Category: Random Rants

History, Random Rants, Travel

Two Days BEFORE Dawn

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Can we do it?!

The Road Trip Triangle (as mentioned in previous post) had begun!

Back to back: 613 miles and then 627 miles

We shall see …

Day one began before dawn as we turned onto the highway–just a bit behind schedule– at 6:08AM!

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Eleven hours later we arrived in Birmingham after enjoying one fifty-song 1980s play list, one six-episode podcast (Dirty John), one Georgia diner lunch, one (not our) car-on-fire delay, one road unexplainably blocked by a crane, and one Eufaula, Alabama history lesson (conducted from the passenger seat by yours truly).

fullsizeoutput_532BRIEF ASIDE FOR A SLIVER OF THE HISTORY LESSON: Evidence of Eufaula’s wealth (made possible by enslaved labor and its location on the Chattahoochee River) is still abundant in its well preserved historic district. But I found this abandoned motel a more compelling image. Glorifying remnants of the antebellum south challenges my fierce sense of outrage given the current state of our political and cultural landscape.

A few hours later, we arrived at our hotel just out of Birmingham. Exhausted but feeling accomplished! After a couple of beers at the hotel bar and 30 minutes staring at TV, we were out!

Good thing because …

Day Two began even earlier. We woke at 3:45 (which was 4:45 for our still-in-the-eastern time zone frame of mind) so we got up at hit the road. Which meant we got to see this beautiful sunrise over the Tennessee River in Alabama. (Disclaimer: picture does not do it justice. Moving car. Dark. …)

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Much like the day before we had a playlist (50 great songs from last ten years), a podcast (started season three of Serial), road side food, and a lot of bathroom breaks, which included the fanciest rest stop I’ve ever seen. It’s actually on the register of National Historic Places in Kentucky. Fancy!

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But finally, eleven hours after we left we arrived at our interim destination!! And there were boots!!!

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AND wine!!!!

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And visits with friends and family. And 25 MPH winds. And a wind chill of 35 degrees!!!

It’s been a couple of good days. But tomorrow we hit the road again. This time for a marathon 744 miles.

Can We Do It?!

We’ll see.

Haiku & Other Poetry, Random Rants, Travel, tutto e niente

Calling All Boots

Tina Stewart Brakebill

Today’s prompt from FOWC inspired me (one could say it prompted me) to say a few words about the road trip that begins when my husband and I rise Thursday morning at the beautifully dark hour of 4:30AM and hit the road by 5:30.

“Where ya headed?”

Glad you asked. We are going north to escape the endless summer that has wrapped Florida in its deadly grip. We seek the Fall! Memories of cute boots and scarves and blue jeans and sweaters beckon.

“Come to me!!” They call.

“Wear me.” They tease.

“Wrap me.” They whisper.

I am tingling with excitement.

Oh and I get to see friends and family too. So it’s a win-win.

Of course this road trip includes a giant triangle of driving—South Florida to middle Illinois to Washington DC to south Florida—so it’s possible I’ll change my mind about the win-win. But for now I’ve got the pod casts downloaded and the play lists set.

Here we come autumn!

Updates to follow 🎃 but here’s a haiku to keep you warm till then. It’s not great but … BOOTS!!

As the moon falls low

We rise for a journey long

Seeking boots of fall

Thanks RonovanWrites

Haiku & Other Poetry, Random Rants, tutto e niente

the circle of change

Tina Stewart Brakebill

belief sustains hope

hope ignites radical change

change nurtures belief

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I am trying to retain belief in our system. I hope that things aren’t going to get much much worse before they get better. But I’m really really struggling with both. All hope seems lost. And I find myself believing that our system is too frickin’ broke to fix. BUT, when this mood threatens to overwhelm me, my mind returns to the songs of two of my favorite artists. The words make me feel better. Because I do believe in those children trying to change their world. They make me think that all hope is not lost.

So I leave you with words so much more inspiring then mine.

David Bowie Changes

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They’re quite aware of what they’re goin’ through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don’t tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Where’s your shame?
You’ve left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can’t trace time

(Songwriter: David Bowie)

Elvis Costello  What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, & Understanding

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside
There’s one thing I wanna know:
What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony

‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry
What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding?

So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony

‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry
What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding? Ohhhh what’s so fun about peace, love and understanding

(Songwriter: Nick Lowe)

 

 

Better late than never? Thanks #FOWC and RonavanWrites