My friend Thomas showed up today with a brand new Tesla. I hadn't seen him since he departed for points beyond on August 3, 2007. “Well, what do you think? How do I look,” he asked? I was speechless! I said, “not in my wildest dreams did I ever expect you, AND, in a Tesla, no less. I ask him, “arn't you dead?” “Don't worry about that. It was in the past. I'm here for the future, the one we always talked about. And, I didn't come all this way to just talk! I've come to take you in a 'ride' into the future. Check my ride out - It's a genuine all-electric Tesla!” The sun and the colors of the day were of a contrast more than any day I have witnessed in a long time. This day presented itself in extra-bright, the way days were when we were children and everything was new and fresh.

Thomas' Tesla was a light blue convertible. And, well, we were in Oregon. It was a bit chilly and starting to cloud over, with gray replacing the bright blue of the sky. I said to Thomas, “it looks like rain. Does this thing have a top?” “Ah, don't worry, we're not starting here? You need to get some cool clothes on, get out of that sweatshirt, for God's sake. And, speaking about God, let me see if I can get some help here,” says Thomas! Then he snaps his fingers. Wow! In the past he could never snap his fingers. “ Thomas! You never knew how to snap your fingers?” Thomas looks a little puzzled. “Alright, now let's try this again,” as he looks to the sky, and shouts “AGAIN,” and at the same time snaps once more! One minute I was in Portland, Oregon, dressed in my heavy pants, sweatshirt and coat, and in just what seemed like “the blink of my eyes,” we were standing in a parking lot near Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, California, my home town! And, I had been transformed with new duds - the cool California look!

“So, how's that for scenery-change,” says Thomas? I asked him, “Am I dead too?” “Naw, we're not dead. The past is dead. The future is full of life and promise and we're taking the Tesla to Los Angeles, via the best way out of town, California 1 to Salinas, and US 101 to LA. I'd been working on an article about San Francisco's Mary Ellen Pleasant (Mammy Pleasant), the Mother of Civil Rights in California. Born in 1814 as a slave, married twice, a dedicated worker within the Underground Railroad, she arrived in San Francisco in 1852, and owned laundries and boarding houses before joining up with a Mr. Bell, finding Mr. Bell a wife, designing their house, and joining (and running) their household at 1661 Octavia Street in San Francisco. Mary Ellen Pleasant died in 1904. The Bell Mansion (30-rooms) got the wrecking ball in 1928.

I started telling Thomas about Mary Ellen and he said, “I know Mary Ellen. And, Mary Ellen wanted me to tell you, “NEVER call her Mammy Pleasant, NEVER!” I looked around, as we cruised in the Tesla. And, the sounds of the city were clearer and sharper than I've ever heard from within a car. Thomas waved at folks as he drove. And they waved back. He said, “if we were dead they wouldn't be waving back, would they?” I was just about to answer his question when I noticed we were stopped for a woman in a cross walk. We were at the corner of Bush and Octavia. Thomas mentions the giant Blue Gum trees just across the street were planted by Mary Ellen Pleasant in the mid 1880s.

As I'm focused on the trees Thomas honks the Tesla's horn and now between the trees I can see the big Bell Mansion.

Before I can say anything Thomas is blasting the horn again and a woman in the yard waves and says, “hey, Thomas, what a beautiful day it is,” as, we wizz by. I was overwhelmed! But, once again, before I could say anything, Thomas says “you know who that was?”  I said, “Thomas, the Bell Mansion was torn down in 1928!”  He says, “well, if you have to believe it, I guess you'll have to believe it.”  It's a lot like electric cars, people said they would never be a reality, and if you have to believe it, you have to believe it.”   “So,” he says, did you see Mary Ellen wave?  I told you I knew Mary Ellen!”

“Gosh,” I said, “I'd sure like to meet Mary Ellen?” “Oh, we'll do it another time. Mary Ellen's not going anywhere. And, besides you need to build a track record with her first.” “How am I suppose to do that, Thomas?” “It's easy! When you write the story about her? Never refer to her as Mammy Pleasant! She knows who you are and she expects respect, and you owe her all the respect you can give. It's only right!”

“So, tell me, how far can this Tesla go on a charge?” “About 240 miles,” says Thomas. “Well, it's more than 240 miles to Los Angeles.” “That is no longer a problem. And, actually, it was never a problem. It was only a problem if you believed it to be a problem. The Tesla was not built on the idea of solving a problem. The Tesla was created and built on the idea of a solution. You remember what John Lennon said in his song “Wheels?” “There is no such things as problems, only solutions.”

