The Haymarket Squares

Had a great time in San Diego. Here are some pics for your amusement. We are dorks.

The Haymarket Squares regret to announce the death of their tour bus. A short appreciation follows, written through teary, bloodshot eyes.

We were excited when we first spotted the Craigslist ad for the bus that would become known as The People’s Limousine. Sure, it was hours away in El Paso, Texas, but it had everything we were looking for: a big diesel engine (for eventual conversion to veggie oil); lots of room for equipment, friends, and bedding; rugged good looks; and low mileage — just 118,000 clicks, hardly anything at all for a vehicle that had once been part of the anti-graffiti team for the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

And in our short time together, we had great moments: an excursion to exotic Mesa; a song-filled hootenany on the way to Jerome, an impromptu foray to Flagstaff to play with our buddies in Tater Famine at the Monte V.

Predictably, it was too good to last. In the early hours of Friday, Feb. 12, about an hour south of Flagstaff, The People’s Limousine disgorged its transmission all over the highway. With a repair bill that exceeds its purchase price, the silver shuttle has likely drawn its last diesel-scented breath.

As Dr. Seuss once said, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” So even as we move forward with more humble transportation (’97 Saturn station wagon with trailer, anyone?), we’ll always remember our time together with The People’s Limousine — and smile.