Motel Room in the Tonopah Desert -Across the street from that truck-stop was a motel that I remember being vaguely Moroccan themed, which was some probably mid-century attempt at arbitrary kitsch. But that really just meant it had these arches stuccoed under the eaves that hung outside the doors. Inside, the rooms were a basic, anywhere-America, dingy motel depression. The carpets were dark brown, and I know it all smelled like cigarettes, which probably didn’t matter as much as I thought it did because I didn’t realize then that my parents smoked. This was the only time in my life that I ever saw those coin-operated vibrating beds. I’ve wondered for years how either of my parents agreed to even one night there, but it was like a dream come true to me. I’m sure I just watched TV and fell asleep in the bed next to my brother’s, but I don’t really remember the night. I just remember feeling like it was somehow my fault that we were there, feeling like a brat for loving something so much, even though I was aware the place was terrible and my parents were probably not especially charmed. I mostly just remember the dark brown carpet and vibrating beds. | 2020 |