The wide, wide, world

No more has the world in which I reside seemed wider and more nebulous than now, as I sit on the floor at Annie's in my nightgown, writing my plans (or speculations) in my computer's calendar. Now through the 12th of August, I can write something planned or assumed in each day: today has plans with friends and bicycling around GR, tomorrow some of the same and taking Remy to be boarded in Whitehall, Tuesday I leave for the south with my parents, etc. We return from the Carolinas on the 12th.

After that, it's all speculation. No path has been laid out for me. Sometimes, I travel back in my mind to the sign outside Spirit Dreams: What would you do if you had a million dollars? Why don't you do it anyway? That sign helped me to focus back in about 2000, and it still helps today.

If I had unlimited financial resources, when I return from the South, I would get a different vehicle, probably a decent truck with a nice camper back, stock up on things I need for comfortable travel, and head west again. I would spend some time in Chicago with friends who have asked whether I'll be passing through their neck of the woods.

Depending on Abby's wedding planning needs, I'll be available to fly or drive to Ithaca as needed, perhaps picking up Kathleen (who will likely be making Abby's dress) on the way. I'll buy a small, comfortable, easy-to-maintain place in Florida as a "home base," and I'll keep traveling. With unlimited funds, my travels will take me outside of the US to places like: Costa Rica, the Galapagos, Australia and New Zealand, and SE Asia, perhaps at some point to Europe. I'll only see snow if I want to or if the people I love need me in the North when it's winter time.

I'll write music, spend more time on getting the music I do write out to people who will want to use it, and write words, too -- something more accessible from the bones of this blog, perhaps, and other observations about people and life. If I'm in a place for a few months at a time, I will find a job (paid or volunteer) where I can be useful. Things I like to do involve helping people -- cleaning for others, cleaning up beaches, taking care of/entertaining children, teaching some skill, helping people find themselves and a peaceful existence.

I'm just watching the unfolding and staying in a state of wonder, rather than anxiety. The possibilities are, for all of us, endless -- even at the end. :)

Back in GR

It's really fascinating how 3 months of completely laid back living, no pressure, rarely a specific appointment time, has shifted back to not hurrying exactly, but being on a schedule. Today was the longest driving day yet -- about 11 1/2 hours including breaks, from Ithaca to GR. Remy and I were getting kind of sick of each other by about 9 hours, but then we had a break for him to eat some supper and both of us to go to the bathroom, and the last couple of hours weren't so bad.

I'm staying at Annie's. She offered, and it felt so good to imagine being there with her. Tomorrow, I get up early and drive to Whitehall, where the dog boarding place is that is recommended by my vet. It's called Dog Star. I called today to make a reservation, and they have room for Remy, but first he has to have a "temperament evaluation." The young woman I spoke with offered to have that done when I take him out there on Monday, but I decided that, with his "temperament" as it is, it would be better to have it done in advance, just in case they're not willing to take him and I need to find another place. I hope that won't happen. I have a lot of faith in people who really know dogs. And he's done well in the past when he's been with other dogs. Plus, if I can leave him for a short while and return, that will let him know that this is a place where I'll come back to get him -- a very important consideration.

I'll see my folks tomorrow, and Joseph. Sunday morning, I'll probably see Sue. And I want to see Chris as soon as I can. Monday is getting quite booked up including an appointment with Jock, a chiropractic appointment, and lunch with Kathleen and Maria. And then I'll have to drive Remy back to Whitehall for his boarding.

Whew!

It will be kind of relaxing to travel without Rem for 10 days. I'll be able to bike whenever I want and do a lot of other things with more facility. But I will miss him, too.

My last days in Ithaca were filled with good food, reading Travels with Charley, writing a little, getting really good feedback from my Airbnb host, Hank, and Abby. I'm gonna miss that girl till I get back there to see her again!

Back on the bike - an more notes from Ithaca

Sunset on the way back from Adam's after our cookout on Monday evening.

It's Wednesday. Yesterday, to avoid the unbelievably huge, steep hills at the bottom of which lies Ithaca, I drove out to Abby's place which is north and east of the city. There, I put Remy in his new bike basket, donned my helmet and sunglasses, and set off north from Abby's house just to ride. I even took an unknown turn which turned into a gravel road, so I had to come back, but it was that kind of ride. All in all, I went around 10 miles. It felt really good, too.

Then I went for a swim at Taughannock Park, which was interrupted by a call from my health insurance agent, who needed me to go home and access the Marketplace on my computer. :( At least we got that taken care of.

Later, I drove downtown, parked, and walked around while waiting for Abby to finish work. I ended up at Gimme Coffee on Cayuga, and who should come walking along but Adam. The two of us strolled downtown, met up with Abby, and had some great tapas and a drink at Just A Taste. Delightful. I probably won't get to see Adam again this trip, as he's working 3-11s right now. He had Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday off this week.

