Only unnerving part about heading home is that my route back has less connections than my route over. I have very few family members or dear friends in the Midwest, so needless to say I've been worried about how all that will play out. Staying with random connections, while fun and exciting, means I need to be "on."
My first stop after D.C. was Pittsburgh...crazy, cool city...but kinda dark. (I likened it to Gotham city and oddly enough, that's where Batman was filmed!) I have not driven through a city like it. Anyways, I had connections there through a friend and mentor back home, Lina, that had taken it upon herself to get me to Chicago where I have a cousin! As I walked into their home I was like..."shit, this is gonna be weird." Not that they had done anything to make me feel that way but it just felt like I was stumbling into something, ruining the usual routine. And I'll be honest, that feeling stayed there for a solid hour or 2. It finally faded after dinner was cleared and me, Matt and his wife, Betsy, were able to just sit and talk. They looked at me so intently...with genuine care and concern for my trip and where I was at. It could have been that I was stir crazy from the long drive alone but I was all over the place, felt like I was making NO sense but I sat and spewed thoughts,feelings and stories anyway. (I felt like a 4 year old full of great craft ideas, hopped up on sugar...passionate and energized and yet unsure of where or how to start!) They had to think I was nuts, but they sat graciously and offered advice and wisdom where they could. The next night me and their 2 girls sat on my bed and made bracelets, giggling as I tried to get the scoop on their lives (boys, activities etc...) By the end of my time with the family I felt so connected...like I would trust em with my life (somethin about sharin a bathroom gets ya a special bond).
As I left Pittsburgh I began to worry that this last connect was not gonna be the norm. I geared up to have my next stop in Cincinnati be soul wearying. Instead I had deja vu as I walked into a home with an incredible family dynamic, 2 of the sweetest young girls and kind, engaging parents that made me feel right at home. Fred was another connect from Lina. I was nervous because he worked from home so I knew me and him would be home a lot together. Should I stay outta his hair? Do I try and engage with him? but he was such a dad,so fatherly...my worries quickly faded. We had so many opportunities to talk about the tough stuff, the hard stuff, the heart stuff...and he didn't shy in challenging me on some things, which I appreciated! But he was also just so funny and full of great stories, so it was fun to just sit and listen. The last night I got to take the girls out for ice cream, so funny (I almost forgot what it felt like to be a pre-teen!) and then we came back and I taught them the best card game on earth (nerts!) My ego took a blow however as the mom caught on faster than most and showed me up on my own game.
Yes, I'm still nervous my "cool" experience tab will run out and one of these days and I'll have to stay with the rudest, cruelest people...maybe they'll lock me in the basement and throw down soggy toast for meals. But so far I've only had the royalty treatment...in accommodations for my body but also for my soul. So I'm feeling good about my mojo, bring it on Midwest!
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