Cosmo and Silvia reach the western edge of Oklahoma and spend the third night of their journey in a small motel near Texola, Oklahoma. This nearly abandoned ghost town, perched on the Oklahoma-Texas border, dates back to the early 1900s. Texola flourished during the 1930s thanks to cotton production and the arrival of historic Route 66, but by the 1940s, the town experienced a sharp decline in population and economic activity. Today, fewer than 50 residents remain—a “dead place…in between the places that still lived.”
Their stay in such a desolate town proves fitting, as it prompts a deep conversation about life and death. Earlier that day, Cosmo had encountered a woman nearing the end of her life, which inspires him to confront his own mortality. He recalls that he and Silvia narrowly escaped death just a few days prior, embracing the finite nature of human life. Silvia shares that she has long lived with an awareness of life’s impermanence, and that this understanding has guided her to cultivate a rich inner life, primarily through her painting.
Her words resonate deeply with Cosmo, prompting him to reflect on the nature of his soul and the importance of nurturing his inner self for personal happiness and fulfillment. In this quiet, nearly forgotten corner of Oklahoma, the siblings confront profound truths about life, mortality, and the human spirit, making their journey as much about inner discovery as it is about travel.
This post is from my blog series on the places visited in the road trip story, “Discovery of an Eagle.”
Grace Mattioli is the author of the Greco Family Trilogy books, including Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees, Discovery of an Eagle, and The Bird that Sang in Color. These books are available from all major online book sellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.