Today, I had an appointment scheduled with a psychic who lives in Groton. Her address is about 9+ miles from Abby's, so I drove out to Abby's again, loaded Remy up, and biked to her place. And I made it back! I had hoped that Abby would want to go swimming with me, but she had a long, busy day. When asked what she would be doing if I wasn't here, she admitted she would go home and crash. We had some supper, and then I saw her off on her way to her car.

A view from the road on the way back from Groton this afternoon.

I followed Armin's directions to "the best bike shop in Ithaca," which happens to be near my Airbnb. They put a water bottle cage on my new bike for me. I had hoped we could mount my flag, as well, but the new back rack doesn't have the supports that run down to the axle, so there's really not a good place for the flag. I guess I'll only be able to use it when I use the cart. Glad I met the Swan guys at their shop, though. New water bottle cage, mounted, for $5.

I'm getting some laundry done this evening. It's time to start thinking about packing up and heading back to GR. I have an appointment in the morning to talk with a realtor from the area, a friend of Abby's and Adam's. After that, I believe I'll take a little trip to Skaneateles, at the north end of Skaneateles Lake. Abby and Adam enjoy this little town, which Abby compares to Saugatuck. Since it'll be just Remy and me, I don't suppose I'll be there all day, so I'll clean out and reorganize the car when I get back to the Airbnb. Trader K's has a sidewalk sale starting tomorrow, but if Abby's not too beat when she gets done at 9:00, perhaps we'll go for a drink. And we're planning on breakfast on Friday before I leave, too.

I still have to figure out where to stay when I get back to GR, and someplace to park my car while we're gone to the Carolinas.

Abby on the Ithaca Mall.

An interesting bug, identified by Dawn Highhouse on FB as a "stump stabber." Apparently harmless.

Looking toward the channel from the back of the Ithaca Farmers Market on Sunday.

Ithaca, Day 3

I guess I oughta write something. I didn't write yesterday.

I like Ithaca, but I need something to do. I like being near Abby, but I don't want to take up all of her free time. Alice was good about that while I was in LA, too, but they have their own lives and their preferred ways of spending time.

Today, Abby mentioned that she kind of missed having me be in Grand Rapids because now there wasn't anyplace to go "home" to there. She still likes Grand Rapids, and there are many friends and family there, but no "home."

I have a sense that Alice feels the same way, but she hasn't said it in so many words.

I don't know if they remember me asking for just this sort of feedback before I put my house on the market and sold it, but I did. And I had a sense that they might feel this way, but neither of them said it.

Now I am asea. I am going to see how it feels to go back to West Michigan. I'm pretty sure that I won't live in Grand Rapids, but maybe Grand Haven or Kalamazoo. Maybe. The still, small voice said, "Get out of Grand Rapids," but I'm pretty sure it meant W. Michigan. We shall see.

I guess it is important for me to be selfish. My girls have established wonderful lives. I am proud of them and happy for them. I need to have a reason to be someplace. I need to be someplace that can challenge and inspire me. I know that it is up to me to make that happen wherever I am; but I don't feel very inspired by W. Michigan at the moment. I'm much more excited about what Northern California, Southern California, Seattle area, and even Flagstaff have to offer me.

I feel the need to remake myself, to establish myself as someone different from the person that so many people know in West Michigan. That's a lot easier to do in a new place. Of course, there are lots of challenges to going someplace new, as well; but I'm a lot more up for those.

I could live in a northern clime for half the year and a southern one, or as a traveler, for the other half. It's something I was already considering.

I certainly like being someplace where someone I love wants to be with me, see me, and do things with me; and while I have cherished friends in Grand Rapids, it's not the same as having a family member or lover. Sigh.

Syracuse

Observations:

Syracuse is pretty spread out, with a lot of outlying communities, sort of like Grand Rapids; but it seems like it has more highways connecting the parts, and one of them is a toll road. Fortunately, I got to know my way around fairly quickly and was able to avoid the toll road.

The eastern side of New York state has a lot of names that are either Native American or Roman -- Rome, Troy, Ithaca ... Onandaga, Seneca, Cayuga ...

I might have liked Syracuse better if #1) I'd stayed at a nicer hotel in a better part of town, and #2) I'd had someone to do stuff with/show me around. As it was, meh.

Seeing Abby is a gift.

I continue to have trouble self-motivating. In the beginning of the journey, every day was an adventure. I was in places I'd never been, doing things I'd never done. Now that I'm back in more familiar territory, I feel stuck again. I know, this too shall pass.

Remy doesn't like people, but they will keep trying to touch him.

When a person marries and has progeny, the family tends to gravitate toward one side or the other (husband or wife). Rarely does the family maintain the same quality of relationship with both sides. There isn't time. Sometimes geography is an issue. And usually one group just "fits" better than the other.

