One of the top questions asked in the Permian Basin: “So, are you from here?” Me? No, but I call this dusty place home. Landing here in March of 2013 I told myself I would give it a year. Three days before accepting a job offer to manage a franchise in Midland, I asked God to show me ANY signs NOT to move 5 hours away. I kept my eyes wide open. Nothing appeared.
At the time I was 27 years old, making a living in Seguin, Texas.
Let me paint a picture for you. Tall Trees. Rivers. Green Grass. A far cry from mesquite bushes and flat surfaces. Growing up, our Uncle Andy(dad’s fraternity brother,) ran a pipe company and I can account for a couple of trips from Weatherford, where I was born and raised, to the land of big skies and pump jacks.
If you have kids you may have watched “Inside out.” That is what my memory is like with these Interstate-20 voyages. Grasping a marble from the Fun House scene in the dimly lit pathways of my child brain. Dad worked at a dealership in Fort Worth. He was always able to get demo cars. A fun surprise coming home to a new vehicle we would get to cruise around in for a few weeks at a time.
On one particular journey to Odessa, he chose a new white two door Acura with leather interior. I can still recall the smell.
Mom did not go with us on this trip.
I do not know whether is was that she needed a break or that she didn’t care for the views. I suppose it might have been both. My sister and I argued about who had shot gun. Dad reluctantly allowed us to play our cassette tape “Jaws of the Jurassic,” over and over.
Listen at your own risk ⬆️
A Saint, now that I think about it. No way I would allow that audible torture all the way to Sweetwater. We stayed at the Days Inn on Highway 80. In fact, I am 99% positive that is where the Fun Dome is now. On that note, unless your vice is meth and prostitution, I’d probably nix that choice for future travel. I’ll cover that in another post. Not my position on drugs and hookers; choosing to stay at the Fun Dome.
I could not tell you what happened on that trip but I do recall a quieter ride back East with the Cars and the Traveling Wilbury’s playing while I stared out the window, from the back seat this time, observing the vast expanse of cotton fields.
That excursion and one more, which involved a velvet portrait of a naked woman on a leopard rug, are the only two trips to Odessa I can pull from the marble jar. I know I had to be under the age of 9. I believe the last trip that involved the vulnerable woman in the painting had to be a significant Birthday for Uncle Andy.
See rendition below. Uncle Andy, I’ll need follow up clarification on this memory please.
Fast forward to some eighteen years later.
I decided to make the journey out West when Seguin showed no reason to stay. West Texas was not as I remembered, well, a little bit, but the skies were far more expansive, the personalities very charming and I could see potential through the occasional haboob.
I was fortunate to have several locals and non-locals show me around town. I now make it my mission to assist clients and friends, a lot who are new to the Permian, to find the “Best of the Best” in the Tall City and Odessa.
My world looks a little different now, spectacularly beautiful in so many ways, yet different than I had imagined. However, I have learned through many months of counseling and other avenues of self help, my control only goes so far and pivoting in life is necessary sometimes. This Easter, after an early morning egg hunt, the girls were ecstatic to spend the day with their Grandparents and Cousins.
Me, I got to spend Sunday afternoon with two extremely good looking brunettes.
Two beautiful souls who are incredibly worldly.
From a local perspective they are new to Midland. Each one is open to unique situations and most importantly they both posses sophisticated pallets.
There was an itch that needed to be scratched and I felt it my calling to introduce them to the best Bloody Mary in the world.
This pitcher of nourishment can be found at Riley’s Bar and Grill.
Located at 3421 W. Wall Street, next to an old tire shop and a questionable Motel, this Midland staple gets 4.5 ⭐️’s out of 757 Google reviews. After doing a few minutes of digging, I THINK, Rileys has been in existence since 1991, if anyone can shed more light, please let me know. There is still a jukebox. Dad, I played the Travling Wilbury’s in your honor. You can buy vapes or cigarettes out of a machine. You can order a steak. You can enjoy fried catfish. You can try your hand at pool. The people watching is epic. But the #1 attraction at this local joint, hands down, is the Bloody Mary.
The bar tender that day was Donna. Her hair was as white and fluffy as the snow we never saw fall this winter. Donna can make a superb Bloody Mary, I imagine she has been making them for eons. When I asked one of my date’s, who is a non local, for their honest feedback, his take was, “True dive bar, hole in the wall, really cool place, wish I had tried some food, Bloody Mary was great and the beer was cold,” maybe he can make that review #758.
If you have not been to Riley’s, go.
If you have visited, take the time to enjoy it again.
You can check an answer off your list when asked by a local if you have experienced Rileys. Added bonus, you can sit outside, soak up some sun and your hair wont smell like cigarettes.
2013-May.
Carol Holloway, Boss Babe supreme and one hell of a Woman- Previous Owner of Servpro Of Midland/Odessa.
Peace- J.
J's Place 