'Vegas on the I-15

Nobody knew I-15 from ‘Vegas to San Bernardino, nobody, like Marvin Alton. If someone asked what Tourist to Las Vegas bus to take, the answer would always be, “Take Marvin Alton’s bus—he knows the road like nobody else.”

Source: early vegas

That was 1960s then 70s, then 80s, and 90s.  Roads change and Marvin got older.  Son Buddy made him retire when diabetes got bad, eyesight with it.

So there Marvin sat, a crumpled up old man in a Lincoln Escalade, watching the new road before him and the desert on the sides.  The radio thing played Big Band music with Sinatra and Dean crooning the miles away.

Source

Off in the desert, bus stop breaks stood abandoned.  Windows broken, roof falling in. Place after place. On the planks and adobe bricks, Marvin’s poor eyesight picked up “ MEMS DESPOE”.  What the hell?” 

Just when he worked the letters through his head, another spray painted words popped up: AWARE!  Kids are just plain stupid..

Then, DES on the POE! AWARE…JEREMY.  Miles went by while Marvin passed the words over and over while Sinatra sang.

The Baker, CA exit seemed a good place to take a break. DQ was a new building, its big red and blue sign intimating, "Stop Here! You'll die if you don't!!" 

Buddy helped Marvin to the toilet and then back into the car.  Diabetes and ice cream don't like each other.

Marvin settled back in the Lincoln as a tour bus pulled in, new model with DVDs in the seat backs.  A group of teens rushed in, and then rushed out.

Marvin chuckled as the chocolate-dipped cones lost the chocolate in chunks, and the bus driver could be heard swearing and shouting. 

Just what I’d do…Some things change but never change. 

The road moved on and so did Marvin. 

We lived in Victorville, CA, for seven years.  Our children were born there and started school during those years.  A pleasant, almost cool, summer day would be about 94 degrees.  July and August were never mentioned.

Mojave Desert: Source