America, here I come. I’m about to pummel across your highways and deserted roads. I’m going to count every grain of amber waves. And devour your spacious skies. With Scionito, my trusted Toyota Scion Xa, I will bust through your fruited plains and scale your purple majesties of mountains. I want to see all that you are. And fall in love with you again. You are my country. And we should enjoy each other. So, I will tread lightly through your variety of states. From Los Angeles to Chicago in seven days. Alone again. Free. Just me, the highway and Julieta Venegas (Not really her. Just her songs.). Haven’t driven in 8 months, but I’m ready to put my pedal to some floor mat.
DAY 1:
9am Finally get out of bed after four snoozes.
10am Wash down mixed feelings of going home with a cappuccino and bagel (does not live up to recent French croissants).
10:45am Write down directions from LA to Chicago on one tiny post-it.
11:30am Pick a $60 parking ticket off my car window. Curse Los Angeles.
11:55am Check blind spots as Catalina holds up her digits around the car. See them despite the wide load I’ve stuffed in the back.
12pm Hit the 10E like lightning.
1pm Famished after the hour drive. Stop for lunch.
1:15pm Devour two In-n-Out cheeseburgers without meat. And a coke. Last Coke of my life. Swear. Man, this is a good lunch. I love big straws. Lordy, I love this meal.
2:45pm Stomach is pissed. Fuck! I hate In-n-Out.
3:00pm Thirty-eight miles to Palm Springs!
3:38pm Stop to pee. LOVE not having to ask someone else to stop for a pee break. Wonder if I will ever be able to be in anyone’s company again or if I have just spent the year training myself to be alone forever.
5:03pm Pee again!
6:34pm Pee again. Just because I can.
6:36pm Starting to think the cacti are waving at me. Wave back.
9pm Use a coupon at the Holiday Inn in Casa Grande, AZ. Oh Yeah. Coupons! Can sense my mom smiling in her sleep all the way in Chicago. She can feel coupon usage. Especially at Kohl’s.
9:15pm Compare Holiday Inn for $59 to $6 room in India. Not thaaaat much different. Everything just looks a little fresher, whiter, cleaner. The beds are more jump-worthy. Not 53 more dollars worthy.
12:00am Fall asleep enjoying my journey. Remind myself to think of every day as a journey. If I don’t, it will all be over soon.
{ 2 comments }
You're passing through AZ and not even going to stop by to say hello? I'm disappointed!
excellent blog you’ve possess