Day Nine: Reflections In Plainview
We’ve been on this adventure a day over a week now. I have to say, we’ve come a long way…both geographically and mentally. Our intent was to explore this grand country, seeking opportunity and taking a pulse on the industry and business scene in different areas. So far at every stop we’ve learned something new.
So now we sit in a Plainview, Texas motel contemplating it all. But before I get into that exercise, let me paint a picture of our current surroundings.
Our motel room consists of two queen beds that barely squeeze into a narrow passage banked on the far end by a sink, a shower and a toilet. We also have a small fridge and a microwave that cooks at about the same temperature as an Easy-Bake oven. There is some strange brown goo around the outlets that I’m terrified to think about. And when we drove into the parking lot I turned off all images from both Dateline “blacklight” specials and CSI montages.
Across the street is a boarded up gentleman’s club called “Reflections.” A bit farther down are three gas stations…one of which actually sells gas.
Rough times have hit this quaint town nestled between Amarillo and Lubbock.
It is amidst these surroundings that Johannes and I contemplate the past week. Not only have we seen some of the most beautiful terrain imaginable, dodged car-sized wildlife, encountered law enforcement in two states, and chased evil baby to Halliburton….we’ve also met some amazing people doing great work.
From Flying Horse in Bozeman, SmartWool in Colorado Springs and Weise Communications in Denver it seems everyone is starting to feel optimistic. The tide is turning. There is hope. And there is excitement about how all the new rules of social media have yet to be defined and implemented and what their implications will mean for our industry.
That might be why I take a look around these “charming” surroundings and feel electric excitement. Positive enthusiasm. Eager anticipation.
Tomorrow we head out to San Antonio. It should take us about eight hours to get there. (Did I mention Texas is ridiculously big and the roads don’t bend at all?). Alamo, River Walk, and KGB Texas where I will meet with Rich Teplitsky, a Philly transplant and current Director of PR for one of the fastest-growing integrated agencies in the region.
As I think upon this past week, I look at tonight’s surroundings and feel primarily a sense of gratitude. I can’t tell what tomorrow might bring. But I can’t wait to meet it.
