so we left ridgeville, sc a little behind schedule. we also didn't prepare to drive through the only snow storm in the country. it being only fitting after so many days in the glorious sun and of course, it wasn't even snowing back home. we had wanted to stop and hike somewhere, but our progress was slowed by the inclimate weather. i had just offered to drive and shortly after, driving through the mountains, the road becomes covered in snow. i will allow this blog some integrity and share with you that this is the part of the story where i become plagued with anxiety, totally puss out and ask eric to drive.
i am not sure what happened, but all i can say is that there were so many other times through out this trip, i was impressed with myself. this was not one of them. we stopped at a gas station to pee and eric got coffee. we finally had some snow footage for the dance. still wanting to keep the dance video until it is finalized, i can share a prep so you can get an idea of the snow and how cold it was for a southern traveler.
as we go to leave, now with eric behind the wheel, the car gets stuck in the snow. tires spinning, no traction, no exit, no departure. uuuuuugh. i must say the concept is much more bearable when you have someone else with you to contemplate solutions. just as i described my last experience having my vehicle stuck (my idea of a psychotic toothless wonder that was living in the woods) the virginia version walks up to the car and mumbles something and begins to push our car. what i think was his daughter, joined him without a word and began to push our car out of the snow. this man might have had four teeth in his head and at one point the girl fell down face first in the snow. however, these random hillbillies freed us. i hope i continue to see the kindness in people in hopes of curbing my baseless fear. we are finally on the road again. we eventually make it to charleston, wv to the home of troy and kristin, their son, colin and doggies. they were so welcoming, they had made a delicious vegan soup just for me. it made the long day of sketchy driving fade away...
an early morning start the following day allowed us to have a 'family' breakfast before all ventured off on their mondays. eric having to be back for work at noon, it was nice to be up early for a change. back to the bus, back to the tasks at hand. it really was an amazing trip. returning to life as i knew it was bittersweet. the road is certainly a place to get lost...and found.
that all feels like a distant memory as i have been consumed with ideas of africa planning and packing up my apartment. it remains true, moving really is one of the worst things to experience. i would love to interview professionals. how does someone do this for a living? it is the pits....for the birds! we have had so many events and social commitments, eric had six different jobs this week. it has just been non stop. music in the round was a smashing success. i don't know the final count off hand, but we raised a lot of money for the orphanage. please see click this link, it is incredible. i don't have one love. i have all love for these four musicians and everyone in the room that night. i feel so lucky to be a part of this.
i don't feel nearly as prepared for africa as i thought i would be. i also thought i could focus and pack up my place with time to spare. with that spare time, i would do all the things that would allow me to feel equipped for a trip of this magnitude. however, it just isn't so. and maybe, it is how it is meant to be? because really, what would i be doing with that time? freaking out about things that i cannot control. africa is going to happen. my place will be packed up and cleaned. things get done, they always do.
perhaps i just want to do anything but pack my house, but i have really enjoyed hanging out with various peeps as of late. i have realized that i was never in the moment before. bogged down by the rat race, the stress of day to day life and the monotony that comes with it. i feel so much more at ease now. instead of thinking of all the things i need to do later, i can simply enjoy people. share stories, have a laugh. i like this. i am still giving myself constant pep talks. mantras of 'you will be ok' are common. this is also part of my journey. i hope to really work on this...worrying less, embracing more.
i have also realized that i have something else to add to my to do list for this year: write a screen play. i have no idea how one does this or what i will ever do with it, but that is ok. even if i never answer those questions, that is also ok. i want to and therefore i will. i remembered how much i enjoy films. i have a constant monologue, an active script during my every moment. i should see if i can capture it? catch me if you can.
currently, i am balancing the schedule of the various medications i must take: malaria and typhoid and who knows. my house is nearly empty and change is visual. i have taken some things, mostly of comfort, to eric's house. this is it. here we go...
officially out of the house my wednesday. townes van zandt tribute night on friday. depart for nairobi on saturday. hakuna matata. well...i am working on it.
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