Passenger preoccupations

Somewhere in Kansas along I-70

When Jenny is at the wheel, I am at leisure in the passenger seat, a confining space surprisingly full of possibility. My mind is free to wander at will, and each day on the road I have been amazed at the variety of tasks I can accomplish while strapped into a moving vehicle. While I had anticipated snapping photos, surfing radio frequencies, and munching compulsively, I did not anticipate the following preoccupations.

Preoccupation #1: Geography lesson. At the start of every drive, our all-knowing Garmin GPS (fondly referred to as “Suzy”) plots out our course. As the passenger, it is my responsibility to double check the route as we chug along, monitoring its soundness. Not once have I contested Suzy’s directives, but in the process I have learned a great deal about our country’s geometry while consulting our 2010 Michelin Road Atlas. For example, who knew that the intersection of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona formed four ninety-degree angles? Not I ... until today.

Preoccupation #2: Sunblocking measures. One of the very few negative effects of this cross-country drive has been uneven tanning of the face, arms, and upper legs. Hours of intense sun exposure, especially between the hours of 11 am and 4 pm, require constant application of sunblock (Neutrogena SPF 70 is preferred) and repositioning of the overhead visor. The changing trajectory of the car combined with the Earth’s rotation constantly shifts the focus of the sun’s heat, keeping me busy, as if over a stove, trying to make sure that both sides (of me) cook evenly.

Preoccupation #3: Correspondence. Any romantic notions I had about this journey being a break from our world of instant communication quickly disappeared when I realized my national calling and data plan really does work nationally. During stretches of Colorado green on I-70, with not a soul or housing structure in sight, I could depend upon hearing my Blackberry’s signature Facebook “riiiing,” indicating I had a message or a wall post from a friend. And so, friends are answered, e-mails are written, and I feel that in some sense, this ride is just like any other.

I can’t decide if I like this or not. Something else to ponder while in the passenger seat.

Daily Stats: Chicago, IL to Columbia, MO (7/3)

Entering Missouri ...

Miles travelled: 409 mi.

Major roads travelled: I-72, I-55, US-54

Destination facts learned: Dippin Dots were invented in Columbia, Missouri. / Brad Pitt attended the University of Missouri.

Funny lines of the day:

“Oh look at this little town here. This is kind of exciting.” ~ Jenny (on entering Pittsfield)

“I think I'm getting sunburnt on my nose.” ~ Jenny

Shout outs:

-Rob and Kathy Unrath--our family in Columbia, Missouri. Thank you for opening up your gorgeous home to us. Congrats, Kathy, on making tenure!!! Go Tigers!

Daily Stats: Chicago, IL (7/2)

The Egg ... or the Bean ...

NEW: Links to photos have been added to prior Daily Stats entries.

Miles travelled: 0

Major roads travelled: NA

Funny line of the day:

“Here is the Egg, of which Jenny and the rest of the world call the Bean." ~Father Pat

Shout Outs:

-Thank you, Sandy! I'm so thankful I finally got to see you in Chicago! Peter is adorable. Well done, well done! ;-)

-Tomeka, the oatmeal shake rocked our world. Thanks for showing us the best eats in town!

-Laura, thanks for biking all the way to Lincoln Park for our catchup coffee and tea.

-Megee, Tina, Kristina, Cecilia, and Janney--we hope you girls are having a blast at Taste of Chicago. Kar-mun, Steve, Jihyun--we hope the pizza was amazing! So sorry we missed all of you!

-Father Pat, congrats on making tenure!!! And thank you, thank you, thank you ... to the tenth power. Jenny and I cannot express how grateful we are to you and Father Tony. So many memories made on this visit. Chicago will always feel like home because of you. We miss you already!

Link to Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=452832&id=737260531&l=9a38e08793

Daily Stats: Ann Arbor, MI to Chicago, IL (7/1)

Miles travelled: 241 mi.

Major roads travelled: I-94

Destination fact learned: The Hostess Twinkie was invented in Chicago.

