I grew up outside of Amarillo, Texas in the town of Hereford. Even thought we were so close to the Cadillac Ranch, I never went. I always heard stories about it. I loved to listen to Bruce Springsteen sing about the ranch, but I never really had a desire to go. My parents certainly never encouraged it!!
When my daughter M was in high school we were back visiting my inlaws in Hereford, and she and I decided to go see it. It was a very cold day and she loved it!!
Dr. T and I drive right by it when driving back to the Dallas area from New Mexico. I’m always fascinated by it and like to stop. It’s a good excuse to get out and stretch legs! We stopped again while driving back from Christmas.
I grew up hearing stories about Stanely Marsh- the eccentric millionaire who agreed to let the group of artists “plant” the Cadillacs on his property and pay for it. (more info)
A few months ago a friend texted me a picture of a strange sign. A friend of hers was in Amarillo and was finding all these weird signs, and my friend was wondering if I knew what they were. I told her I was sure they were Stanely Marsh’s signs. He commissioned strange signs to be erected all over Amarillo.
Thinking of Stanley Marsh reminds me of the saying that I love ” In Texas (or the South) we don’t try to hide our crazy people. We like to sit them on the front porch and give them a cocktail.” I like the idea of being eccentric, but I’m afraid I’m too boring to ever be considered that way. It has been my goal for several years- to be the eccentric old lady in town. I think people who are truly their own selves live much happier lives.
Stanley Marsh died several years ago, but his legacy will live on for years to come. There are so many things that I hope for myself in 2017, but one is that I just want to truly be myself. I believe that getting older has taught me not to care what others think- something that I have struggled with in the past.
Leave a Reply