Greyhound...

August 7, 2009 I was sitting on a Greyhound bus. I was headed for Wisconsin although I only made it to St. Louis. It was a long and boring trip but the decision to go was simple. The stench was terrible, a mixture of sweat and stale pot. One other woman was there traveling with her teenage son. She spoke broken English but radiated friendliness and warmth like a Mother should. I sat next to a trucker. His large arms were bare beneath his muscle tee. His arm hairs were coarse and prickly and rubbed against my arm leaving behind a red rash. He was from Iowa I think. He presented as a friendly man but his eyes reflected loneliness. My Dad promised me "an experience" by taking the Greyhound. My Dad never spoke a lie in his entire life. This was indeed an experience.


Often in my life I have lept in directions that seem careless and irresponsible. This was another to add to my repertoire. The best things in my life have come from these times when I am brave enough to "jump"...the worst are those when I fail to be brave. My sister once told me I am "lucky". I was offended at the time. All of the experiences and education and friends that I had appealed to her. Did she understand how hard I worked for those things. I had them because I was brave enough to pursue them. I have never believed much in luck. I believe we direct our lives based on the decisions we make (or fail to make). With you I was presented with an opportunity to jump. It was perhaps the furthest and scariest of all. People say these are the ones in which we are most rewarded.

I could not possibly be more rewarded.