My mom at a viewpoint in eastern WATacoma to Boise
It all began today, August 2nd, when my mom and I rolled out of our driveway and hit the road to Missouri.
In between my summer off and grad school is the open road. I've always envisioned my Great American Road Trip differently than this. Maybe it's because I was obsessed with Kerouac in junior high. Now I realize that instead of Dean Moriarty I got my momma. At first I was disappointed. It didn't seem like beatnik meanderings across the country was a place to take your parent, but then again, would Dean have booked all the hotel rooms? I think not.
All packed.The hardest part of today was saying goodbye to my dog. Leaving an animal is tough because it makes you feel so selfish. I know she knows something is happening, but I can't make her understand what is happening.
She didn't want to say goodbye. Neither did I.The other cruel part was gassing up at a gas station literally blocks from my friends house. That was rough because it's the closest I'll be until December and it made all the leaving feel real.
Once we crossed the pass I felt better. We climbed a hill up to a vista and took in the view. I haven't really taken a trip to Eastern WA since I was a kid and we used to tag along with my dad. He would make sales calls during the day while we swam in a Red Lion pool and then we would all go out for putt putt or fro-yo in the tri-cities.
Today I went further than that, crossing through Oregon and finally into Idaho where we pulled off and got the view of the Snake River Valley. It's pretty interesting to cross state lines and time zones. Each step of the way all I can think is "I can't believe it's here. I can't believe I'm really gone".
Idaho. Snake River ValleyNow I'm in Meridian, Idaho which is a pretty uninteresting town. It has the usual list of chain restaurants and clothing stores. What appeals to me most about this place is that it's a place to sleep. After 9 hours of driving that sounds pretty good.
Tomorrow is shorter. Idaho Falls and then up to Rexburg to see my Great Aunt Ethel. Life keeps rolling along.
Bug splat on the window, we're in Idaho.
Oh how I remember a very similar drive, not so long ago. I looked it up, there are currently tickets from St. Louis to Columbus for $63 each way. Not too shabby.
ReplyDeleteYou are quickly heading into hot sticky, oppressive humidity. Prepare yourself my lovely.....it punches you in the face the first time you walk outside. Just know that there are others who are also wondering why on earth people live in that kind of environment. And how did we become those people?!?! ;) love ya!