6/3/10-6/18/10
Two weeks in Tucson
The World Through the Eyes of a Hammock-dweller
6/3/10
Summertime is here, bringing with it unfathomable heat. So begins my sabbatical from walking until September, or whenever it drops below 90 degrees. In the meantime, I'll be joining the journal for their cross-country speaking tour. From June 17th to the end of July, we'll travel on a veggie-powered schoolbus, working and speaking at forums, collectives, and events. The journal house, which is home to the now 2 person collective, will be my dwelling-place for the next couple of weeks, until we embark on our grand journey. Today, I begin my summer life as a time-killer, a home-dweller, a perpetual weekender. I'm looking forward to this opportunity to catch up on some reading, writing, who knows, maybe some art work! For the next couple of weeks, my life will be a lot more like those of the "normal" people I keep hearing about.
I look most forward to the lazy days with Bootlyg, my favorite dog.
6/9/10
I'd been clinging to the final moments of 24, the year of my life most filled with amazement and unbelievable experiences. But midnight brought an end to all that; surrounded by loved ones, surprisingly enough, my birthday rolled in with hugs, kisses, and other people drinking whiskey. My cousin, Jessica, and her girlfriend came for a spur-of-the-moment visit, largely inspired by a need for closeness after a recent family death. Last week we lost an aunt, and neither of us had been able to get home for the funeral. In a futile attempt to send my condolences over the vague waves of the internet, this is what I wrote to my family:
Good morning, family.
I have just heard the news about Tia Flora. I am filled with an immeasurable sadness this morning as I think of Tia Flora being gone, and of the pain you are all undergoing right now.
I know that death brings a measure of relief as the end of worldly suffering, and this makes us happy for those who part with us to enjoy the leaving behind of burdens.
I look back on the many years of family gatherings, many of them in her home, and I am reminded of all the love we have shared together. Tia Flora was so kind and accepting a person. Her smile extended to all, always, family, friends, and visitors alike. At times it seemed like you could see her glowing before you even got inside. Though I didn't spend much time with her in adult life, the times I did share with her are a treasure in my heart.
As a big family, we have endured much loss together; I sincerely wish that I could have been there for you all in person. Had I known sooner, I would have come to be with you. But as things are, I send my love from afar, hoping that my compassion will reach you and fill you up. I love you all, and I share this loss with you completely.
Love, Shay
As a large family we experience a lot of loss--I have been to dozens upon dozens of funerals in my lifetime--but the hardest part, and half of the hurt, is not being there. Trying to send your hugs and kisses through email is not quite the same.
In any case, a good visit came of it.
Jessica and I woke up super early and were out and about well before 6. We had a nice long walk around town and got some coffee before returning home to collect our counterparts. The refrigerator has been on the fritz this week, a likely episode after the recent bathroom explosion, so we had to throw out most of our food. Luckily, however, we found two pizzas in the dumpster (again!) and breakfast was easy. We spent the day with more walking around, since Tucson is such a great city to spend all day walking around. On our way to get some beers and food for the house, we saw some enormous balloons and I decided I wanted them. Jessica decided that I should have anything I want on my special day-- and at any cost-- and engaged in this crazy split-second U-turn at 30mph so that we could steal them. Amber pulled out a knife, jumped out of the car, freed them, and then attempted to sit back down only to find that she was pitifully far from fitting inside the vehicle. I quickly pulled out my own knife, stabbed two of the balloons, frightening everyone in the car, and pulled them back inside. We were gone in a matter of seconds. I eventually popped one of the remaining two by getting it caught in the fan inside the house, and immediately after lost the last one while trying to get my sunglasses on.
We tried to obtain a vehicle to take the bird to the emergency vet, but we were unsuccessful; despite my best efforts to make the bird comfortable, it died within a couple hours of relative peace. I hope, at the least, that it felt some of the love and compassion that I felt.
We had a burial in the back yard, sad to tarnish its soft, delicate, and still warm body with dust and rocks. Someday, this fate will be for each of us. Let it be known, I would rather be pushed away to sea on a funeral pyre, without the usual sadness and ado. I'd like not to think of myself any more important than a bird.
6/15/10
The children next door are rabid and incessantly scream.
We are the background noise in our dining room, and we are planning the logistics of our road trip. So far, this is the itinerary:
Albuquerque
Taos
Durango
Lawrence
St. Louis
Chicago
Cleveland
Buffalo
Albany
Portland, ME
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Columbus (?)
Chicago
Milwaukee
Madison
Minneapolis
Missoula
Portland, OR
Then I'll part ways with the bus, hang out in Portland and San Francisco for a while, making my way slowly down the coast before heading back to Texas to complete my walk. There's a lot to do before we leave. Tomorrow we'll have a going away dinner at the journal with all our friends. (I have friends!!)
6/17/10
The ladies suggested we grab some dinner at an Italian restaurant far fancier than anything I've seen in the past year, and I readily agreed. A birthday dinner, they insisted.
