Some of the fun of wandering is listening to those around you, or better yet meeting those around you. I have been suffering from clogged Eustachian tubes all week, so can’t hear very well. It’s interesting when this happens that I can hear some things acutely, but not others. In an effort to eat healthy but cheap while on the road I stopped at Denny’s for a fit slam, $7, and just right for someone traveling in a car on a rainy day.
The waitress speaks softly, so I can only catch half her words, but the table behind me is right at the perfect pitch. As far as I can tell they work in a high tech science lab. Like an average day American worker they gripe about their job, but then moved on to social experiments. The female told about a time she wore squeaky shoes to work and would walk up to the door of a lab, hesitate, then turn around and go back to her office. She would repeat this pattern a handful of times and eventually someone from that lab would come to see if everything was alright. This reminds me of a time when Jenny and I would just laugh at the dispatcher, for no reason, we would make eye contact with each other and then giggle. It started because he walked in on us laughing about something slightly untoward, it stuck because he was so self-conscious about it. Eventually he started acting differently in order to get us not to laugh. Jenny and I use to go to Denny’s to study, when we first moved in to the Lakewood apartment. Those were some good times. I recall the time we got pulled over for being white girls in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood, well known for drugs. Jenny also looks like she’s 12, so that doesn’t help anything. White females get profile too, no doubt. Ironically we were the token white girls in a Hispanic complex, but it worked for us.
Back to modern times, there appears to be a gentleman in this restaurant who survived a lightning strike recently. The waitress mentioned it, asking if I overheard that conversation. Unfortunately due to the ears I did not. It is possible it was also on the tv, not a patron. I suppose I’ll never know unless I poll the patrons, but I don’t think my ears are up to that today. I do halfway wonder if it is one of the two gentlemen who appear to be on their third breakfast course a couple of tables away.
It’s funny that the female mentioned social experiments, I’ve thought about doing some of that while wandering. I’ve also considered the fact that my journey is in itself a social experiment. The reactions of other people are fascinating. I found myself telling a stranger, Erin, about my journey yesterday in a coffee shop. She loves her life, being a stay at home mom, but was fascinated by my journey. Her initial reaction was to envy me, but then I explained about it being a journey to find my bliss, to move away from the old me, to the happy me. That is when she told me about being a mom and how happy that makes her. That is her bliss. It was an awesome conversation, hearing someone else speak of their bliss. It I also what people would consider “normal”. We are all just ordinary in the end, aren’t we?
But the day doesn’t end there, that was just the first hour. I left Jester Park and started the three hour trip to the Kansas City Area. On my way I stopped off in the pouring rain to visit the Bridges of Madison County in Iowa. I truly only visited one bridge, but maybe at some point I will get back and visit the others. Honestly, bridges are boring. It was beautiful, but slightly boring. I did get some awesome rain photos.
As I neared the Iowa-Missouri border I saw a sign for Iowa tourist information at the last rest stop. Exit 4. Apparently at this rest stop you can use a pay phone, bathrooms, buy a painting, find out about Iowa, and go for a hike in Slip Bluff Park. I took a break here and meditated overlooking the water. It was quite peaceful. While I was meditating the sun came out and provided some beautiful light while traveling to my final destination.
I must say, I am quite proud that I got this tent up. It was extremely windy out by this point. I chose to not read the instructions and tried setting the tent up, turns out you should anchor the tent before trying to attach the poles. The whole tent went flying up over my head and landed back on me. Good times! I wish someone had been here to see it. There is something about this wandering journey that is just so exciting. The lovely couple who monitor the campgrounds live here from April 1st to October 31st. They are very kind. Weather appears to be rolling in, just some thunderstorms however. They made sure I knew where to find them if I needed them. I was able to take some time and read in the setting sun, and even pump my bike tires up and ride around a little bit.
There is no wi-fi out here, but my phone is brilliant enough to have a hot spot. Each campsite has electric also, so I was able to plug in. As I camp I will keep taking the time to post, but this is also the time for me to turn off the electronics and the 4g and give it a break.
Tomorrow will be a full day connecting with my TR team for a service project. Things are going so quickly, but still so slow. You should know, that I am very happy spending time with myself. It is very quiet in my head these days. This is the goal, to be okay with just being. A word of caution to all wanderers, there is a honeymoon period in your wandering. This is my honeymoon period. I know there is more work ahead of me, but thus far, I am learning and remembering.
Signing off from Jackson County Parks, Lee’s Summit, Missouri