Thumbs Out
A girlfriend of mine once defended me to her father by saying, calmly, “Not every one who wanders is lost.” The dad kicked me out of the house anyway. But the damage had been done. Not everyone who wanders is lost. Of course I had to see her again. That was during the summer after my second year in college, and when I decided to leave school the following winter, I had but one destination in mind. Except that I was heading to Kansas City, where I figured jobs were easier to come by, instead of Wichita, 200 miles to the south, where she was living and asking me to go.
The following is the story about how I went from Kansas City to Wichita. The why is obvious. She was like sunshine. And so I went to her. It was my first but not last time hitchhiking. I've since hitchhiked from Boston to Georgia. From Philadelphia to Miami, Kansas City to Chicago, Mexico to Vegas, LA to Mexico and Miami to New Orleans. I've hitchhiked for dances, girls, nostalgia and fun. But those reasons only matter at night when it's just me and the moon and a constant shiver warming my body. During the day while I’m walking and hitching I feel many more ways. Hitchhiking does that. It makes you vulnerable.
It is beautiful too. On my way from Kansas City to Wichita a pick-up truck stopped by my side. The two guys in it explained they were heading in the other direction but thought I could use some money. I thanked them so genuinely, I think, that they were inclined to decline. ``Don't thank us,'' the driver said, as he pointed heaven-ward. Fortunately, I had enough gratitude to share all around.
But perhaps that episode needs an introduction for it to punch. I had dropped out of school to move to Kansas City, as I said, to be closer to a girl I liked. When Amtrak dropped me off in Kansas City at dawn I walked without direction until I say a rock station’s billboard quoting Mick Jagger: ``I know it's just rock 'n roll but I like it.'' Nothing had ever made more sense to me. Of course. Life was a thing to be lived — no justification required — so I walked onto Interstate 35 heading south. If I was going be close to her I was going be close to her.
No one makes wise choices all the time, but those who follow their own aspirations make a person feel more alive. In fact, the people who go out and follow their dreams are explorers or achievers, but the vision of their dreams can become fatal. The reason for this is because they are following their dreams. Chris McCandless was a hitchhiker who went out into Alaska to get away from society and follow his “‘great Alaskan odyssey. (Krakauer 45)’”
Common curtesy has us saying “Thanks” to the point that we may have lost the intentions associated with the response. W.S. Merwin sums up this anomaly in his poem “Thanks”, saying “with nobody listening we are saying thank you” (Merwin 29). We say thanks for so many meaningless things that it no longer carry’s the true intent of the speaker. Instead it is a response to acknowledge the receiver rather than giving true thanks. This repetition allows for questions regarding what are we truly thankful for, and how we make this known to the receiver.
I had just gotten off a plane to visit my grandmother in Florida and an elderly woman had been a passenger on the same plane. In this specific airport, there are small subway trains that take the passengers to the baggage area. All seats had been filled by the time this woman made it to the subway train. She looked around and found that no seats were available, but a young man behind her stood up and offered his seat to her. She gave the young man a big smile and thanked him for such a nice act of kindness. The fact that he was willing to stand so this woman could sit down was very polite and not only made the woman happy, but I had a smile on my face,
Growing up as an only child I made out pretty well. You almost can’t help but be spoiled by your parents in some way. And I must admit that I enjoyed it; my own room, T.V., computer, stereo, all the material possessions that I had. But there was one event in my life that would change the way that I looked at these things and realized that you can’t take these things for granted and that’s not what life is about.
The bus ride felt like eternity, but I did not mind since I made so many new friends at this camp. I sat next to Bridget, a girl I met from Florida, and we talked
even if it meant going somewhere that I had always hated going before. When I
On the Monday October 27th, 2014, for the first time in 4 years I did not wake up at 5:30 in the morning, I was not putting on a green skivvy shirt and shorts. There was no formation, no one that was higher command I had to report to, telling me where I had to go, what time I had to eat breakfast, what was I doing this day or what our platoon plans were for the day. There were no PT (physical training) I had to do this morning. Instead, I woke up grab a regular t-shirt, khaki shorts, and my two sea bags full of clothing and gear that I collected during my time in the Marine Corps. I threw everything in my vehicle and drove from Camp Pendleton, California to Quincy, Illinois. Within two weeks I was accepted to Southern Illinois University Carbondale. For three days, I stayed at the
Nothing could be worst than your dad bringing up "THE CONVERSATION." Starting at age 5 I loved playing soccer,running up and down the field, making moves and kicking balls to the back of the net was always the way to go. Soccer meant the world to me and especially playing with my best friends since the day I started. My days would go something like this, go to school,get home,do homework then get ready and go to a beautiful fun day at soccer!After soccer I would go home sit on the couch and eat.I was a lazy one. That's why I hoped my dad would never ever bring up this conversation.... But he did anyways.
After Scripture, it was time to go home. I took the Muni home with two girls who had gone to St. Stephen with me. The Muni smelled really bad and but all I could think about was getting off at the right stop.
My trip to El Paso, Texas was an adventure full of excitement and new experiences. My father and I made the trip there to pick up my brother and move his stuff home. This was my first time ever going to Texas and I was excited to go on this road trip with my father, john, plus I haven’t seen my brother in a year. There are many reasons why I will always remember this trip and some moments where I was scared for my life.
What does it really mean to be generous? This paper will examine the poem In Praise of Generosity (as cited in Davis, 2009, pp. 30-31). The paper will include a summary of the poem and a personal reflection of my thoughts.
That smile you’re wearing says, ‘you know not where you’re going, but you trust that the road will take you there’.
I believe in finding a home. When I traveled to New York for the first time, I realized I was taking a plane ride to the one place that would change my life forever. New York was the most extraordinary place I’d ever witnessed, tourists were everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Believe it or not, all of those people had stories of their own to share with the world.
... (2001) showed that grateful individuals were especially appreciative of the contribution of others to their happiness. Expressing gratitude and reviewing three good things highlighted this, and reminded me to show my loved ones my gratitude.
Robert Frost, one of America's greatest poets, in his poem The Road Not Taken, said: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.” I read the poem in my childhood, and ever since it has become as it were, a part of me. I have over the years asked myself whether I ever thought of taking the road less travelled.