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vacation 1 (may 1)I have made it over the hump. This doesn't guarantee smooth sailing for the rest of the trip but I consider it a success that I've made it this far. I'm on NJ Transit, just past Linden, heading for Philadelphia to meet Jane at 30th Street Station. I got through last week and through the 2 days I had to go to work this week.
Last night I sat about moping and sighing at my tragic lack of motivation. Finally I got a bolt of energy around 10:30 while watching A Cook's Tour. If Tony Bourdain can make it through a multi course food orgy at French Laundry, by God I can pack a bag.
Somehow it all fell together after that. I methodically went through each of the shopping bags still lined up in the otherwise empty living room, bags I'd haphazardly chucked belongings into when moving. I found several things I needed (stamps, an envelope, the new landlord's address) and a few things I was just happy to see. I packed up Ryan's computer bag with the camcorder he lent me, my laptop, and other assorted gadgetry. I never got around to doing laundry so I just packed up my favorite clothes as is. Go ahead and judge me, all my underwear was clean and besides, it 's more hardcore this way. And also, there's laundry at the hotel.
(Just stopped in Metuchen. I grew up in NJ, lived in New Brunswick for a few years, and still I never ever get tired of thinking "Stop Metuchen me!")
Another thing I never got around to doing was making some road trip CDs so I just packed all my CDs. I did remember to bring all my convertible-worthy scarves though. Oh, while I was searching through my shopping bags I found the cable for my wee spy camera, so on top of all my packing I also managed to set up the drivers and whatnot for that. So expect lots of subway spy cam action when I get back.
I had to get up early the next morning in order to drop the cat off at the boarders/vet (he has ringworm so he needs more care in my absence than I could reasonably ask my friends to give him) then go to my own doc since (ick) I have ringworm too. As evidenced by my being on the train to Philadelphia while writing this, I got everything done. I even had time to slow down and meander through Barnes & Noble after the doc appt (which I was even on time for!). I bought 2 magazines and the paperback edition of David Rakoff's Fraud. Dead good, I was already laughing out loud by page 2. So here we are, just 2 stops from Trenton where I switch to Septa to finish the first leg of this much needed vacation. More later.
3:15 Septa
The train from Trenton to Philadelphia is, if not crowded, fairly full. Where are all these people going in the middle
of the day, in the middle of the week?
Now that I'm removed from the familiarity of NJ Transit, I'm starting to appreciate this trip. It's been said before, and better, for all the attitudes and experiences that tie us together as Americans, there are as many variations holding us apart. That's not always a bad thing either. I can travel from region to region, state to state and within NYC even from borough to borough and encounter something new: a turn of phrase, a type of food, a way of doing things.
This trip, A Yankee's First Journey South, will be full of new things. Bring it on.
~7pm Woodbridge, VA
We have reached the south. I know this because we stopped at a restaurant called Dixie Bones
for dinner and peeing. Southern accents, sweet tea and BBQ and we've barely left DC. Woo.
Posted by beth at May 14, 2002 12:56 PM
