W A S H I N G T O N   D . C .   -   D A Y   # 4

Friday, October 29, 2004

Early in the morning, a bumping, thumping sound pulls me from my slumber. What could the noise possibly be? After throwing on come clothes, I sleepily spill out of the van's side doors to investigate.

OH MY GOD!!! I'm parking lot camping next to a funeral home on wheels! When I went to bed earlier in the evening, I recall hearing a large truck park beside me. I didn't think anything about it.

Could that bumping, thumping noise I heard have come from this truck? God, I hope not!

According to this article on the Internet:

"Thacker Caskets, Inc. has experienced unprecedented sales growth in recent years with unit volume up 76% since 1999. Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Michael Beardsley says that they like to refer to themselves as the Southwest Airlines of the casket business. He continues, quietly, Thacker Caskets Inc. has grown to become America's 4th largest casket manufacturer and 2nd largest family owned casket maker."

That's strange. I thought more and more people are getting cremated these days, so, what's up with their hefty increase in sales? I don't see anything in the article about them transporting the dearly departed in their company trucks, so, I guess the noise I heard came from somewhere else... or did it??? Hooo Hooo Haaa Haaa Haaa! (evil laughter)

After waking I decide to cut my hair. Not wanting to get any hair in the van, I do the deed outside for all to see. It's actually kinda fun. Within about 5 minutes I finish the job, and in the process I save at least $10. Ya know, I've been cutting my hair for years now. The final straw came when I paid for a series of really bad hair cuts. After that, I figured, I couldn't possibly do a worse job if I cut it myself, so, why not. Hair is overrated anyway, as per one of my trip's revelations.