“Not all those who wander are lost” JRR Tolkien
*aside* [i am writing to you now at a quarter to 12 due to my 9pm consumption of Dr. Pepper. ah caffeine, the drug that fuels America.]
“Not all those who wander are lost” JRR Tolkien
“I have a dream…” Dr. MLK Jr.
I have a dream, it’s not quite as noble and momentous as that of Dr. King’s, but it’s my dream.
I have a dream to wander
I’ve been meeting a lot of new people lately and inevitably this question arises “What do you do?” I’ve taken to answering them in the truest form I know how I tell them “I experience life to the fullest as it happens” One of the early responses I received to this statement was “That’s the best response I’ve heard to say ‘I don’t have a job’.”
Actually, I have a job. Just got promoted in fact, woot, woot.
*aside* [promotions seem wonderful and magnanimous when you're striving to acquire them, but a whole lot of work when the privilege is actually bestowed upon you, it's hard work being a post coordinator let me tell you!]
I’ve had a dream all my life to travel, to see the world, but more notably to see the people, to experience the culture, to hear the stories of others, to become part of their story. That I have found is a whole other beast from simply touring the world, or just the country for that matter.
My dream has taken on several forms and evolutions over the years the seed of which was most likely planted in our annual 8 hour family trek to see my maternal grandfather in Michigan. That’s a long freakin’ time when you have the attention span of a gnat… er, not that I’ve really grown out of that…
ah hem
from there it grew. I longed to take a cross country road trip from NY to CA the day I graduated from high school. I traveled to Panama the summer of my junior year and Guatemala the summer after my senior year. I never make it across the country East to West, but I did move from Chicago to Garden Valley, TX my first year out of HS.
During that year I spent time in Cambodia, beautiful country that grabs hold of the hearts of all who visit.
A few years later South Africa, best stargazing I’ve had the chance to see followed by Michigan and Texas
My senior year of college I met a boy who planned to travel the states in order to pursue his career. As his interest in having me by his side grew so did my excitement to share that kind of life with him. To see the expanse of my home country with a man I loved was such a joyous prospect that the fragility of it was always a looming concern
A well founded concern turns out to be.
But still I can not shake that this dream was in me long before I met this man and so it seems will remain until I am able to dream no longer.
I finally made it out to California and throughout my first two years in this desert city of Los Angeles my dream has continued to permeate those quite moments when my mind is free to wander and dance with the wonderfully ridiculous frivolity found in the mind of a dreamer.
I want to see the world through the eyes of its inhabitants
The plan of attack…
Pay off my loans
BUT THEN
Get on a bus, get on a train, get in my car, get on a plane or just pack my bag and start walking utilizing my networks in swing dance and church and my fellow TM alum I’d like to couch surf, work odd jobs, panhandle, sleep on a park bench, stay in a shelter, sleep on the beach, shower at a truck stop and meet everyone I can on the way, to do all I can to love them in that moment and to tell their stories to the world.
I had been finding as of late that I have become so discouraged with having to wait on this dream that I just started talking to whomever I began to come in contact with in the City of Angels.
The first realization that I didn’t have to wait to hear the stories of other people was when my car got a flat tire on the way to my paternal grandparents house in the Palm Springs area and I was greatly fortunate enough to stumble upon Cherry Valley Automotive in Beaumont CA.
I sat down to a kindly looking grandmother and casually mentioned my journey to see my own grandparents and I grateful to discover that her disposition was just as kind as her appearance and she began to share with me about her family and grandchildren.
After the kind grandmothers automotive needs where taken care of and she departed I began speaking with another woman who excitedly presented her anniversary addition Mustang to me after I expressed admiration for the vehicle. After a bit of chatting I shared with her that the young lady 76 station up the road had recommended this shop to me to which she unexpectedly responded to me that she was the owner of that gas station 
life. dreams. I’m starting to learn how to live it out even before I’m able to get on the road
There’s Robin the aspiring actor who I offered a sit to in an over crowded Panera
The neighbors Zach and Drew who took over my old apt. #17
The recovering alcoholic who I met while getting my oil changed
and others.
I want to start keep track and telling there stories!
I want to make business cards to give to people I met and ask if I can share there stories on this site.
I want people to be able to connect with the lives of others around them in the world that they don’t even know the names of.
that’s my dream.
