Eleven hundred some odd miles later I am parked at a desk in a hotel where I am wrestling with a glitcyh internet connection so the picture that is supposed to be on this page isn’t there.
With a bit of luck the words that I wish to share with you will make it and I won’t go screaming down the hallway begging for tech support to tell me again that the connection is fine and the problem is solely on my end.
Nor will you hear me politely ask them to help me figure out where the problem is on my end so that I can correct it. And of course you won’t hear me grumble about paying for a free high speed connection either.o
Four States Later
After two days of driving I have driven through three states and ended up in the fourth one where I am on my way to my destination. Call me superstitious but I prefer not to use the phrase final destination.
I decided not to book any hotels for the first two nights so that I could have the flexibility of driving for as long or as short as I felt like. What I didn’t realize was that at 10 PM the desert would be pitch black and I would be exhausted.
Blame it on my truly believing I am still 25 and capable of doing all that I could physically do then without consequence.
Anyhoo I drove through the parking lots of several cheap motels and decided I didn’t like the characters in the lot and drove a bit longer until I came upon another and said screw it, I am too tired.
Booked my room and staggered up two flights of stairs where I discovered that a clean room can still be too warm and too close to the train tracks.
Not Quite Home
Now I am sitting at the desk thinking about the drive tomorrow. I am about four hours or so away from my new home, or maybe it is more accurate to say my new home city. That is because I don’t have a place yet.
All I have is a hotel that I’ll use to hang my hat for a while until I locate a suitable place to live.
It is both exciting and aggravating.
Twenty years ago I could go anywhere and do anything without concern about the consequences because it was just me. Now there are others and the most important are little so I have to pay more attention to what is good for them.
This is not a bad thing, but it does make the choice a bit harder because it is easier for me to adjust on the fly. I don’t have to worry about picking a good school for me.
About That River
I don’t remember where I first heard the comment about not being able to step in the same river twice but I have always liked it and it feels especially apt right now. Regardless of how things work out now when I go back home it will never be the same place.
That is not a good thing or a bad thing, it is just a thing. It is just an acknowledgment that things will look and feel different. Maybe I’ll miss them more or maybe I’ll see flaws I never noticed
What is interesting to me is this feeling I have of having been through some sort of time warp. The truth is that I have been on the road for just two days, that is it.
It is not particularly long, but because of all of the driving it feels like I have been gone much longer than I have.
And I suppose that because I do so much writing it was impossible not to notice that I didn’t do any at all yesterday. There was no writing of any sort nor any use of the computer.
Aside from a few emails and text messages sent from my phone, I was almost completely disconnected.
One Last Thing
Although I have driven across the US several times I often forget just how big it is and how much empty land there is.
It is amazing to see miles of empty spaces and to think about how crowded other spaces are. Wonder if things will stay that way.
The only constant in this world is change and in every changes, of course things will never be the same again. This has always been a fact everyone must openly embrace. God bless with your new life in your new home city.
Sounds like an interesting adventure!
I wish you luck with finding a great place to stay.
Hi Tim,
It has been great fun and I am enjoying the moments. I appreciate the good wishes and hope you are doing well.
I think it will stay that way; there are still places down the center of the state in Florida where there is absolutely NOTHING. This is a big ol’ country.
I had heard you were on the move, sorry I haven’t been more plugged in to stay abreast. Good luck on your journey; it’s just another adventure, right?
Hi Bill,
I think I have driven through some of those empty patches of nothing in Florida, fortunately those ‘Gators avoided me so I wasn’t forced to turn them into boots and belts. 😉
Yep, moved out of LA and made my way into the Southwest.
I know that “road” feeling very well. Today you’ll be there, then you can begin the adjustment adventure. Yeah. Wow. I see what you mean. Just ask for the best school and rent in that neighborhood for a while, maybe…anyway, be on the lookout for a two story white house with some black shutters and you’ll be fine 🙂
That is what I am looking for, the best school and a house to go with it. Should help make the transition easier or so I suspect/hope.
Been quite a trip over and I imagine something that is going to yield many more stories.
A wonderful time to maintain a child-like wonder, excited anticipation, acceptance of what is and confidence in what will be.
It reminds me of a little tale about a small boy who lived on a farm that had lots of cows, but he wanted a pony for his birthday. His birthday came and went and there was no pony. The young boy then disappeared and when he didn’t show up for dinner his mom went looking for him.
She found him in the barn shoveling a huge pile of manure. When she asked him what he was doing he replied, “With all this manure there’s got to be a pony in there somewhere!â€
In every situation we encounter in life, we can choose to see it as a pile with a pony hidden in it. Cheers! Kaarina
Hi Kaarina,
That is a story I am familiar with and very much like. Attitude helps us enjoy or dislike whatever we do.
Reminded me of our move to Idaho 16 years ago. Stayed in motel with carpet on the walls in Nowheresville, Wyoming. Two adults and 5 children and who knows what other critters … TeleTubbies was on the tv. I thought, they’ll never last. But they did. They thrived. Weird. We lasted 10 months in Idaho. It was a great adventure. But I would never advise driving cross country with a nursing baby. 🙂
Hi Betsy,
Carpet on the walls, now that is an image. I hear/see nothing but good stories coming from that trip.
I am sure you are right about the “joy” of driving cross country with a nursing baby, must be interesting. 😉
This post makes me long for travel. I know that wasn’t the point, but even the troubles of the road can be interesting to a writer. You’ve demonstrated that quite well and I’m feeling a bit of wander lust after reading your post.
You haven’t let on what is in store for you in this new place, but it is exciting nonetheless. Drive save and keep writing.
Hi Brian,
I only wish I would have had time to stop and hang out at a few of the places along the way. There are some stories that could and should be told, but I didn’t have time to dig them up.
As for what is in store, I hope and anticipate many good things.
Happy trails, Jack. Happy trails.
Thank you Stan. How are things?