“Thomas, I need to ask you a question?” “How did this happen with you, and me, and this car, and the Bell Mansion, and Mary Ellen Pleasant,” I asked? I mean people don't just snap their fingers, and, things go pop-pop-pop.” “I didn't hear anything go pop-pop-pop. I thought I eased you into this,” asks Thomas? “

You, know, Joe, we need to get on with the Tesla ride to Los Angeles.” It's the reason we're together today.” “I don't get it,” I said. 'Oh, you'll get it. You have to understand you are on “linear-time, the point-A to point-B thing. Mary Ellen, and, many of the folks we've passed are on eternal-time, forever-time where solutions are all there are, and, in a sense, pave the roads to the future. Welcome, my dear friend, welcome to the future!

We cruised into Castroville, California, traveling south on the Great Highway -California State Highway 1.

Coming into Castroville, Thomas mentions Castroville as being the Artichoke Capital of the World. “I want to eat some fresh artichokes,” Thomas says! “What about this car? Is it going to run out of juice pretty soon,” I have to ask? “Hell, no! We're going to recharge in Atascadero. We've only traveled 139 miles, but, I guess we could pick up a little juice in Salinas. We won't need to put the big charge on till Atascadaro,” as Thomas tries to calm my anxiety.

Juice? Where do you buy Tesla Juice? “Well, if we had to buy a full load of juice (battery charger or recharge) it would cost you about $4, and take about 30 to 40 minutes, so, you can have something to eat, stretch your legs, wander around, check the area out, or just take a nap in the Tesla,” Thomas explains. “Why would I have pay the $4 and not you,” I ask? Thomas cracks into a big laugh, and says, “haven't you figured any of this adventure out yet?” “We're dead, right, I mention again?” “Wrong, again” says Thomas! Why do you keep thinking we're dead,” he asks? Well, gosh, I hate to bring up the past...” Thomas cuts me off with another big laugh and smile. “But, but, but”...and I kept trying to finish what I wanted to say.

Finally, Thomas says, “go ahead say it!” “You're not going to disappear on me, are you Thomas?  I know what you're going to say, Joe, so, go ahead and say it!" "Gee-wiz, you died from cancer in 2007, and I look up after emptying my trash and there you are with this car, and you snapped your fingers and transported us, and the Tesla, in a second, 750 miles, gave me new clothes, waved at Mary Ellen Pleasant in front of the Bell Mansion, which was torn down in 1928, and Mary Ellen died in 1904. And, now, you're telling me we're going to fuel or “juice this Tesla in Salinas. I don't know what's real and what's not!"  I started to cry.

Thomas gives me a hug and says, “I was told this whole adventure might just be too much mentally for you, but, I keep hearing you are tired of life? You have much work, yet, to do, and I needed to come tell you that, talk with you about the future and knowing your love of the Tesla, I thought we should take a ride.”

“All you've seen is real, but, not entirely available to see in linear-time. You have to pay the $4 for the juice because it is a measurement in linear-time, the time you are living in. Right now linear-time and eternal-time are merged because I needed to see you. I will always remain in my time, as, you are in yours. But, for now, we are together.”

Just before we entered Salinas I asked about the “juice” for the Tesla.  “Is this 'juice' in my time, your time, the future, or, what?”  “Oh, the Tesla?  It's the only thing which is entirely in your time, now, and your future.  The 'juice' is available right-now!” “What do you mean,” I asked Thomas?  Thomas explains, “the charging stations are happening right now.”  I told Thomas, “well, I keep reading about and researching how all these thing will be set up, and it seems like its still all in the future.”  “Ha ha ha, what did I tell you back up the road a ways?  I told you, welcome to the future!”  

“We're traveling this route using this beautiful blue Tesla convertible for you to witness first hand the Tesla solution, and, not too far off the course of what Nikla Tesla would have approved.  You, sir, are riding the route of the very first 'charging-station-network,' built with grant money Tesla Motors got from the government, and built by a solar power company called 'Solar City, 'and a Dutch bank called Rabobank.  They have branches in the cities along US 101.  There are five charging stations - Salinas, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and Goleta, California.  Each charging station is located in the parking lots of the banks.  This means you can cruise in an electric car from San Francisco to Los Angeles,” and Thomas explains it with much excitement.  And, best of all the “juice” is free to fill your Tesla!

The next thing I know is we're pulling into the Rebobank in Salinas.  Thomas tells me, “I'm going to run over to that store.  Why don't you watch the car, maybe take a little nap, and, listen, Mary Ellen expects that article to be written, and I expect many good ones, yet, to come.  It's been so great to visit and we'll see each other again.”  “Your not leaving are you,” I ask Thomas.   “I never left, I will always be with you,” and Thomas headed off for the store.  I closed my eyes and listened to sounds around me.  When I opened my eyes I was sitting on my porch, next to me was my trash can which I had emptied just before Thomas had shown up.  No more did I think about problems, just solutions, and, of course, the time I spent with Thomas, along the merry way... 

I'm still trying to figure out what category this piece should be in?  Any suggestions?  Thank you for your consideration...