The Great Escape II

April 7-8, 2014

            The next important, and necessary stop I had to make along the trip was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  It was out of the way by over three hundred miles, but worth the extra day to see my daughter again.  I try to see her as much as possible.  I really cannot believe how much she has grown in four years.  I remember the first time I met Mia in the SeaTac airport.  I had just finished Coast Guard Health Service School in Petaluma, California, but she was already two months old.  I leaned in to give her a gentle kiss on those newborn lips, and as soon as I made contact, she spit up a helping of milk directly into my mouth.  I knew from then on, it was love.  That winter, Mia, her mother, and I made a cross country road trip from Seattle to Baltimore.  It was cold, and snowy, and we had made every effort to get across the states as quick as possible.  Looking back, it was a great trip!  Who would't want to spend a week in a car with a newborn!?

            My daughter is the most important person in my life.  She is beautiful.  Everything about her is perfect.  I can spend hours watching her be a goofy four year old girl.  I take great pride in pretending to eat invisible pizza with her.  I take in every moment I get with her, and treat it as it could be my last.  Every time I see her again, whether it’s been a few weeks or a few months later, she seems to have grown by years. 

            I understand the possible implications of me not being around all the time.  I understand that there may be questions asked in the future.  There already are questions asked by other people.  “Why don’t you fight for custody?” has been the biggest question.  My answer is, “Why should I?”  She has a wonderful mom and grandmother who love her very much, and give her many of the things that only a mother and grandmother could.  She lives in a very pleasant home with a very positive environment and goes to a great school.  Why should I selfishly take her away from that, and throw her into a war zone that so many children somehow find themselves in the middle of?  Would I do any better?  All I can really do is provide for her the best I can, and let her know that I will always be there for her, and love her unconditionally.

            For now though, I just like to enjoy the moments I have with her.  Today, she stood on my feet and asked me to moonwalk with her.  Then she kissed my forearms for no reason and told me she loved her daddy.  My heart melted.  Shortly afterwards, she notified me that she would soon have tattoos like her daddy, but first she would like some milk.  I can’t say no to this girl.  She’s going to be trouble.   

            My daughter is one thing that will always keep me moving forward.  She is my motivation to break through any obstacle.  I want to be able to prove to her that she can do anything she if she works hard enough.   I want her to grow up knowing that there are no limits to what she can do, and that she should always strive to find her true potential.  I can only prove this to her by believing it, and living it.

            I don’t know when I will see her again.  It was tough hugging her goodbye today.  She told me she didn't want her daddy to go.  She said, “Just stay here daddy.” Words that would make any father well up with tears.  I hope every goodbye isn't as difficult as this one.  Until next time little bub.  Betty White and I will see you soon!

09 April 14

    Heading through Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri today.  The trailer is pulling surprisingly well.  I would guess it is because everything is so flat!  I had the wonderful opportunity to stay at an old Coast Guard friends house last night.  I never would have thought that I would have friends out here in Indiana.
   I stopped at the world's largest wind chime!  Unfortunately it wasn't very windy out!  While I was exploring, I met this old farmer.  I guess he was just looking for someone to talk to, because he talked my ear off for about a half hour, about the size of his crop.  Strawberries the size of peaches, and peaches bigger than melons.  He also looked over at the world's largest wind chime, and under his breath, whispered, "I'm working on making the world's largest cock and balls, but I don't know how that will work out in this town!"  Apparently, in this little, Illinois town, size matters.  After some more discussion, I asked him, "So why do you think you are here?  What is your purpose?"  After a few seconds of consideration, and a half toothless smirk, he replied "Well, I'm a farmer.  I have extra land, and I like to grow food.  I like to give that food to people who need it." That's good enough for me.  On to St. Louis.  The gateway to the west.

Betty aint scared of nothin

The worlds largest wind chime...Coming soon, the worlds largest cock and balls!

Finally made it to the west!

Thanks for letting me crash at your house Riley!

10 April 2014

    I didn't make it very far!  Last night I camped about an hour South of St. Louis.  It got cold, really cold!  The Mexican blankets didn't quite cut it, so i'll have to invest in a sleeping bag.  St. Louis is pretty phenomenal.  The Arch is a magnificent piece of architecture, that everyone should see once in their life.   That is what is so amazing about our country.  It is full of these outstanding natural and man made wonders.
    I got back the road early this morning, and about an hour into the drive, my car became very sluggish.  It hardly made it over the hills, and i began to get worried.  I knew something was bound to happen, I just didn't think it would be 1500 miles into the trip.  I pulled into a small town part store to have it scanned, and just as I had though, my turbo charger stopped working.  Of course no one in a 100 mile radius knew how to work on it.  I was feeling pretty hopeless, and discouraged at this point.  I did not know what to do.  If I went further, I would risk serious breakdown, but I had no choice.  My only option was to drop the trailer off somewhere.
   Just as I was making a plan, the UHAUL representative in Seattle called to check up on me.  I told her my dilemma, and she very quickly found a spot for me to drop the trailer off, just a few miles up the road.  We also agreed to switch to a smaller trailer.  With the trailer detached, I was able to limp my poor, broken car to Springfield, where an Audi dealership could look at it.
   I am very fortunate to have a friend in California, who learned what was happening, and made some quick phone calls.  He helped figure out what parts I would need, and let them know I would be showing up.  Hopefully I can get back on the road within the next couple days.  For now, I will have to stick around Missouri and explore.  Hopefully I can get a couple runs in, and make the best of the situation.
   For a few minutes I was feeling discouraged.  What am I thinking!?  How could I possibly make a 5,000 mile trip like this?  Now my car is broken, and I left all my belongings with a complete stranger.  For the first time I became afraid of the situation I put myself in.  I am young, and foolish.  I should have just stayed in South Carolina, or figured out a more sensible way to come home.  Then, all of a sudden, a liberating sense of ease washed over me.  I have never felt so free in my life, than right now.  At this moment, I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, how I will get home, or what I will do.  All I have with me are my wits, my past experiences, and the connections I have made with people through out my life.  I really have nothing to worry about.  Everything will be ok.  I once read that it is important to not only be strong, but feel strong.  To measure yourself at least once.  I think this is where I am at right now.
    I have amazing friends and family who are all behind me.  These positive connections that we make in our lives are what make life so extraordinary.  It could very well be why we are here. I was talking to a good friend in Baltimore the other day, and he had mentioned that he thinks we're here to influence and connect with each other, whether its on some small level, or on a massive scale.  I would have to agree with him.  Every little connection we make, and every piece of positive energy we give off, could possibly come back to us, somehow.
   While walking around the camp ground this evening, I ran into a group of travelling active duty and retired veterans.  It's not every day we get to thank a Korean or Vietnam veteran for their service, and have a conversation with them.  it was an honor to be at the same table as them, taking about travelling, and great cities to go to.  After shaking their hands, and thanking them one more time, Betty White and I headed back to the tent.  It's not as cold tonight.  I think I will be just fine!

