Category: Places

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,
Going where I list, my own master total and absolute,
Listening to others, considering well what they say,
Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating,
Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.
I inhale great draughts of space,
The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are mine.

Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road

In the morning I begin another one of my road trips, except this time I have no particular destination in mind, and journey for no purpose other than the feel of the road beneath my wheels. I’ll most likely be starting a new contract soon, and wanted to grab one more adventure before settling in behind cubical walls.

I promise copious photos and interesting stories from my (paper) journal when I return.

In the meantime, I owe some answers about RDF to some folks, as well as a couple of book reviews. I just finished the RDF posting, and I’m going to try for one of the reviews, but the other, on Geek Love will never occur, I’m afraid. I found I could not finish the book.

Geek Love is a story that’s based on the human drama, played out in a circus sideshow. Unfortunately, since I was a small child, I’ve always hated sideshows, freakshows, anything of this nature. I can’t stand Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and positively loath Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe in Seattle. I once watched the Movie Freaks when I was younger, and had nightmares for months.

I have no doubt that Geek Love is wonderfully written — the reviews of it are incredible. But the subject defeats me, and I must apologetically and regretfully return the book to the library. Denise, sorry!

TTFN

We drove down a street lined with tall trees, expansive green lawns, and gardens full of roses and tiger lilies. Along the way, neighbors were hanging red, white, and blue bunting and putting small flags near sidewalks and under trees.

The weather was cooler because of a storm earlier in the day so the windows of the car were down and we could hear people talking, laughing, against a background evensong of bird and cicada. We breathed in the sharp, green, fresh smell of earth after a rain.

The early evening was too fine to head home so we wondered neighborhood after neighborhood, all peaceful, beautiful – bordered with homes displaying some form of red, white, and blue.

People were out and about, walking and playing, and as we slowly passed most looked up and smiled at us – on this night at least, the distrust and wariness of strangers was momentarily forgotten, lost in the spirit of the holiday.

In these surroundings, I was forcefully reminded that the heart of this country is not based in tall buildings or found in the actions of the powerful and rich; it exists in the simple neighborhoods, among the quiet people.

“I love this town”, I said.

My roommate concurred.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a home here?”

He turned to me and smiled. “Sure. And you could chat with your neighbors about your views on the Pledge of Allegience as you’re putting out the flags.”

Well, yes. There is that.

Happy 4th of July everyone.