Parents often hold a family together, long after the children are grown. Once they are gone, a whole new paradigm exists. In my family, my brothers and I have been separated for many years by geography and ideology. As are children are growing up (or grown), we have made more of an effort to be part of each other's lives; but as our children begin forming their own family units and we become grandparents, taking on new responsibilities, I wonder whether we'll be able to continue to grow closer or fade from each other's lives for the most part.

If I insist on eating junk (which for me is grains, potato chips, and the like), I will have to give up time to feeling lousy. I will meditate on some way to recognize when I'm about to eat comfort food that makes me feel rotten, and perhaps a key word or physical cue to change my behavior.

I'll be really glad to get to Ithaca, maybe just because it's familiar. I know where to find things. I know how the roads work. I know where to swim and bike and walk. It's a very walking and biking friendly place.

I'll spend some time this next week preparing to return to GR 7/29-8/1 and 8/12-?. There are people I want to see, but it's just a visit. I'm not staying.

Visit with Marcia

When I heard back from Marcia that she'd have time to get together on Thursday, I was in Tennessee. I had already made arrangements to see the Lawrences in Parkersburg on Tuesday night, so that much of my plan was known. The question, then, was how far to go on Wednesday night so that I could get to Brattleboro, VT, or Keene, NH, at a reasonable time on Thursday (today). I decided to spend Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights in Syracuse, NY, because it's a city I'd like to know more about, because it was a reasonable drive from Parkersburg, and because I could do a drive out and back to see Marcia -- which is exactly what I did.

The alarm went off at 5:00 this morning. I promptly reset it for 5:30. The hotel, which has a number of "issues," wouldn't be serving breakfast until 7:00, and I needed to be on the road by 6:00, so I popped into the dining room to see if there was some fresh fruit to take with me. The employee who was just starting to think about setting up for breakfast, growled at me. I said that I knew that breakfast didn't start till 7:00, but I wondered whether there might be some fresh fruit. He growled again, this time with some words that sounded like, "I don't think you'll have any luck," even though he was standing right next to the fruit bowl with the bananas (quite ripe, granted) and apples (probably GMd). I took two bananas and one apple and headed out the door, after filling water bottles at the water cooler. I made a stop at a Service Plaza for a coffee for me at Starbucks and a piece of ham (86 cents) from Burger King for Remy whose food ran out yesterday, and a later stop for the bathroom after we got off the toll road. Total travel time from the hotel to the Chesterfield, NH, stop was about 4 hours and 15 minutes.

A rolling fog bank coming up from a valley. I thought surely there must be a river at the base of it, but when I passed through it appeared to be only a moist, deep valley.

Marcia and I had a little trouble (separately) finding the hiking site -- Madame Sherri Trailhead -- but after asking a couple of people for directions we arrived at a small, and very full, parking lot.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwje-OGFgIbOAhWFGT4KHccZCoIQFgg9MAk&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forestsociety.org%2Fproperty%2Fmadame-sherri-forest&usg=AFQjCNF_rvB3Vpj1pFdmfppzkd-cSzMAxQ&sig2=073WAY9qoXf6MCLdToj_Mw&bvm=bv.127521224,d.cWw

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwje-OGFgIbOAhWFGT4KHccZCoIQFghEMAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nephotographyguild.com%2F2014%2F03%2Fmystery-madame-sherris-castle-2%2F&usg=AFQjCNFiwkMzZFROdNFgXuyD4Y3_UJ22RQ&sig2=LgwYNKjAFoOWIc_I6aOS9w&bvm=bv.127521224,d.cWw

We took the first tangent to the right and observed the ruins of the castle in a cursory fashion, determining to return at the end of our hike and have lunch there, after the large group of children had passed by.

And on we went to climb and descend a rough trail -- easy enough to follow, but not groomed. Remy was a real trooper, jumping up rocks and roots and keeping up with us all the way. Marcia figures we hiked about 2 miles. It took quite a while, though, and we got pretty hot and sweaty. We saw some beautiful overlooks, even though we didn't go to the top of the mountain.

We returned to the parking lot for the delicious, homemade lunch that Marcia had brought so we wouldn't have to go out and took it up to the castle where we ate in comfort in the shade. After lunch, a photographer took pics of us in the arches with our phones. 