So happy to hang out with Jessica, I hope that I have sparked some spontaneity in her since the Christmas I convinced her to leave our family Christmas party to go for a late night skinny dip in the ocean. I think this last minute road trip qualifies.
Without the usual limitations of "whatever I find in the dumpster," I had a hard time of choosing between the many intriguing prospects. I eventually settled, excitedly, on a vegetarian manicotti with breaded eggplant and marinara sauce.
6/10/10
It's not my birthday anymore! The day brought much love and excitement, as well as beer and cake. After much shuffling about, I'm settling at the desk, contemplating the myriad ways I can be lazy today. We leave for our crazy road trip in a week, and I can't believe a week has already gone by in Tucson. Though I'm thoroughly excited for a new adventure, I'm a little sad about leaving my little haven in the desert.
There have been so many people at the house the past few days, creating a forum for interesting conversation, but also requiring space and time. It's been so great having everybody around, but now that the house is relatively empty, Sasha and I have some alone time again. We had planned an at-home-date for my birthday, which then got postponed until tonight, and yet again when a hitch-hiking guest stayed another night. The strain on both of us, added to the daily pressure of working all day for Sasha and the recent death of my aunt for me, has become apparent, and in an effort to escape we went on an evening walk. The air was perfect with the sun just down, but we were restless and taxed. By the end of the evening we were enjoying ourselves, though. Overall, a better end to the day than the day itself.
6/13/10
The excitement mounts as day by day the road trip approaches. I've been doing odd jobs at the journal, helping with the mailing list, sorting food donations, etc. They've even made me feel useful in the editing department, which I really enjoy. Below, Sasha is working hard... on... something... probably...
I was hoping to get my hands on some volunteer work while in town, but aside from the journal and Food not Bombs, I haven't. I've been lazy, and I think a week of beer, coffee, and sex have incited my kidneys to protest.
This, taken from my journal, is what I imagine they look like as they angrily punch my other organs.
I've resorted to standing over the toilet, naked and with a book, in hopes that a little pee will come out every so often. Clothing and toilet paper have become brutally tedious.
Sasha and I finally had the sushi night we'd been planning and postponing due to visitors and dysfunctional kitchenry. It was so fun that we recreated the experience last night. We slept in the back yard last night because it was so warm, and I somehow managed to sleep until 8 or something. I didn't do Food not Bombs today because I felt a little melancholy. There was, however, a birthday party for our friend Juila, who invited us to cake and beer (just what the doctor ordered...) in her kiddie pool in celebration of our birthdays as well.
6/14/10
The morning greeted me with a sky of spectacular hue, such as only the most insane of us are awake early enough to behold. The sweet smell of the desert dirt beneath me redeems it of the piercing rocks it harbors. A single morning dove perched on a line in the yard cooed a sweet good morning, over and over again. The one beer I had last night was not a good idea, after all. Not that I hadn't suspected this beforehand. Oh well! It didn't stop me from a morning walk, during which time we found an injured dove hobbling around near the curb. It appeared to have at least one broken wing, and most of its tail had been pulled out, probably by a cat. I was compelled to take it home, out of the sun and out of its constant fear and danger on the side of the road. After all, if we didn't save injured morning doves we encountered, they might not be there to wish us a good morning.
I was hoping to get my hands on some volunteer work while in town, but aside from the journal and Food not Bombs, I haven't. I've been lazy, and I think a week of beer, coffee, and sex have incited my kidneys to protest.
This, taken from my journal, is what I imagine they look like as they angrily punch my other organs.
I've resorted to standing over the toilet, naked and with a book, in hopes that a little pee will come out every so often. Clothing and toilet paper have become brutally tedious.
Sasha and I finally had the sushi night we'd been planning and postponing due to visitors and dysfunctional kitchenry. It was so fun that we recreated the experience last night. We slept in the back yard last night because it was so warm, and I somehow managed to sleep until 8 or something. I didn't do Food not Bombs today because I felt a little melancholy. There was, however, a birthday party for our friend Juila, who invited us to cake and beer (just what the doctor ordered...) in her kiddie pool in celebration of our birthdays as well.
6/14/10
The morning greeted me with a sky of spectacular hue, such as only the most insane of us are awake early enough to behold. The sweet smell of the desert dirt beneath me redeems it of the piercing rocks it harbors. A single morning dove perched on a line in the yard cooed a sweet good morning, over and over again. The one beer I had last night was not a good idea, after all. Not that I hadn't suspected this beforehand. Oh well! It didn't stop me from a morning walk, during which time we found an injured dove hobbling around near the curb. It appeared to have at least one broken wing, and most of its tail had been pulled out, probably by a cat. I was compelled to take it home, out of the sun and out of its constant fear and danger on the side of the road. After all, if we didn't save injured morning doves we encountered, they might not be there to wish us a good morning.
We tried to obtain a vehicle to take the bird to the emergency vet, but we were unsuccessful; despite my best efforts to make the bird comfortable, it died within a couple hours of relative peace. I hope, at the least, that it felt some of the love and compassion that I felt.
