plans

I apologize for the spare atmosphere on the blog lately. I haven't been in a frame of mind that is conducive to writing anything that I want to make permanent.

One of my two best friends has left for a much-anticipated trip. He goes once a year on a sort of soul-renewing voyage with a small group of very close comrades. They travel by van, sharing almost too much. The focus of their time away is spent in a town about 750 miles from here, due east, in the middle of a very large state. They will also visit a few small cities that house universities, and another state closer to the shore.

Ironically, I had also planned a vacation to that large state, and had figured at one point to be about 40 miles from that first town where they will spend most of their time. My driving route would have been much different, though, and would have taken me through a small part (though several hundred miles) of another country, even though it was only to be 150 miles longer than theirs. For a variety of reasons my plans changed, however. I am still taking a trip. On Tuesday, I will leave for several days' stay with a friend in a warm, quiet college town around 800 miles southwest of here. My parents are pleased to know that I'm flying rather than driving; I don't mind driving, but I'm glad of a 2+ hour trip (even in a plane) rather than a 12+ hour trip. I'm staying with an 'unexpected friend'--one of those people who accepted me in spite of myself, who superficially shouldn't have clicked with me because of our surface inconsistencies, but who came to know and like me anyway. Of course this will be a test of that friendship, as any first visit would be, especially a long one and one with which so much is attached. Like my need to get away, and to get things straight. And my hope to be better when I return.

So I'm off, southwest this time, in search of a skirt with fringes, and lots of photographs & memories, a couple of shotglasses for me and the other, and a hat. And in hopes of some clarity and peace and some of those things that seem to come naturally to "other people." Don't expect anything from the blog between now and maybe the 24th, though I will try to pop in if I have a chance.

One more thing, with apologies: life is too goddamned short. Love who you love, with all you can, because    that    is    all    there    is.