"Betty's Roy Orbison Playlist" Bonus Content
"Betty's Roy Orbison Playlist" Bonus Content
Betty’s Roy Orbison Playlist begins in Wink, Texas before it moves to my fictional town of Dixon on the New Mexico border. Wink sprang up in 1926 after oil was discovered there. Oil companies created jobs—and so much money, organized crime got wind of it and dipped a toe, bringing bootlegging, gambling and prostitution to where there had been only flat land and ancient sand dunes.
I’ve never surfed in the ocean, but I have sand-surfed on the Monahans dune chain—flown down the face of a brown dune, probably with the harmonies of the Beach Boys in my mind as I pretended to be a California Girl. Older kids listened to the timeless sound of Wink, Texas home-towner Roy Orbison on transistor radios.
A lot of people have made and continue to make their livings from oil—and mixed feelings about it roil my insides. My daddy worked forty years for Mobil, rising up the ranks from an “Oil Johnny” to making a successful career. Our life—my life—benefited from it. The environment, the planet, not so much. And therein lie the battles that take place in my heart and mind. Life is complicated.
Sadly, the Kermit Sand Hills have been closed to the public since 2016. A Houston company purchased the whole kit and caboodle to use the sand for drilling oil—fracking. Fracking uses sand in enormous amounts. Millions of pounds in steady supply are used to extract oil and natural gas from deep underground. And ironically, the special sand that makes up the storied, ancient dunes I used to play on is ideal for the woeful task.
It's sad that the dunes out in far West Texas/Southeastern New Mexico where I grew up are no longer a place to go play. We all need a place to play.
Cue Roy Orbison lyrics:
It’s over,
It’s over.
It’s ooooverrrrrr.
Cue:
Dust devil rising off the ground, dissipating into the sky.
Fade to black.
Good backstory on this part of Texas and how all plays into your entertaining podcasts, Lucinda. Sand surfing must have been a blast!
The Beach Boys my first concert, yakoke for another hug from my memory bank. Sandy wind blowin’ in her hair……Surfing USA. I can just see you flying down the dunes. For the fun of it. The fun and life that Mother’s natural wonders provide for all species of life, then Paradise is closed. Some species way of life are changed forever or eliminated. Go find your fun somewhere else or No fun anymore. All for the love of money. All for the love of power. They have money to make and a planet to pollute. They don’t care. They have tried to separate us from our relationship with the Earth, our Mother. We can’t let that happen. Everyday is Earth Day. Tomorrow we celebrate together the beauty and abundance of life that our Mother Earth has provided for all species to live and flourish. What we have witnessed with our own eyes is that all forms of pollution are a land, water, air life destroyer. In our being we know that we have to live in harmony and balance with life. Not pollute it. Don’t disrespect your Mother. As always your extra added nuggets of life has stirred me up. But that’s good. We all need to be stirred up to Protect the Sacred! Honor the Earth! Take Care of Mother! Yakoke fehna hoke for the wind that blows through my hair……