I took this one myself:

Marcia had looked into places to swim, but we opted for a trip into Brattleboro, instead. It's funny how much it reminded me of Stillwater, MN. We wandered in and out of some stores and checked out the very nice co-op. Our last stop on Main Street was a storefront with the sign: Strolling of the Heifers. We were intrigued. We went in. It's a good-sized space that includes a kitchen where homeless people are taught to cook, WiFi access for anyone, and some great T-shirts commemorating the Strolling of the Heifers which now takes place every June, and other Heifer-themed events. I got a T-shirt about a Heifer bike ride, which takes place the same weekend.

 http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/our-parade-and-weekend/

It was a little earlier than I had originally planned to head back, but since I had been a little sleepy on the way over, I thought it best to start the drive before I was already tired. We said good-bye to Marcia, with an agreement to keep in touch. If I do happen to decide to spend the fall and/or winter in the area, Marcia's nephew, Dylan (If you've been keeping up with the blog, you will recall Alice and me meeting up with him in LA), will be performing with Vaud and the Villains in Troy, NY, in September. We will drive from our mutual directions and meet up to see that -- if I am here.

The views throughout the drive both ways were pretty spectacular. This is the beginning of the sunset on the return trip.

Remy stayed put in my lap, snoozing, and hardly getting up at all. I like these changes in dog car behavior.

4 States Today

A very different mountain view than out west. This is south of Charleston, WV.

More curving roads, blue peaks, and white clouds. Lovely.

One of my favorite views going through Charleston -- the State Capitol with its gold dome.

I passed through four states today. I started in Parkersburg, WV, at my Chez Lawrence (home of my cousin, Alice, and her family). I arrived there yesterday just in time to hustle to car to pick up Daisy (daughter #1) from a dance class. Then we drove over to the mall where we met up with another family (dancers, singers and actors, all), ate some mall food (Actually, it wasn't too bad. I had a burrito without a wrap at Bohio.), and saw The BFG. I had to miss the very last couple of minutes because Remy needed to go out, but the rest of the gang filled me in, and it was pretty much as I expected.

Alice and Darrin and I stayed up fairly late (for me) talking, and that was lovely. It's so nice to just sit and the let the conversation wander with other educated, thoughtful adults.

I made a fairly early departure from Parkersburg, as I knew I had one of my longest drives ahead of me. The fastest route from Parkersburg to Syracuse, NY, was up to 90 and then following 90 all the way around to the east. But I decided to take a route that would take me through Ithaca. I just couldn't wait 3 more days to see Abby. She got out of work at 5. I reached the restaurant where we had agreed to meet at nearly 6.

I had to stop and wash off my purse that Remy had puked on after eating some goat cheese and potato chips that I spilled. And I had to stop for gas, which also means taking him for a walk. As I mentioned, this was the longest ride so far. It may be for that reason, or maybe he wasn't feeling well after the goat cheese, that he finally rested for over 5 minutes at a time on the pillow in the back seat, and actually curled up in his car seat for a bit. (See below.)

I am ensconced at a Knight's Inn sort of on the NE side of Syracuse. I chose this to give myself a reasonable trip today and not too much distance to cover tomorrow to meet my cousin, Marcia, in New Hampshire. I will have to be on the road by 6 a.m. to meet her by 10, but I think I can do it. We plan to hike, lunch, and swim tomorrow before I drive the 4 hours back to Syracuse. 

Since this is an area I would consider living in because of its proximity to Abby, I plan to spend some time looking around on Friday. I just found out that Colleen and Bill will be here for a few days, and I hope to be able to connect with them, as well, since Colleen grew up here and can fill me in on the area.

The WiFi at this hotel really sucks. Every time I start looking at something and want to go to a different page, it cuts out. I have to disconnect and reconnect. And the AC doesn't seem to work very well, either. I may change hotels tomorrow.

Catching up -- Tennessee

My riding companion, strapped into his car seat since Murfreesboro has a city ordinance against a dog having free access to the front seat.

I don't know what this flower is, but it was intriguing. Hanging below the blossom are long seed pods.

Yesterday included a visit to Starbucks (for me and Remy), a walk along the Stones River Greenway (from which the following pictures are taken), supper at Toot's -- a Murfreesboro landmark, but one that Rick had not yet been to. We both liked it a lot. -- and an amazing production of Next to Normal at the Murfreesboro Little Theatre.

A muddy backwater section of the Stones River.

Remy was very thirsty, so we walked out on these rocks to find some clean pools of water. This long-legged bird (heron?) was completely unafraid of us.

It moved further away when a pair of young me with a pair of large dogs came along ...

... but then returned to its preferred fishing spot.

Two notes from today's drive from Murfreesboro to Johnson City, TN: 

* An interviewer on NPR talking to an author: 

Interviewer: "Does it bother you to think that you won't be remembered as a writer?"

Writer: "Of course not. I'll be dead."

* As I  have headed east, and now north, a vague sense of anxiety pervades my travel that did not exist prior to Albuquerque. Maybe it's because I still don't know where I'm going to end up. On the other hand, it may be because I belong somewhere further west and/or north, and as I move away from that my body is telling me that something's not right. 

