Sunday, September 24, 2006
DAY NINETEEN: Travel from Ann Arbor to Lewistown, PA
When Abby comes home from her friends' house late at night, I didn't know where I am. Then I imagine that she can't sleep because she's using my camping mat and sleeping bag while I use her bed. Despite all this, we sleep late and talk for 45 minutes upon waking. I can't find wireless anywhere, I left my computer charger in Milwaukee, I can't get eggs for breakfast, so I take to the road by 12:45pm.
When driving, I've intermittently listened to bible stations. I'm drawn to the dramatic declarative voices that tell stories of modern day life. Often I substitute a pastor's reference to God or Jesus with Art and it starts to make sense to me. A van passes with an "Art Enforcers" logo on its door (they hang or restore?). That rivals a business I saw in New Jersey: Tension Envelopes. That could be enVELopes or envelOPES.
As the Iron Maiden carries me into Pennsylvania, I see more and more changing leaves. The day feels familiar but distant. New York looms ahead as something I need to think about, a week away in my schedule. I'm returning to a region I once lived and I'm remembering its ambience only now. Am I ready for this? What am I returning to? For the first time, I feel like I've really left California behind me. With every mile, I'm approaching something--instead of leaving something else behind.
Mid-state, in the thick of the Appalachian Mountains, I head south for 25 miles. I'm on my way to see Randi, a friend from college whom I haven't seen for almost ten years. We were in an a cappella group together and were good friends for a while. She's a mid-wife in a Lewistown, and spends her weekends in Pittsburgh with her husband. (shrine to husband, Jonathan, below)
The Emergency Room women are not cordial, but I fake my way up to Labor and Delivery. It's amazing to see her ensconsed in the medical world, yet also makes sense. Randi has always wanted to be as close to the essence of life as possible. Plus, her job involves talking about sex, relationships, and their complications, so that suits her as well.
We get take-out bar food and retire to her spare apartment. We eat and drink wine and tell stories and its fantastic. Randi is personable and hilarious and it's like stepping into a pair of old shoes. She checks in on her two patients and reports their dialation.
When Abby comes home from her friends' house late at night, I didn't know where I am. Then I imagine that she can't sleep because she's using my camping mat and sleeping bag while I use her bed. Despite all this, we sleep late and talk for 45 minutes upon waking. I can't find wireless anywhere, I left my computer charger in Milwaukee, I can't get eggs for breakfast, so I take to the road by 12:45pm.
When driving, I've intermittently listened to bible stations. I'm drawn to the dramatic declarative voices that tell stories of modern day life. Often I substitute a pastor's reference to God or Jesus with Art and it starts to make sense to me. A van passes with an "Art Enforcers" logo on its door (they hang or restore?). That rivals a business I saw in New Jersey: Tension Envelopes. That could be enVELopes or envelOPES.
As the Iron Maiden carries me into Pennsylvania, I see more and more changing leaves. The day feels familiar but distant. New York looms ahead as something I need to think about, a week away in my schedule. I'm returning to a region I once lived and I'm remembering its ambience only now. Am I ready for this? What am I returning to? For the first time, I feel like I've really left California behind me. With every mile, I'm approaching something--instead of leaving something else behind.
Mid-state, in the thick of the Appalachian Mountains, I head south for 25 miles. I'm on my way to see Randi, a friend from college whom I haven't seen for almost ten years. We were in an a cappella group together and were good friends for a while. She's a mid-wife in a Lewistown, and spends her weekends in Pittsburgh with her husband. (shrine to husband, Jonathan, below)
The Emergency Room women are not cordial, but I fake my way up to Labor and Delivery. It's amazing to see her ensconsed in the medical world, yet also makes sense. Randi has always wanted to be as close to the essence of life as possible. Plus, her job involves talking about sex, relationships, and their complications, so that suits her as well.
We get take-out bar food and retire to her spare apartment. We eat and drink wine and tell stories and its fantastic. Randi is personable and hilarious and it's like stepping into a pair of old shoes. She checks in on her two patients and reports their dialation.
