I’m awake.  I always want to be awake.  This last week I had been bestowed with a lifetime of beautiful experiences.  Never have I lived so intensely, and I’m certain I shall once again.  The Coachella music festival induced a child like wonder into my every being and moment.  It wasn’t just that I witnessed many of the most talented performers and artist in their prime, nor was it that every new person I met shared their potent and unique love with me.  It was as if the very air surrounding me emanated with a  life force that commanded “love this fiercely”.  So I did.

I’m surprised and delighted by the vast contrast of the effect that six months of traveling alone had on me compared to six days of exquisite play.  I’ve been a loner most of my life, and this has allowed me to become intimate with myself.  But I’ve downplayed the importance of interaction, and how life is a much more wondrous place with all of us in it together.  I suppose what I’ve taken out of my journey so far, as I can only assume and hope my perspective constantly changes, is that however elusive or ephemeral beautiful interactions are, I will never stop thirsting for more.  Let us thirst together.

I must thank each and every person who took the time to be my friend while on the road.  Many of them I’m sure I’ll continue to connect with throughout our lives.  My friends and family were incredibly supportive of my travels and expressed much excitement that helped me to journey onward.  I’ve always have felt so very fortunate in many regards; Family, wealth and security.  But now I can add adventure and a rush unparalleled.  I’m ready for what is next.

This is me at Coachella

I’m sitting in my mom’s kitchen.  I had my first full day back in Boise yesterday, It was lovely.  I’m very pleased I was able to attend the play my sister has been working on directing for the past several months last night, it was very very good.  So proud of her.  I’ve been in a dream state ever since I got back. This is due to how perfect the last six months have been, this week especially.  

I’m about to leave with an old and many new friends to Las Vegas and then Indio, California to attend the Coachella music festival!  Upon returning my travels will be at an end for the time being, and i’ll maybe have time to write a conclusion to this blog.

I’m not sure i’m prepared for how much fun i’m about to have. 

I’m writing this as I prepare for my last night on the road.  I left Denver this afternoon and drove through the beautiful Rocky mountains.  I can’t tell you how good it was to see real mountains again.  The weather changed every fifteen minutes or so, from sunny, to rainy, to snowing and back again. This in a way mirrored my oscillating moods as my journey comes to a close. 

Denver was such a delight; I was blessed with a place to sleep and the excellent company of friends Andrea and Lauren.  We mostly just cooked food, did walking tours of Denver and stayed up late sharing past experiences.   I met up with another friend Robby one night and managed to finally get up to date with him. I’m looking forward to his wedding in May in Boise.

In a way tomorrow won’t be a true home coming, as I’ll be heading out again for several days to see the Coachella music festival in southern California, but I look forward to resting up in my only true home. 

Once again I’m heading west.  I plan on making it to Denver this evening, where I’ll get to visit a few old friends that I have yet to see in their Denver environment.  I’ve become quite accustomed to long drives by myself, and find it strangely soothing.  I have just about one week left before I’m home, which seems so very short in contrast to the previous six months.  

Been hanging with my mom Renee and her boyfriend Brett here in Chicago the last few days.  It’s been wonderful to be in such lovely company and to have the comforts of a hotel room.  Everyday we’ve eaten out with Brett’s family who are just dandy!  But I have to say, being a passenger again after so long of being the pilot creates yearnings for freedom.  I truly look forward to my last week of traveling and then beautiful Boise once again.

Tonight it so happens that one of my favorite aggressive music ensembles, Converge,  will be performing in Chicago tonight! So I’ve cut lose from the family pack to do my own thing this evening, YES!!!

From the industrial mayhem of New Jersey, which is where the last tendrils of the metropolis that is New York City reach out to, I made my way into Pennsylvania.  The Appalachians looked almost identical five hundred miles south, thick trees covering more like over glorified hills in comparison to the more familiar Rocky Mountains.  The trees themselves were just starting to bud, so the color grey dominated still.  It, as with most things that I’ve experienced, has been strangely different than I had expected. Specifically, I didn’t think there would be vast copses of evergreen trees in Florida and Georgia, while non north.

Eventually the mountains end and flat farmland begins.  Ohio was formulaic. With farm house by road, field either grey, tan, or green behind, surrounded by a thin border of tall trees.   As I entered Indiana, the smooth surface of the Earth began to roll, same farmland but with more inventive layouts. As the sun was setting this evening, it illuminated the fresh green growth and gave me the impression it was electric.

My Mother and I shall be reunited tomorrow in Chicago, who is flying out on an unrelated trip.  It’s a pleasant turn of events and if shall be wonderful to have yet another part of my home brought to me on my long journey afar.  

New York City- The Book of Mormon 

I stood in a line for five hours yesterday to buy tickets to the Book of Mormon broadway musical.  The tickets were only $27 dollars instead of $150-$450. I earned my ticket.  The musical was brilliant!  I haven’t laughed so much in a long time, really a perfect way to spend my last day in NYC.  Irreverent is a perfect word to describe it.  In a world of many opinions, a play that holds nothing sacred allows everyone to enjoy it equally. 

New York has treated me well, yet I very much look forward to a region far less crowded, the Pacific Northwest!

I amaze myself sometimes.  Even in this city of endless possible adventuring, I find I have retreated and become reserved.  As I have many friends here, I’m forced less to interact with new people.  This “playing it safe” attitude disappoints me.  I expected a more reckless, free and manic side of me to come out, and this subdued and cautious one might just be a sign that it is time to head home.  

I went to many shows this past week and seen some incredible music.  Once again I’ve been moved by incredible works of art that should only be viewed in person, as simple photographs fail to capture them.  The last leg of my journey starts tomorrow, as I head home across the United States.