I have arrived at Chuck's cousin's, Nancy's, house in Johnson City, TN. She will be working (from home) today and tomorrow, but she is putting me up in this gorgeous apartment attached to the house. Her dachshunds aren't too crazy about having Remy, so I hope he'll be okay staying in the apartment if I want to be over in the house, talking with Nancy, or hanging out by the pool with her. 

From here, north ... I would love to go to Falling Water and swim in the river, but I'm not sure if I want to do it alone. I'll see how that plays out. My reservation in Ithaca is July 23-29, but I may go sooner. I miss Abby, and I want to have a look at Ithaca from a not-just-visiting standpoint. 

The sultry south

Murfreesboro reeks of porch-sitting, slow-moving, sultry Southern summer. Why would anyone want to move quickly when the humidity is so thick I feel as though I'm swimming through the air. Those of you reading from Michigan know what I'm talking about, but here it's pretty much 24/7. We got a brief respite last night when we sat with others at a concert in the Cannonsburgh Park. There was a light, cool breeze, and the night was perfect.

The concert followed a relaxed day during which I hung out at Rick's place while he shuttled grandchildren around and stayed with them at their house. After noon, I went to meet them, and we all went swimming at the neighborhood's saltwater pool. I have heard more and more people talking about salt water instead of chlorine and bromine, but I hadn't had the chance to try it. I far prefer it. The salt isn't heavy enough to come out coated with it, as one does when swimming in the ocean, but it keeps the pool clean, and it's much more pleasant than chemicals to me.

Rick and I each cooked our own dinner and sat down to eat it together, and then we went to the concert. Afterward, we walked around downtown Murfreesboro, which seemed to be teeming with people walking, standing on corners, milling around the doorways of bars, but the bars all looked empty. A conundrum. Most people, whether in couples or groups, seemed to be looking down into screens whose lights were reflected in an eerie glow in their faces. It was surmised that many were probably playing Pokemon Go. But I could hear some relating FB posts to one another as they stood or walked. Even on a romantic dinner date, people take their entire FB list of friends with them.

We stopped for ice cream at Mars Popcorn and Frozen Treats. It looked as though the place might be just getting started, as they had several lists of things that were "coming soon." I had a single scoop of lemon sorbet, and Rick had a Heath bar ice cream. We sat outside to eat them, and the heat and humidity made it difficult for him to finish his cone before it deconstructed in his hand. I had mine in a bowl, which was much easier to handle. I could always drink the remains.

Here are some photos of the place where I'm staying in Murfreesboro. It's a good-sized house, with a a separate apartment on one end, which houses one tenant. The rest of the house is shared between Rick, the owner of the house, Bob, and his friend, Tim. Bob sleeps in his enormous motor home and just comes in to use the bathroom, for the most part. This is an interesting place. Tim has completely made friends with Remy (I know some of you will find that hard to believe!) by feeding him meat and not being at all intimidated by him. In fact, tonight Rick and I are going to see a production of Next to Normal, and Remy will stay at the house with Tim!

A view going out the driveway to the street.

View from the driveway end of the house toward the far end where my room is.

The "back yard", filled with vehicles and equipment, but still extremely spacious.

Rick is someone who has spent a lot of his life looking for, and finding, "unique experiences." He has traveled for many years the way I have been for the past couple of months. His family is here in Murfreesboro, so he is here for a while, but then some other place will call to him, and off he'll go. It's nice to be around someone who gets what I'm doing and why.

Downtown Murfreesboro, last night. 

The visual's not much. I hope you'll be able to experience the audio. The night singers here are a huge and crazy chorus. 

Tomorrow, I'm off to see Nancy Peterson in Johnson City, TN, for a day or two. Then, I'll head north. I'd like to see Falling Water in Pennsylvania, and I've been told there is a river that is great for swimming. I hope it's near there. I'll probably camp for a few days in Pennsylvania. I'm due in Ithaca on the 23rd. 

Murfreesboro - getting here

I'm staying with my friend, Rick Overholt, in Murfreesboro, TN. I got into town yesterday afternoon, and it's as hot and muggy here as it was in Memphis. Fortunately, his place is air conditioned -- it's hard to imagine living, or at least sleeping, without it in this part of the country. He's at work today, and he doesn't have WiFi at his house, so I'm at Starbucks nearby, catching up on stuff.

One of the things I needed to catch up on was a review for my last Airbnb in Memphis. As "hands off" as my host was, and despite the fact that the bedroom door didn't latch and the kitchen was somewhat lacking in equipment, I gave him a stellar review. Then I got to see mine. The first thing he averred was that I had not told him about Remy. So I went back through our correspondence, and there it was in my introductory email, telling him about the dog and asking whether it was okay to bring him into Anthony's house. Then he said that I told him that I didn't tell other Airbnb hosts that I was bringing the dog. Also untrue. I email every host, even if there's an instant book lightning bolt next to the listing. Hotels are required to admit a service dog, but it seems only reasonable to me for an Airbnb host to be able to refuse a canine guest.

