.
Now, take rabbits for example. He said that one week, when he was a young man, he and a friend shot 800 cotton tail rabbits. Some they ate for dinner, but most they just let lay where they dropped. the area was apparently overrun by rabbits. Now that's curious, because one would not think that this dry, poor cover country would be a good place for rabbits. But, think again, the ranchers hate the because they eat the little bit of greenery that is needed by the sheep and goats. But the ranchers also kill off the coyotes, and it is the coyote that has to keep the rabbit population under control. So, another example of how nature is all connected and when disrupted like it sometimes is, things go out of kilter.
Later, another man walked in and joined the conversation. He mentioned that he was born in the area, just as the rancher was, but he was from the other side of the tracks so to speak. Here was a man that was full of experiences in the area. He told us all about schooling when he was a mere lad and his adventures climbing to the top of Mitre Peak. Like I imagined, climbing up was work, but coming down was scary as a slip could more easily occur going down rather than up. And, if one slipped coming down, you would likely come down in a hurry. I didn't ask him, but should have, how much of a platform there is at the very top. Because from the bottom of the peak, it appears the top is but a point. Wondering if the top was so pointed, one would have to stand on one foot...nah, not probable. Entropy takes care of that worry.
This fellow said he was mostly of Apache heritage. We talked about the importance of maintaining touch with ones heritage. As he should, he certainly is proud of his heritage of a native American.
Here again, we found some individuals who are most interesting to talk to, and one would never find them in any place but a gasoline station, and then never find them until one makes the move to open up the chat line.
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