GRANTS, N.M. - This adventure began a couple of weeks ago when I got a text message from the New Mexico Route 66 Alliance vicepresident Bruce Schaffer, the Alliance president Vickie Ashcraft had notified him of a request of the Alliance. He was told that a young lady named Janine Mix, is driving a 1947 Ford car from Chicago to L.A on Route 66 and was looking for opportunities to stop every one hundred miles through New Mexico, to do something good.
The message also stated that she would be in Albuquerque in July 17th and would stop at Vickie’s Enchanted Trails R.V. Park for root beer floats and a gathering. Knowing she would be through Grants there-after I then asked Bruce for Janine’s contact info and he sent it. I then texted Janine about her schedule so I could help arrange an event for her stop here in Grants.
Janine texted me back, they (her husband Ryan, and her mom Deb) would be in Grants on Sunday the 19th of July. That gave me time to arrange a welcome committee and seek root beer floats for their arrival.
I received a call from Janine on the morning of the 17th informing me that their car broke down in Amarillo and parts wouldn’t be in until Tuesday the 21,so we will change the date in Grants to July 22nd. She will call me as the adventure progresses. I called her in the morning of the 21st and she said they got the parts in and they will be in Grants on the 22nd about 10 in the morning, and that broadcast news from Albuquerque is sending a reporter/cameraman to film the event. The adventure continues. As I had asked her to meet us at the Rt.66 drive-through in the middle of town, I went to the market across the street to inquire if they could have root beer floats and was happily told that yes they can.
I invited our town’s Main Street Project director Chase Taylor and rounded up some vintage cars for the welcome. Jenine with the ‘47 car showed up at 9:50. The invited vintage cars including Johnny Montoya in his 58 Apache truck, Anthony Gonzales with a vintage Ford pickup, George Baisden with his old Dodge rat rod and, we brought our 1954 five window pickup all dressed up with new Route 66 Alliance door magnetic emblems. We made introductions and talked about her adventure so far then and guided Janine to park in the drive through. Broadcast started filming and interviewing Janine on her quest on Rt. 66. We took pictures also. Chase Taylor presented her with a “goodie” bag From Grants MainStreet and I gave her a red shirt with Rt.66 Grants, New Mexico on it.
The interview wound down and many pictures were takes by many of us. Then Janine pointed to the market and suggested we go there for root beer floats. We did and it was great, the ladies behind the counter were awesome. The filming continued and conversations turned to the great murals in town, including the downtown, the Southwest Home Care and Custom Etching Gift Shop. We mentioned a gem in the town – the N.M. Mining Museum and the Double 6 Art Gallery.
The slurping was subsiding when Janine passed out stickers that say “One Good Thing” and a card stating: ”We surprise strangers, spread kindness, and prove one good thing can change everything.”
What an adventure, and it was: “One Good Thing”.