I'm sure I read this the first time out and hope I commented then. So worth a read: travel, photos, childhood, love, adulthood, the quotes and Route 66!
You did read it the first time, Mary, and responded to it very positively, as now. It was encouragement to me early on in my time here. Thank you, as always and for recognizing all those components -- why I decided to integrate this piece into the larger work.
Your and Julia’s travels are familiar to me - and a treat to re-read. On coincidence that I either forgot or missed the first time is that you and I were abroad at the same time. I was in northern Italy at the time of Sadat’s death; somewhere among my papers is a copy of an Italian-language newspaper reporting the assassination.
Thanks, Maureen. Your having been in Italy rings a bell with me, so I think you have shared that with me before. I wish I'd thought to save the newspaper.
Jay! I LOVED this piece. I love that you, too, know the joy of a home on wheels. I have found in you more than once a kindred spirit. And in this post, I see that traveling has written similar messages on our hearts.
I've long felt that kindred spirit and admired the traveling adventure of your life, Holly. It's maybe too obvious a question to ask if you've ever seen the film Nomadland, with Frances McDormand. Among its many rewards for me, I found it captured, in a way film can, certain atmospheres and moods of the traveling spirit and life, both loneliness and connection, even as one, way beyond my ability anyway to put into words, though I tried a few times here.
Yes. I thought the same of it. I love Frances McDormand. And I briefly met Bob Wells, the guy who initiated and still hosts RTR, the rendezvous in Quartzite where we see Frances' character meet up with others living in vehicles (some of whom were real-life nomads). I think Nomadland did a very good job of capturing both that spirit you mentioned and one particular version of “vanlife.”
A funny/fabulous story about that movie and me. I was in the middle of nowhere in the Sonoran desert when I watched it. I hit play and immediately heard this yipping and yapping of coyotes. It took me a handful of seconds to realize it was not part of the soundtrack and, rather, coyotes—a good half dozen at least—who for reasons I’ll never know had gathered around my van. I turned off the lights and watched. I could just make out their shadows and listened. They stayed for a matter of minutes before disappearing. It was magical. I’m certain I’ll write about it in some essay or other.
I loved this, Jay. Although some of our experiences are similar (ferry across the Adriatic, travels in Latin America, Hanoi), what I most enjoy is how different your take on travel is from mine. I'm a reluctant traveller, and you come over as a lyrical enthusiast—and it's compelling!
So interesting, Jeffrey. You have certainly immersed yourself more deeply and far longer in a range of cultures, to great learning, than have I. You certainly seem to relish that. I understand it was professionally grounded. Was the career happenstance? Were you compelled? :) Maybe it's precisely the movement part you don't enjoy?
Great questions that are enough to launch an essay! I can detect your skill as a teacher in them. My career was mostly happenstance, but if I was compelled, that came from within as well as from without. I sometimes enjoy the movement part, sometimes not. But, at the risk of soinding like a dollar-store Haney James, it is usually the idea of travel that horrifies. So the trick was to put myself into a situation where I had no choice. Looking back, the inner restless soul would form an alliance with the legalities and obligations of the world and together they'd drag the rest of me off to the next destination.
I'm sure I read this the first time out and hope I commented then. So worth a read: travel, photos, childhood, love, adulthood, the quotes and Route 66!
You did read it the first time, Mary, and responded to it very positively, as now. It was encouragement to me early on in my time here. Thank you, as always and for recognizing all those components -- why I decided to integrate this piece into the larger work.
You are my favorite!
Your and Julia’s travels are familiar to me - and a treat to re-read. On coincidence that I either forgot or missed the first time is that you and I were abroad at the same time. I was in northern Italy at the time of Sadat’s death; somewhere among my papers is a copy of an Italian-language newspaper reporting the assassination.
Thanks, Maureen. Your having been in Italy rings a bell with me, so I think you have shared that with me before. I wish I'd thought to save the newspaper.
Jay! I LOVED this piece. I love that you, too, know the joy of a home on wheels. I have found in you more than once a kindred spirit. And in this post, I see that traveling has written similar messages on our hearts.
I've long felt that kindred spirit and admired the traveling adventure of your life, Holly. It's maybe too obvious a question to ask if you've ever seen the film Nomadland, with Frances McDormand. Among its many rewards for me, I found it captured, in a way film can, certain atmospheres and moods of the traveling spirit and life, both loneliness and connection, even as one, way beyond my ability anyway to put into words, though I tried a few times here.
Yes. I thought the same of it. I love Frances McDormand. And I briefly met Bob Wells, the guy who initiated and still hosts RTR, the rendezvous in Quartzite where we see Frances' character meet up with others living in vehicles (some of whom were real-life nomads). I think Nomadland did a very good job of capturing both that spirit you mentioned and one particular version of “vanlife.”
A funny/fabulous story about that movie and me. I was in the middle of nowhere in the Sonoran desert when I watched it. I hit play and immediately heard this yipping and yapping of coyotes. It took me a handful of seconds to realize it was not part of the soundtrack and, rather, coyotes—a good half dozen at least—who for reasons I’ll never know had gathered around my van. I turned off the lights and watched. I could just make out their shadows and listened. They stayed for a matter of minutes before disappearing. It was magical. I’m certain I’ll write about it in some essay or other.
I loved this, Jay. Although some of our experiences are similar (ferry across the Adriatic, travels in Latin America, Hanoi), what I most enjoy is how different your take on travel is from mine. I'm a reluctant traveller, and you come over as a lyrical enthusiast—and it's compelling!
So interesting, Jeffrey. You have certainly immersed yourself more deeply and far longer in a range of cultures, to great learning, than have I. You certainly seem to relish that. I understand it was professionally grounded. Was the career happenstance? Were you compelled? :) Maybe it's precisely the movement part you don't enjoy?
Great questions that are enough to launch an essay! I can detect your skill as a teacher in them. My career was mostly happenstance, but if I was compelled, that came from within as well as from without. I sometimes enjoy the movement part, sometimes not. But, at the risk of soinding like a dollar-store Haney James, it is usually the idea of travel that horrifies. So the trick was to put myself into a situation where I had no choice. Looking back, the inner restless soul would form an alliance with the legalities and obligations of the world and together they'd drag the rest of me off to the next destination.