Vegas to Phoenix (Friday)

John was a healthy fit young man, a primary school teacher, training for his first marathon when suddenly his life was turned upside down. A car accident put him in a coma for three months and then he was sent home with enough drugs to end it all if he wanted. Maybe that’s what the system preferred, for him to no longer be a burden. He chose to live and after years of therapy and persistence he can now walk but has limited ability in one side of his body. He goes to the gym everyday to maintain and improve his abilities as much as possible. He cant teach anymore so the only employment option for him within the education system is to go into administration but money for the public service in Nevada, and other states, is pathetically short. They are currently talking about cutting the school week back to four days a week. Anyway, they are letting John go, retiring him at the age of 43. He has a story to tell and hopes to one day write a book. I hope he does. I discover John on another mystery bus tour to the suburbs.

According to the locals it is getting hotter and staying hotter for longer each year. Sensibly real lawns are rare here. Front yards are rock gardens with hardy plants growing in a gravel base, or they use a fake grass.

There is an elderly lady at the bus stop. She is anxious because the bus is late and she will be late getting to her job as a school-crossing marshal. She has lived here here for 32 years and of course has seen Vegas change a lot. There is a very multicultural population here amongst the locals and while that adds colour to life here, it does come with it challenges according to her. There are problems in this desert town. John says there are 61 languages spoken at the school he taught at. He only speaks English! The public school system is very tough here.