It had been physically one of the most demanding days of my life. The temperature broke into the three digits by mid-afternoon and when you factor in the "road heat" that emanated from the tarmac, peddling into the wind was almost too much to endure. By late afternoon, heat exhaustion had hit hard. I wasn't delirious but dizzy as heavy sweat dripped from my body. And I wondered at the swell of heat that seemed to pulsate from my body. So, by 3 pm I limped into Stockton, Kansas. My oasis.
Stockton, Kansas sits along the Solomon River on Hwy 183 in Rooks County and clings to a population of 1480. Founded 1872 and thus in its 152nd year, this little town has been an island of refuge in an ocean of dust and heat. And so has Linda been a friendly refuge, though for only four years. Linda owns the M Motel. "Fr., Been waiting for you. I've already turned the air conditioner on in Room 3 and cleaned it real good." She overlooked the obvious--I looked like a sweaty armadillo--yet she welcomed me as her lost uncle Fred. And did she ever have cats! M apparently stood for Cats. She'd already given me the deal of the century even for a ma and pa motel. Oh, I tell you what. Don't pay a thing. You're on a bike and come all the way from Norton (60 miles away) it's hot out there. Just leave a tip for the girl who cleans the room. I did pay Linda, but was moved by her generosity and her desire to alleviate my discomfort. We became passing friends; we later swapped stories, laughed and snickered and when she asked, I offered a bit of my faith journey.
The picture below is what greeted me when I opened my door in the morning: the glorious sun emerging on the eastern horizon point. And then I noticed the sign. "M Hotel." But I squinted to catch the blurb below it. I call it the "dealmaker." In smaller print, the line read, Taylor Swift Stayed Here. When I remarked about this phenomenon, she bid me to her office and proudly presented me with a signed picture of Taylor Swift. Linda gave me the backstory. Taylor Swift was in Stockton for a county fair concert just when she was beginning to become famous. Linda's eyes rolled when she added, and she told the crowd that she didn't want to be here! That didn't set well with the local folks.
As I bid farewell and pulled out I yelled out to Linda, "You're going to have to change your sign now. Taylor Swift and Fr. Tom stayed here!" Blessings on Linda. May you get a good price when you sell your beautiful retro motel with the letter M for Cats.
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