He said that Remy 'bit" him. Those of you who know Remy know that he will, indeed, snap or nip. My hosts in Las Vegas will tell you, though, that if you don't jump and pull away, he is absolutely not biting but warning. Anyway, when I apologized and explained to Anthony, he reassured me, so I didn't worry about it, knowing it was unlikely to happen again.

Remy did, indeed, poop on a small rug the morning we were leaving. I was horrified, but realized that he was having some sort of stomach issue or it wouldn't have happened. I immediately asked for the cleaning supplies and did a thorough job of cleaning the rug. Anthony was gone by then, or we could have discussed whether he would have preferred me to replace the rug -- something I would have been happy to do.

I'm trying to let go of this. I read all the other, stellar reviews from the other hosts I stayed with, and I hope other Airbnb hosts will, as well. I also replied to Anthony's review, and I sent him a message asking whether I could replace the rug. But I still feel that horrified feeling of having done something terribly wrong. Reason says this is not the case, but there's a very negative, very public review out there now, and I can't make it go away.

It makes me question Remy's presence in my life again. I struggle with this on an almost daily basis. Because of Remy, I can't go on to visit family in North and South Carolina without first taking him back to GR and paying to board him or finding him some kind soul who will watch him for 10 days. Because of Remy, I can't go deep into any National Parks. I have to warn everyone who meets him that he is "not very friendly." Some people are completely understanding. In fact, I've had quite a number who say, "I have a dog like that." Others are terribly disappointed and judgmental.

But when we adopt a pet, we adopt them with all of their past issues and personality quirks. Just like when we make a commitment to a human, spouse or child, we commit to "for better or worse." One thing that will make our lives a lot easier will be for me to have some sort of "home" for him where he can stay and know I'll return. I try to open to how this will be accomplished every day.

But back to the travelogue: I didn't eat lunch yesterday, and since Rick had suggested that I get some groceries before arriving at his house, I looked around Murfreesboro for an organic store. When I say I "looked," I mean that I forgot my policy about calling anything that comes up on Google and drove quite a few miles to discover that the two places that came up were no longer in business. And I ended up at -- I can't believe I'm saying this -- Walmart near Rick's house, buying mostly stuff that is not organic.

On the road into Murfreesboro, I saw this amusing sight. The mattress was strapped front and back, but apparently not quite tightly enough. It didn't look as though it was in danger of escaping, but most of the time sky was visible between it and the vehicle.

It was delightful to see Rick. We just hung out, ate (I had leftover pork roast and mashed potatoes made the night before by his roommate, Tim, and barbeque sauce created by his son, Neal), talked, and watched Castle and Major Crimes on TV. I went to bed fairly early, but I didn't go to sleep right away.

Rick is working today, so I'm on my own. I hope to explore Murfressboro a little. Rick recommended a hiking trail where Remy and I can have a walk. I also want to look for another pair of sandals, as I've been wearing the only pair I brought every day, and I'd like to give them an occasional break before I wear them out completely. 

The Metal Museum

I had a hard time getting motivated this morning. I slept in till after 8:30. Then I just hung around Anthony's house. After a bit, I decided not to kick myself for not getting up and going out right away. I decided not to try to do the zoo with Remy, because of the extra hassle of having to have someone accompany us through certain areas because of his dogness. The day was hot, although not quite as muggy as yesterday. I put on my bathing suit and alternated dips in the pool with sunning myself and reading the last of the three Mickey Spillane novels in the book I bought in LA. I cooked myself breakfast at Anthony's, also, rather than trying to find someplace acceptable in a city I really don't know.

That's the one thing I regret about my visit to Memphis, that I didn't have someone here to help me get to know the city. I was following Google Maps blindly, not knowing what parts of the city it was taking me to, not knowing whether there might be pet store or a shoe store nearby because I didn't know where I was, and not knowing how to find the essence of Memphis. (More on this later.)

Remy and I finally made it out to The Metal Museum, which overlooks the Mississippi. All of the photos I took today are from there.

The current exhibit is by artist Stephen Yusko. I hope you can read his statement above.

One of Yusko's pieces. I like the concept of home being perched precariously or hanging nearly upside down.

Another piece in Yusko's exhibit.

The pieces in this area were for sale, but out of my budget!

This daffodil looked like something I saw at ArtPrize. I've already forgotten the artist's name, though, so that's not a big help.

This piece is actually embedded in the ground. The plaque for it is below ...

... and Remy.

I really enjoyed the outdoor pieces.

A beautiful bench made of recycled materials ... and Remy.

A view of the Mississippi over a wrought iron fence. There were many pieces like this throughout the grounds.

Bridge over the Mississippi -- not part of the exhibit.