We had a burial in the back yard, sad to tarnish its soft, delicate, and still warm body with dust and rocks. Someday, this fate will be for each of us. Let it be known, I would rather be pushed away to sea on a funeral pyre, without the usual sadness and ado. I'd like not to think of myself any more important than a bird.
6/15/10
The children next door are rabid and incessantly scream.
We are the background noise in our dining room, and we are planning the logistics of our road trip. So far, this is the itinerary:
Albuquerque
Taos
Durango
Lawrence
St. Louis
Chicago
Cleveland
Buffalo
Albany
Portland, ME
Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Columbus (?)
Chicago
Milwaukee
Madison
Minneapolis
Missoula
Portland, OR
Then I'll part ways with the bus, hang out in Portland and San Francisco for a while, making my way slowly down the coast before heading back to Texas to complete my walk. There's a lot to do before we leave. Tomorrow we'll have a going away dinner at the journal with all our friends. (I have friends!!)
6/17/10Day one of Epic Road Trip
Goodbye, home.
I don't know what time it is, but the sun's gone down and we're quite shy of our anticipated evening arrival in Albuquerque. To be more accurate, we've moved about 20 miles since we tentatively rolled out of Tucson at 5. Having long abandoned the hope of a before noon departure, I braced myself for an evening counterpart to match the long day. It took hours to unload accumulated unnecessaries and replace them with crates full of journals, ample food for 5, and more books than we could possibly read with all we'll be doing.
And most of what we've been doing so far has been dealing with the complications of biodiesel. All of the veggie bus trips I've taken have been riddled with mishap and exasperation, and this, so far, has been no exception. Somehow we mixed up the valves so that the diesel overflowed into the veggie tank, which subsequently overflowed. We pulled over to assess the situation, and in so doing attracted the attention of a highway patrol. he asked if we were alright, and nothing more. I am still astounded that the sight of our huge psychedelic bus spewing oil, 4 of the 5 of us all-black-clad, me without pants and Charles with his head of maniacal dreds, didn't spark further curiosity, and that he saw no need to ask for registration or anything else. My take is, "don't question it, just be thankful." When we were speeding down the road again, the most exhilarating breeze swept across my body, repelling the heat from a sun whose shadows danced through billowing gypsy curtains. As I looked around the bus, my lover lying beside me, book in nose, my new and nomadic friends lounging about, my life seemed perfect. Where else would I be right now?
Nowhere else.
Onward!
Love, always,
Shay
And most of what we've been doing so far has been dealing with the complications of biodiesel. All of the veggie bus trips I've taken have been riddled with mishap and exasperation, and this, so far, has been no exception. Somehow we mixed up the valves so that the diesel overflowed into the veggie tank, which subsequently overflowed. We pulled over to assess the situation, and in so doing attracted the attention of a highway patrol. he asked if we were alright, and nothing more. I am still astounded that the sight of our huge psychedelic bus spewing oil, 4 of the 5 of us all-black-clad, me without pants and Charles with his head of maniacal dreds, didn't spark further curiosity, and that he saw no need to ask for registration or anything else. My take is, "don't question it, just be thankful." When we were speeding down the road again, the most exhilarating breeze swept across my body, repelling the heat from a sun whose shadows danced through billowing gypsy curtains. As I looked around the bus, my lover lying beside me, book in nose, my new and nomadic friends lounging about, my life seemed perfect. Where else would I be right now?
Nowhere else.
Onward!
Love, always,
Shay
There are more photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/FakePlasticShay
and here: (most recent)
http://cid-d97b248810ba5cf6.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/New%20album
The blog, which is just a running accumulation of these emails and journalings, is here:
http://fakeplasticshay.blogspot.com/
Slow down. Live simply. Seek Wonder.
__________________________________________________________________________________
So! Onward!
I am an adventure traveler. I am not a tourist seeking a distraction from my discomforts and worries. I am a lover of life seeking to submerge myself in the world outside myself. The nature and quality of my experience are based on some questions:
-What do I want from the road?
-Why will I travel?
I want to see amazing things
I want to meet amazing people
I want to do a lot of walking
I want freedom
I want stories
I want to see and try new things
I want all of these things at the expense of taking risks and encountering uncertainty.
_____________________________________________________________________
These travels are neither for fundraiser nor for personal profit. I seek to live as minimally as possible while traveling, and in life in general. However, I rely primarily on the kindness of others, and the faith that everything I need I will always find in one way or another. The infinite graciousness of others has kept me moving forward, day by day. Any help along the way is monumentally appreciated, as food and shelter are of the utmost uncertainty on this trip. If you would like to make a small contribution for food you may do so by clicking here:
click the "personal" tab, send it to Fakeplasticshay@gmail.com,
specify your own amount as a gift, and help me get one day and one
city further!
As always, anything helps and is so very much appreciated!
If you'd like to send a letter of support, please contact me for location specifics for general delivery.
Thank you all so much!
Love, Shay
