Leaving our Mark on Cadillac Ranch

I had planned very little on our trip. But there was one stop that I not only planned but highly anticipated.

Cadillac Ranch.

Amarillo, Texas.

It soon became clear that my family did not share my sentiments and as we crossed into Texas from Oklahoma, those in the back seat began to grumble. It didn’t matter that we’d skipped several attractions that I’d hoped to visit. Or that we were on Day 2 of our road trip and had surpassed where I thought we’d be by hundreds of miles. We were halfway to California and way ahead of schedule, but my children decided that they did not want to stop anywhere else that night. They didn’t want to stop anywhere until we arrived in California. Period. My feeling of euphoria over our perfect first day of travel was coming to an end. Quickly.

My teens had grumbled and snapped at one another for the better part of the day until one child was in the far back seat in angry silence and I was in the front, beginning to comprehend why some animals eat their offspring.

My husband, who had consumed nearly a full bottle of Pepto Bismal earlier in the day, had commented that this trip would have been more enjoyable when our kids were younger. He even promised me that he and I would take another trip along Route 66 and stop at all of the roadside attractions we were missing. And that was before the straw broke the camel’s back and the tears I was trying to hold back spilled over.

By the time we had arrived at Cadillac Ranch, I didn’t even want to stop.

I’d like to think that when my husband and I revisit Route 66 we can have a do-over of Cadillac Ranch, but this roadside attraction is in danger of being removed.

We pulled off the road and joined several other cars in the parking area and began the dusty walk through the field to the iconic automobiles armed with spray paint that I’d packed from home.

My 18-year old didn’t waste any time climbing among the cars to find what he thought would be the ideal location to leave his mark.

While some ‘taggers’ get pretty creative with their craft, my kids preferred not to put in too much effort. It’s clear that whatever form of graffiti one adds won’t last long.

Though my kids would never admit it, I think they secretly enjoyed our visit to Cadillac Ranch.

I only wish I could say the same.

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