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Phoenix Won’t Let Go

Phoenix is like a powerful magnet, attracting thousands of new residents every year with the promise of jobs, economic growth and sunshine. We enjoyed all those things over nearly a quarter century of desert living. I fired up the fully loaded, 22-foot moving truck on departure day, Marcia would be in trail as the pilot-in-command of our Arctic Fox 990 truck camper. But on the day we pointed the rental truck, truck camper and two dogs north, after days of packing and loading in intense, 108 degree heat, it seemed Phoenix would not let us go. One mile down the road the rental truck’s check-engine light came on! I turned into Mayo Hospital parking lot and discovered the tow-able car dolly straps were loose. Oy! I tightened the straps and the light went out after restarting the engine. But, just a few miles further the light came on again! No more than four miles into our road trip we exited the freeway and called Penske roadside assistance. The service technician showed up about an hour later, ran some engine diagnostics and fixed the tow dolly straps. We tiptoed back onto the freeway, careful not to awaken Phoenix, the clutching, covetous, and seemingly jealous big city.

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