The indoor studio where some artists were at work. The Metal Museum has an artist-in-residence each year, as well as others who go there to work.

More of the equipment in the studio.

And more.

A piece on the counter in the studio. Wish I could have gotten a better angle that didn't have so much in the background.

Once again, I hope you can read the message from E.A. Chase about his drawings of gates and chandeliers. I didn't try to photograph the drawings themselves, but they were fantastic. He explained about the usual construction of something as large and intricate as a gate for a huge driveway into an estate, and how he changed the structure in order to put something lighter and more artistic in the center. 

Some pieces in the permanent collection.

The only place I wasn't permitted to take pictures was in the museum store. There, though, was much jewelry and smaller items, including some really cool earrings and necklaces that looked like spiral screen. The least expensive of those items was about $250. I did purchase a really cool pair of earrings, though. I think Daedal should look into selling his bottle openers here.

After we left the museum, rather than follow Google back to a set point, I drove south along the river. Unfortunately, the drive quickly moved away from the river, and I was in a not-very-pretty industrial area. I decided it was time for lunch/supper, so I Googled my way back to Whole Foods and got a mix of veggies and chicken wings for supper. Then, I wanted a healthy smoothie for dessert, but I didn't call first, and when I got to the shop it was permanently closed. So I decided a single scoop of ice cream would be okay, and I searched "scoop ice cream" because I didn't want soft serve.

I found my way to Scoops Ice Cream Parlor at 106 E G.E. Patterson, just east of S. Main and Patterson. There, Tyron Parker gave me quality service, and Terrance Callicutt talked to me about how they come up with ideas for flavors and give them to the local ice cream maker who supplies them. I had Tennessee Whiskey, which was similar to a Brandy Alexander. Quite delicious. Terrance asked me how I was enjoying my stay in Memphis, and I told him that I wished I had had a local to show me around. He told me, if I ever came back, I should seek him out, and he'd show me around. I may well take him up on it!

I got a little mending done when I got back to the house, and I have most of my stuff packed, although there's no hurry to get out of here in the morning. I hope I wake up in time to say good-bye to Anthony in the morning. Oh, and I finally met Matt, his roommate, this evening while I was sewing and watching TV in the living room. Nice men. Pretty hands off as far as the Airbnb, though.

Oh! Street names in Memphis: Democrat Boulevard and Republican Boulevard actually intersect at one point. My thought, "This may be the only place in the US that they come together!" BB King Boulevard. Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, which intersects at one point with Danny Thomas Boulevard. There's also McLemore, which reminds me of Macklemore when I say it. Here's a link that talks about origins of Memphis street names. http://memphis.about.com/od/transportation/a/namegame.htm  

The Black Lives Matter Memphis group has continued to protest since I was stuck on the bridge the other night. Today, they blocked the road outside of Graceland, trying to get to places where there are more people to pay attention. All protests have been peaceful.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Murfreesboro. The Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge is along the way. Maybe we'll stop and take a look. Rick, with whom I'll be staying in Murfreesboro, suggested that I stop at Walmart and get groceries to have during my stay. I may shop before I leave Memphis, if Walmart is my only choice. Doing some computer checking before bed.

Addendum

Sometimes I get so busy relating events that I forget to mention my musings about them.

Yesterday's visit to Graceland elicited some interesting emotions in me. I was almost 22 when Elvis died. His presence in my youth was concrete. And yet, his major popularity was with the generation preceding me. My parents didn't care about him, especially. They were (and still are) the generation of Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, and Tony Bennett (whom I also like, by the way). But as I walked through the rooms, listened to his music on the headphones, and thought about him, I missed him. I missed his generosity, as well as his music. Of course, the narrative at Graceland says nothing of his weight gain, unhealthy habits, and drug use. No mention is made of how he died, just the date when he did. And that is to be expected. Graceland is a shrine. But after almost 40 years, it doesn't really matter how he died or what his later years were like. Elvis's star still shines with the brightness of a man who was humble in the midst of stunning popularity, and who helped other people absolutely whenever he could. I'm really glad I went to Graceland.

7/10 driving notes:

I recommend today's On Being with Krista Tippit and guest, Elizabeth Gilbert, talking about curiosity (and other things).

The yield sign was first used on a trial basis in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

After listening to krista Tippit and Elizabeth Gilbert, I realize that I am curious about a number of things, in particular the history of non-Caucasians in this country. (I know the history of Europeans coming here, but not as much about the rest. "America is a melting pot ...") I have encountered many Hispanic people as i have traveled, and i am curious about when groups of them started to settle in this country. I also would like to know more about the numerous Native American tribes scattered throughout the country, how they were co-opted, and how they have managed the changes that Europeans brought to them, as well as how they currently manage their challenges and opportunities.

