the journey part 1

finally, i trip across a quiet moment in time--time that has left me feeling nothing more than vibrantly alive!!!

i look up from the radio to focus on the vehicular chaos that chokes and blares ahead of me--asphyxiating gases slowly caressing the rays of blinding sunshine. through the glare and the overwhelming stimulus that suddenly assaults my senses, i discipher a CA plate "C2D...42GH4...". is the blurriness from me? or is it the exhaust? it could be me of course as i do sometimes forget to put in my artificial eyes. . .

California. Uberalis. Kalifornia. Here we are now. California. ahhhh...yes, that is right!!! California. i have made it across the entire country from Rhode Island to the big-C-A. intact. well, mostly.

suddenly, i am the solo rhode-islander scurring about the MINI-riden roads of san francisco!! welcome!! welcome!! WELCOME to the beautiful city of SAN FRANCISCO where the MINI is so far from rare and unique and still a hot commodity!!! (go mini go. go mini go)

route 80 west, across most of the continent (70-75 mph speeds posted most of the way) with some criss-crossing around and over those impressive rockie mountains. meandering through the icey fields at records speed. i am awaited in sanfrancisco by a handful of my closest friends. i cannot stop. i have a deadline. i cannot stare. i have a deadline. i must keep moving. i must arrive. there is no room for any delays. . .

but there is (always) exhaustion. . .

the exhaustion simply lingers at body's reach like a heavy cloud about to downpour. just pretend it's not there. there is simply no time to be wasted sleeping much less rub my aching back that has endured a series of 13 hours stretches behind the wheel.

but wait!! an olympic size pool in salt lake city!!! ok--a one hour stop. oh wait!! an organic farm restaurant serving indian food in the middle of iowa. i must stop! oh wait!!! the endless utah desert sky suddenly starts dropping violently large pellets that spill across the windshield erasing all landscape. no more road, no more lines--just a solid wall of water. i must stop!! i must pull over!! but there simply is no time.

no time. no time. . .Must-Keep-Driving!!!

day 17 on the road and the journey feels like it has just started.

DC was fabulous (thank you gene and amy), Detroit--beautiful city that i love--always (thank you suz), chicago--a wreckless visit back to my roots (thank you barb/schuhl/clara) as i prepared for the 3 day drive across the longest stretch across the continent--a field day for my continuously talkative self to the 10 different "me"s in the car on bu'nanabread ^_^ . and suddenly it's the other edge of the continent. the pacific ocean!

tomorrow, wine-tasting in napa valley with a handful of the hjelt-wedding-crew. friday--the high sierra mountains with the entire hjelt-wedding-crew. next week...SF/must sell car.

time will trip me again for an update. sorry about the last mishap. some nights cyberspace has a way of swallowing my thoughts. . .

the blog will begin shortly. . .T minus 37 days

cheers,

fuj