Car problems #but first let me take a selphy

Apparently its still cold in April

Dropped the Uhaul off somewhere along rt66...worse idea ever?

An honor to run into this group of gentlemen. Thanks for your service!

The Great Escape

6April2014

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.

Henry David Thoreau

            My father has been a mechanic of close to 40 years.  He is a master of his craft, and has owned the same red tool box for as long as I can remember.  He always told me, “This toolbox has wheels on it for a reason.  If I don’t like where I am at, I can move my toolbox down the road.”  I think I will have to take a page from his book.  It has been a very difficult realization to come to, but I think it’s the right thing to do.  I have recently learned that there is nothing I can control, but my own attitude toward a situation.  I can't make a woman love me if she doesn't want to, and  I can't expect everything to go just as planned.  All I can do is keep moving forward.  There is nothing keeping me in South Carolina anymore, and I have a deep urge to find something more.  Over the past month, I sold my furniture and most of my non-essential belongings.  On Friday, I rented a U-Haul trailer, loaded it up with all my things, and hit the road.  I didn’t have much of a plan, only to explore the country for a couple weeks, and end in Washington State.  I want to meet interesting people, and explore new places.  Along the trip, my goal is to ask a couple very important questions:

Why are we here?

What keeps you moving forward?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

What is your ultimate goal?

What do you value most about yourself?

            It is not so much the answers that are important, but the questions themselves that are important.  So many people go through their lives without contemplating these questions or evaluating their goals and accomplishments.  There are seven billion people on this planet, and we all have one goal:  Survive.  Whether it’s an average American Joe, a homeless refuge, or a terminally ill person, we all have that motivation to keep moving forward at all costs.   What compels us to survive, and why?  What keeps us moving forward at all costs, even though we know the inevitable end result?  What do we want to be remembered for?  What kind of legacy would we like to create for ourselves?  

                These questions have been ones that I have continuously asked myself since I was a very young man.  I remember asking my mother the meaning of life at a very young age.  After careful thought, she opened up her bible and replied the only way she knew how to, “The meaning of life is to serve and fear god.”  Is that why we are here?  Were we really put here to serve a super natural being that may, or may not really exist?    Dalai Lama wrote, “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.”  An American Poet, W.H. Auden, once wrote, “We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for, I don’t know.” The truth is, I don’t yet have any answers for these questions that I am asking.  Maybe I will find them along the way.

            I am incredibly nervous.  I have never done anything like this before, and have absolutely no real plan.  I am not even sure if I will make it to the West Coast.  I’m pulling everything I own in a U-Haul trailer behind my little, four cylinder Audi, with my dog, Betty White riding shotgun.  So many things can go wrong during this trip, but all I can do is hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.  I really cannot control anything, and have no idea what is going to happen in the following days.  Having no plan is something completely new to me, and even though, I am nervous, I am excited for the experiences, and I am looking forward to hearing people’s stories.

“Make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."  -Into The Wild

Baltimore

April 4-6, 2014

South of the border.. Not quite Mexico

But first, let me take a selphy

            After a thirteen hour drive with my very nervous dog, and a very heavy trailer, I made it to one of my favorite cities, Baltimore.  Charm City is where I lived for the past four years, built some of the closest friendships, and ran my first marathon.  When the Coast Guard stationed me in Baltimore back in 2009, I had no idea what to think.  Friends had told me that it was a dangerous city, so I had moved there with an irrational fear.  To my surprise, it turned out to be one of the most charming and beautiful cities I have ever been to.

There was no doubt that I had to stop in Baltimore while on this trip.  Fortunately, one of my best friends had the room for me and Betty White to stay for the weekend.  The morning after getting into town we laced up our running shoes, and headed out for a half marathon.  One thing I love about this city, is that it is one of the most active cities in the country.  With little training and preparation, we managed to pull off top ten finishes in the 13.1 mile race.  It felt great to kick the dust off the legs, and run with a good friend who had helped me qualify for the Boston Marathon last year.  I am always excited to return to Charm City, and will likely return again.  Every time I come back, I fall in love with it again.  

One of my best friends and I on another great race!

Here's to good friends, and good times.

On to the next destination... Pittsburgh, were i will give my beautiful daughter a suprise visit!