I like driving without a time goal in mind. It's easy to get out of other people's way, and not to take offense when people get in mine. I just slow down, smile, and let it go (cue music). Once in a while, I have to message someone and tell them that I'm running a little behind, but it always works out.

7/11
It would be fun to do a tattoo tour of the country, not parlors but people - When did you get your first tattoo? Why? Where? Do you have a favorite artist? Have you ever designed your own tattoo? How does that work? how many do you have now? How do you feel it defines you?

People drive significantly over the speed limit in Tennessee, for the most part, both on surface roads and on the highway.

****

I have gotten going yet, and it's 10:15. I did make breakfast at the Airbnb, even though these young bachelors have very little in the way of kitchen equipment. Better hop in the shower!

Memphis - full day 1, including Graceland

I purchased a 9:30 admission ticket for Graceland on line last night. I got up in plenty of time, but the process of finding a decent place to eat breakfast and then get waited on in a timely manner meant that it was going to be difficult to be there by 9:30, so I called. Apparently, one can show up any time after the time on the ticket, so I was okay.

The food was really good at the place I ate, but the waiter was very slow and inattentive, at least to me. I left him an extensive note, along with my 10% tip, explaining why the tip was so small. Then Remy and I were off to Graceland.

Parking is across the street from the "mansion" and grounds. (I put "mansion" in quotes because it's so small. I thought everything would be bigger. But I'm sure it was huge for its time. Elvis died in 1977, only four years after I graduated from high school. He seems a bigger part of my life than that. Interesting.

Living room. One of three pianos is seen in the background.

A very youthful picture of Elvis, with the crowd reflected in the mirror.

A closed-circuit TV setup on the kitchen counter.

The "back" stairs are very narrow.

Mirrored stairway to the basement. Psychedelic.

I really loved this room, the pool room. The walls and ceiling are covered with cloth in little rolls.

Another view of the pool room.

Back upstairs, just off the kitchen, the "jungle" room, with appropriate decor and green shag carpet on floor and ceiling.

Waterfall wall in the jungle room.

Part of the grounds.

More of the grounds.

This little room is connected to the office. The plaque on the wall says: "This building was part of Graceland Farm well before Elvis owned Graceland. It was possibly used as a pump house at one time, but later used by Vernon (Elvis's father) as a smokehouse to cure meat. Elvis also decided that it would make a good firing range and that's what it was for a short period of time. Other than that, it was used as a storage area by Elvis and his family."

Four record covers that I liked.

The hall of gold and platinum records and other awards.

More awards and costumes in the racquetball court

The crowd is looking at the graves of Elvis, his parents, and his grandfather, if I remember correctly. It wasn't important to me to stand over their graves, but I wanted to show the beautiful Meditation Garden.

The swimming pool is also very small.

Another tourist was kind enough to take this picture of Remy and me in front of the mansion. 

The tour is self-guided, Each person is given an iPad and headphones, and as one moves from room to room she can swipe the screen and get the narration for the appropriate room. John Stamos narrates, with tidbits from Lisa Marie, and from Elvis himself. It was very well done, I thought.

The shuttle took us back to the other side of the street, and I bought a few mementos. By this time, the humidity was staggering, so Remy and I got into the car and cranked the AC, and off we went to Whole Foods for a few groceries and some lunch.

Then, Google maps steered me all over town as I purchased some black thread, and diatomaceous earth as a precaution against fleas and ticks for Remy, as well as a couple of things I didn't intend to get and probably didn't really need. For one thing, I should have checked with my Airbnb host before I bought plantains (since there weren't any green bananas) and eggs to make banana pancakes for breakfast. He doesn't have a blender or a mixer.

After my afternoon driving around Memphis, Remy and I returned to Anthony's house, and I thought about going swimming in his above ground pool. By the time I had fed and walked Remy and spent some time on the computer, though, it was getting to be dusk, and the mosquitoes were out in force. Maybe tomorrow.

I spent a little time chatting with Anthony this evening. That's what I like best about Airbnb, generally. There's someone to talk to besides hotel staff, who don't really have the time or inclination.

I've been looking at my time after Murfreesboro. I plan to leave there on the 17th, and I have an Airbnb reserved in Ithaca on the 23rd (through the 29th), so the time in between is kind of up for grabs. I'd really like to visit Falling Water in Pennsylvania, and Cape Cod is kind of calling to me, but it's expensive. Camping is a challenge, because RV sites are quite a bit more expensive than tent sites, but most tent sites don't have electricity, and I need that for my CPAP. Open to suggestions. Guess I'll have to post this on FB, because most of you -- whoever is actually reading this -- don't respond here.

Oh, for those of you who share my abhorrence with most modern word usage, the following two photos:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this should read: The Presleys' Wedding, unless they're only talking about one Presley, in which case they might have said, "Elvis's Wedding," or "Priscilla's Wedding."

On the counter in the little restaurant inside Whole Foods.