Remembering the Journey
One year ago today, I began my two-month road trip. At the time, I envisioned a trip that would float on the wind and carry me wherever I dared. I must have freaked everyone out, I mean, I go from being laid off to leaving on a road trip in 6 days? No real planning and a desire to do this totally alone sure should have frightened everyone. But, to my shock, everyone really supported me including my family. I expected my folks to be totally against it but they actually helped me get ready. I couldn't say when I'd be back, what roads I'd take or where I'd be at the end of each day. It was truly flying free.
The first 450 miles were uneventful. I drove east out of Portland to Boise, Idaho. Along the way, I stopped at the college I graduated from, Eastern Oregon University, to purchase a new static-cling window decal. The one I had was sun bleached and bubbling. When I got there, I was shocked at all the change that had gone on since I had graduated in 2004. In the 15 months since I last saw the place, all the professors I'd grown to become friends with were gone, my old workplace was now a storage room and the softball field behind my old dorm was now new dorms. To make things even more disturbing, I couldn't find the same window decal at the college bookstore. I had to settle for one that had the logo but also said, "Alumni Association." Grumble. Take one step forward, two steps back.
... Wait, you know what? I don't think I'll chronicle the whole trip all over again with new entries over the next couple months. I mean, I already wrote about the trip as it was happening. Furthermore, I'd like to write a novel-form of the story (175+ pages) in November so it would be redundant and a waste of energy to go over everything twice at the same time. I'll make the novel semi-public as it is being written, so don't worry. With 175 pages to fill up, there are many stories to tell that haven't even been touched in entries here.
The only problem I'll have with writing the novel is coming up with a climax. It would have been PERFECT if I had gotten all the way to within 50 miles of home and then had some disaster happen like blowing a tire or running out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Anything would have been more interesting than what really happened those last 50 miles: A quiet, self-reflective and beautifully moonlit drive through the Coast Mountain Range of western Oregon. ... Wait... That's it! I did a whole lot of thinking in those 50 miles. Maybe my climax can be the realization of my epiphany for the whole trip. Gonna need to think about this more but I believe I'm on the right track...
The first 450 miles were uneventful. I drove east out of Portland to Boise, Idaho. Along the way, I stopped at the college I graduated from, Eastern Oregon University, to purchase a new static-cling window decal. The one I had was sun bleached and bubbling. When I got there, I was shocked at all the change that had gone on since I had graduated in 2004. In the 15 months since I last saw the place, all the professors I'd grown to become friends with were gone, my old workplace was now a storage room and the softball field behind my old dorm was now new dorms. To make things even more disturbing, I couldn't find the same window decal at the college bookstore. I had to settle for one that had the logo but also said, "Alumni Association." Grumble. Take one step forward, two steps back.
... Wait, you know what? I don't think I'll chronicle the whole trip all over again with new entries over the next couple months. I mean, I already wrote about the trip as it was happening. Furthermore, I'd like to write a novel-form of the story (175+ pages) in November so it would be redundant and a waste of energy to go over everything twice at the same time. I'll make the novel semi-public as it is being written, so don't worry. With 175 pages to fill up, there are many stories to tell that haven't even been touched in entries here.
The only problem I'll have with writing the novel is coming up with a climax. It would have been PERFECT if I had gotten all the way to within 50 miles of home and then had some disaster happen like blowing a tire or running out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Anything would have been more interesting than what really happened those last 50 miles: A quiet, self-reflective and beautifully moonlit drive through the Coast Mountain Range of western Oregon. ... Wait... That's it! I did a whole lot of thinking in those 50 miles. Maybe my climax can be the realization of my epiphany for the whole trip. Gonna need to think about this more but I believe I'm on the right track...