It was good to see that the US Border Patrol actually does exist. You see so much news and hear about the Border Patrol but are not exposed to the dangers that face this country on a daily basis. So driving into Van Horn, TX at 10pm at night, we got to witness first-hand the safety devices in place that attempt to keep us safe. I’m not sure if a simple question of “Are you a US Citizen?” will keep us all safe, as anyone can answer that question however they want, but I’m glad to report that Rachel and I passed the Border Patrol test with 100% accuracy: “Yes we are both US Citizens.” It’s too bad the US Border Patrol (or any other security force for that matter) could not have protected us from the Ramada Inn Limited in Van Horn, TX. Had we known what we were getting in to, we would have chosen a Mexican shanty over this dirty, inadequate, bug-infested, smelly, musty, side-of-the-road hotel. We were greeted with a happy hello by a littl
e cock roach in our bathroom, which made sense due to the fact that the shower tiles and tub had more grossness on them than the Vegas streets at night. Our bed, which had questionable fuzzies in it that also contained a bug (which had deceased), was about as soft as the freeways we’ve been driving on. Luckily, Rachel being the smart girl that she is, had packed a sheet in our vehicle to cover up our belongings in the back of our car. This “belongings-protecting sheet” became a “Rachel and Josh protecting sheet” as we chose to strip the bed and use that as the sheets we slept on instead of the hotel-provided sheets. We then huddled under our one small blanket in place of the comforter which provided for a long, cold night. Among the other “fun findings” were 
moths, a broken table chair, blinds that didn’t cover the whole window, yellowish stained walls and a pierced front desk employee who was watching VH1’s “A Shot at Love with Tequila” (or something to that affect). All I heard on the TV when we checked in was explicative after explicative followed by a girl saying “Like, all I could think about, like, was like, making out with her.” Needless to say, this has been the earliest we’ve exited a hotel on our trip thus far, and probably the earliest we will have exited any hotel on our trip. I’m pretty sure (don’t tell anyone) we left the hotel without having showered or shaved and still left cleaner than when we got there – yes, the shower was that gross! 
I didn’t realize that El Paso, TX was 8,962,481, 317 miles long. I believe we aged significantly during our time driving through the city. However, I couldn’t help but notice, the beauty that existed as we looked out over the vast amount of lights that sprawled for miles. It is amazing to see God’s creation at night time when you look at a city the size of El Paso. It’s somewhat humbling to know you were one of a few who get to experience a sight such as El Paso, TX at 10pm, a sight that overloads your senses with light and darkness all at the same time.
On a less philosophical note, we passed through 2 time zones in one single day. Does that mean that June 4, 2009 for Rachel & Josh only contained 22 hours? If so, then…that sucks! You all got 24 hours and we got jipped 2 hours of our day. Therefore, if you are reading this, you owe us 2 hours of your time when we get back! You can choose (as long as we approve) how to spend those 2 hours. Okay, just kidding, a day like our Van Horn day reminds me of something. While our day only contained 22 hours and a hotel room that I would love to see Paris or Brittany stay in, it reminds me that the Ramada Inn Van Horn motel as unpleasant as it was for us, is a dream palace to some. I couldn’t help but think of driving in to Tiajuana, Mexico on 2 separate occasions. Earlier, I joked about rather staying in a Mexican shanty, but truly it is no laughing matter. While we enjoy an opportunity to travel around the greatest Nation on Earth at our own pace and leisure, millions starve, wars rage, political corruptness ensues, starvation exists, and still…there is beauty and love to be seen. How is it possible that one person’s dung-hole is another person’s castle? It doesn’t seem right, it doesn’t seem fair, but when in life are we ever promised fairness? I guess you could say that fairness lies in the eye of the beholder. We can choose to let the injustices drag us down, or we can choose to live the life that we have been given. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us. We choose to wake up and drive to San Antonio today, and I hope you choose your own “San Antonio,” and to simply do what you can to make this world a better place.
From the Road Less Traveled,
Josh & Rachel
Van Horn Highlights: (believe me when I say this took some fine-tooth combing): a nice air-conditioning unit, a working television, a purple sheet and green blanket (which we provided), an ice machine, arriving late therefore allowing us to spend a minimal amount of time in our hotel, a roof over our heads for the night.
License Plate Update: Idaho, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Indiana, Texas, Florida, Oregon, California, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Illinois, Oklahoma, Maine, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Alaska, Michigan, Iowa, New Mexico, Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina (go Tar Heels!), Virginia, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi (36/50)
