February 4, 2007

• halftime. do i really want to watch Prince?

  Dave gave me his seat because i was the only girl to “brave the football room”:). Dave just spent a month at Key West. i asked him about it, but he couldn’t remember anything except that he cooked alot (and got drunk in between). He also told me about the “rainbow family” hippy gathering that culminates on Valentine’s day.

  This other guy, a Christian that i had a really good “God talk” with, told us about this place in Hawaii (located near Brigim Young) where he stayed for 5$ a night, camping on the beach. they even had hot showers. not only that, but there was a horse farm across the way who needed experienced riders to ride their horses on the off season. So…free horseback riding all day in the mountains…sleep under the stars. i think i have my next trip planned.

  Dick has been traveling the US since 1991. He told me about showers at truck stops and finding state parks to take free showers in.

  Rainy day. all day. by 11:30 i decided that i’d go out, even with the rain. i only have today. so i put a garbage bag over me and my backpack and caught the bus to Key Largo. i met Eugene, the bus driver who used to run gulf courses but retired until he got tired of retiredness and now drives a bus. Since it was just us, i kept him company and he gave me a free round trip–so i got pretty far down the Keys. The Keys were rather disappointing. just stores and hotels and stuff…with one big perk–you could see the ocean from both sides of the road. I invited Eugene to our superbowl party and he was like “well, i’d be the only black man there” which made me laugh because there are people from all over the world–Holland, Germany, Australia, England, Sweden…

  Eugene said as i left “girl, you got a southern accent…if you called me i’d sware you were black.”

  I finally stopped in Key Largo and walked around the John Pennycamp state park. I saw the mangroves, which i thought were mandrakes and had visions of those screaming things on Harry Potter. Mangroves are those trees with big roots that thrive in salt water. learn something new every day. As i was waiting for the return bus i stopped in a souvenir store to dry off and read “How to quit your job and live in Key West” the owner was really nice about me not buying anything. After waiting ten minutes outside, the rain got really bad. i was holding on to my trashbag with a death grip. THe owner then came out and gave me an umbrella.

  KINDNESS.

  it makes the world go round.

  
  Key Largo…the Mangroves…to which suddenly reminded me of Pocahauntas (sp?) and i began singing “Just around the river bend…” at the top of my lungs, in the rain…alone.

  • 8:18 pm
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