Funny lines of the day:

“Where's my violin?” ~ Ann

(After closing the locked door of our friend's apartment with no way of re-entry, Ann realizes her violin is still inside ... yeah, it wasn't so funny at that moment.)

Shout Outs:

-Father Pat and Father Tony, thank you for putting us up on such short notice and throwing us a welcome par-tay. It's clear that the Perboyre Mission House is the most happenin' spot in all Chi-town.

Annie, even in 4th grade, a perfectionist

In Spanish, there's a very popular saying, "Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres," which translates to "Tell me who you hang out with and I will tell you who you are." While staying with my sister's childhood friend in Ann Arbor, I was reminded of this while observing these two friends, Ann and Yaseen, who have known each other for years. The evening was spent recounting stories, catching up on times lost, and laughing at their old selves from long ago. This story was my favorite of the Annie from elementary school.

Ann: Remember that 4th grade history test on the Alamo?
Yaseen: No...
Ann: I remember it because I was so baffled by how I got a check minus and you got a perfect score. I wrote an entire paragraph in response to this one question on what happened at the Alamo. I listed dates and names of generals. You only wrote down three words..."
Yaseen: Yes, I remember! "Many...Texans...died." BOOM! ONE HUNDRED PERCENT! (He throws both arms in the air)

They are both laughing now.

Ann: I kept looking at both our papers, confused by the results.
Yaseen: That was redemption Annie for all the times you beat me on those tests. Thanks for reminding me. How could I forget that?!

In transit

I am in transit.

trans - (Latin) across, through

it - (Latin) to go

I am going through ... states.

I’ve often used this term to describe my physical state of being in daily life. But transit in New York City was always within the bounds of my familiar neighborhoods. Midtown Manhattan to Woodside, Queens. Repeat daily. Similar to washing one’s hair--lather, rinse, and repeat if necessary--my movements were habitual and comforting. Now the neighborhoods (and states) I pass through are unfamiliar, each movement new and exciting.

Yet inwardly, I am in transit as well. Even though we've been on the road for only two days, I've been fortunate to reconnect with many friends from different times in my life. Over delicious meals and tea time with chocolate, we "go through" shared memories, delving deep into the past. Like in Dickens' A Christmas Carol, I see my life flash before my eyes--each friend guiding me through the times spent together. Remember how Mr. Marceron's fifth-grade classroom always smelled like coffee and vinegar? Remember that amazing apple-picking trip to Syracuse and the piping hot pot of potato-leek soup we guzzled at 3 am after the long car ride from the City? To really be with someone who knew you before you were you today is truly a gift, for better or for worse. Even more powerful than letters or mementos, a comrade can tease out those memories and details left at the very back and dusty sections of the mind's filing cabinet.

Traveling through space and time. "In transit” has taken on new meaning ... at least for now.

Daily Stats: Pittsburgh, PA to Ann Arbor, MI (6/30)

University of Michigan medical buildings and field at twilight

Miles travelled: 286 mi.

Major roads travelled: I-76, I-80

Destination facts learned: The electrocardiogram and the polio vaccine were invented at the University of Michigan. / The arboretum of Ann Arbor, often referred to as the “Arb,” is huge ... very huge. / It stays light outside extremely late into the evening in the summer time here. (I was convinced it was 6 pm until I looked at my cell phone clock, which read 9:45 pm.)

Funny lines of the day:

“It has been shown that if children are hungry, they will eat [vegetables].” ~ Yaseen (on training young children who refuse to eat vegetables)

“You can’t miss it here. Look, there’s another one. The march of the Prius.” ~ Yaseen (on the overwhelming number of hybrid vehicles in Ann Arbor)

Shout outs:

-We are deeply indebted to Yaseen Oweis, Prince of Huron Towers, and his trusty steed, the Diplomat. No where else on this fine earth have we encountered such resourcefulness and ingenuity ... or as many working computers in a palace boasting the greenest view of all of Ann Arbor.

-Amanda, YiJia, Oliver, and Ivy--what a beautiful family! Thanks for having us over to your lovely home.

Link to Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=452710&id=737260531&l=b21ede451e