When you drive for 4 days by yourself, you have A LOT of time to think. Since none of you were lucky enough (humor me) to sit shotgun, here are some random thoughts that you missed out on:
- I realized part way through the drive that I had made the EXACT same trip when I was 5, moving from Portland to Austin. Apparently at the time I was adamant that we stay only in Best Western Hotels. The best part is that my big sister hopped on that band wagon after a few days! Kids are so bizarre/amazing. In case you’re wondering, I did not follow that mantra this time around. The cheapest hotel always won. El Dorado Inn, anyone?
- Horses spend an unbelievable amount of time standing completely still, staring off into space. At first I mused “they must be in such deep thought!” But I’m pretty sure there are studies that would prove me wrong.
- I got tired of listening to music (does that make me a bad musician?), so I downloaded a book on tape. I went with the biography of Abraham Lincoln. Strange, I know. The man was amazing though! Here’s my new favorite Abraham Lincoln quote: Upon hearing that Ulysses S. Grant was a drunk, he replied “Pray, tell me the brand of Whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals.” I wonder if I’m going to turn into one of those crazy old men who’s obsessed with the Civil War?
- I lost my wallet twice WHILE IN MY CAR. How is that even possible? There is only one other human being on the planet who could pull that off, and it’s my mother.
- I met a lot of very happy people living seemingly sad lives. If they’re happy with their life, I should be happy for them. I am, but sometimes I wonder if they know what they’re missing.
- While driving through Bliss, ID I saw a sign that said ”Miracle Springs, Next 3 Exits.” I thought “Miracle Springs in Bliss? That must be the most peaceful place on Earth.” Until I saw this at the bottom of the sign:
CAUTION! ALLIGATORS
- The best way to learn geography is to drive all over the country. I am a master of the U.S. now. I wish I could go back to 4th grade and dominate all those quizzes.
- Bob Dylan is the greatest songwriter of all time. Pretty sure that’s fact, not opinion.
- Fort Sumner, NM is the coolest/creepiest town to drive through. Immediately upon entering, a dog sprinted in front of my car and down the highway as if he were chasing the ghost of a cat (he didn’t get hit). It looks like a deserted ghost town, except for the fact that you can see people wandering around here and there. The train running along the tracks in the distance really brings the whole scene together. PLUS Billy the Kid is buried there…and I saw two different places that claimed to have his body. They should get that sorted out.
- There are a lot of places competing for “saddest little town in America.” There are also a lot of places competing for “most captivating little town in America.”
- Here’s my journey over the last 3 years (at least from what I can remember):
