Wichita Falls: Dust, Drummers, and a Seriously Weird Vibe
okay, so i just landed back from wichita falls, texas. it’s…a place. i wasn’t exactly planning on wichita falls, honestly. it was a last-minute detour after a gig in *dallas fell through. the promoter, bless his heart, said something about a “scheduling conflict involving a llama.” don’t ask. i’m a touring session drummer, which means i go where the beat takes me, and sometimes the beat leads to unexpected places.
let me tell you, the air hits different here. i just checked and it’s…holding onto yesterday’s heat, with a side of dry. like, really dry. the weather report said nine degrees celsius, but it feels like five, which is just rude. the pressure’s all over the place, too - 1018, apparently. i don’t even know what that means, but it feels like my ears are trying to adjust to a different altitude. humidity’s at sixty-two percent, which, considering how parched everything looks, feels like a lie.
my hotel, the “sunset lodge” (i’m using quotes ironically), is…an experience. the wallpaper is peeling, the carpet smells faintly of regret, and the ice machine sounds like a dying walrus. but hey, it’s got a roof. and wifi. crucial for a drummer who needs to upload practice tracks. i’ve been exploring the downtown area, and it’s…quirky. lots of antique shops and what appear to be abandoned diners. i found a decent coffee shop, though - “bean there, done that” - surprisingly good cold brew. https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Coffee+Shops&find_loc=Wichita+Falls%2C+TX
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“apparently, old man Hemlock haunts the Lucy Park. says he lost his prize-winning pumpkin there in ‘78.”
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i overheard that at the diner. apparently, wichita falls has a lot of ghost stories. i’m not usually one for the paranormal, but i might check out Lucy Park just for kicks. i’m also thinking of hitting up the World’s Littlest Skyscraper. because, why not? https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g45946-d266499-Reviews-World_s_Littlest_Skyscraper-Wichita_Falls_Texas.html
my neighbors seem…reserved. i haven’t had much interaction, but i did see a guy walking a miniature donkey down the street. that’s a first. if you get bored, lawton, oklahoma are just a short drive away. someone told me the casinos there are pretty good, but also that they’re run by a guy named “slick rick” who has a pet alligator. take that with a grain of salt. i also heard that the best barbecue* is at “smokin’ joe’s,” but you have to know the secret handshake. https://www.wichitafallschamber.org/
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“don’t order the chicken fried steak at the diner on a tuesday. trust me.”
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that was some drunk advice i got from a guy at the bar last night. i’m not sure why specifically tuesday is cursed, but i’m definitely avoiding it. i’m starting to think this place is less “unexpected detour” and more “alternate dimension.” but hey, at least it’s a story. and honestly, as a drummer, i thrive on chaos. i’m off to find that tiny skyscraper. wish me luck. and maybe send water. https://www.cityofwichitafalls.com/
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