On our way out of Los Angeles, we stopped at a lavanderia in Boyle Heights to wash socks. Despite the fact that is a largely Hispanic neighborhood, a Belgian man wandered over to our van. Jefferson stepped out and practiced her French to discuss the problems with America. He expressed a great concern for America’s estrangement from the rest of the world. “America has lost its positive reputation. It isn’t known for anything but bad things now,” he told Jefferson. She embraced him and gave him a stack of flyers. A tear appeared and the corner of his eye and a smile spread across his face. “We could make this country beautiful again,” he told us. Meanwhile, Altheimer was passed out from a hangover in the backseat of the van.
While we were stuck in a stau near San Bernardino, Altheimer woke up. He marched up and down between cars with a sign that read EUROPEANS AGAINST OBAMA. This inevitably created a stir amongst all the Obama lovers in their cars. Boos and hisses poured out of the cracked windows and Altheimer casually spoke to all of them, encouraged them to vote for Europe. He also blocked the interstice that the motorcycle drivers were using the pass us. Now I understand why he wants me to keep the small camera rolling at all times. We can’t risk missing footage of him getting shot.
Our desert road trip has restored hope in the most cynical man in the universe. In all this nothingness, he has found happiness.
The next post will be a special on Flagstaff and why it is one of the most politically charged towns in America…
-vk
