East Coast reflections
Alright… the trip was a blast. Grand tally shows we hit (in order): Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and then back home. Major points we visited: Williamstown, Mass., Boston, Liberty State Park in Jersey City, Philadelphia, Washington, and Wheeling, W. Va.
We walked through the Freedom Trail in Boston, which was actually quite exciting. I want to go back and walk it again two more times, framing each in two different minds: that of religious activity and that of political activity. It was really exciting to see the birthplace of so many American religious movements and see the inherent connection they have with the American dream and political life — a connection so very different than what is shown in contemporary political circles, and one eschewed by modern liberal politicos.
Ate some great food in Boston. Saturday night we hit up a liquor store and had a great evening. We ended up sitting outside until about 3 a.m. having deep conversation. It was great!
Sunday we drove down the coast, stopping for a while in Jersey and Philly. As always, loved loved LOVED Philly. (Got cheesesteaks. Yum!) Got into D.C. and our hotel about 1 a.m. We were getting a little punchy by this point, so it was good to get a solid night’s sleep.
Monday we toured the Capitol building with Rob, which was fun but the tour is all visitor stuff. You don’t get to see the government at work. Not unexpected, but still a little disappointing. Then started the great drive back… stopped in Wheeling, West Virginia. Let me tell you: I need to give West Virginia a little more of a chance in the future. It’s some pretty country, and the people are quite nice. Finally got back to my apartment at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning — as the sun was coming up — and promptly lost the last two days to recuperation.
The three of us played any number of fun car games, like who we’d like to have dinner with and what historical period we’d most like to visit. Chris and Bryan would have their mid-expressway playful fistfights, which was always exciting to watch the expressions of passing drivers — or freak out that my seats were going to break. It’s always fun to watch the Odd Couple.
Bryan and I were talking quite a bit on the way back about life after college, which prompted me to really reflect on the past year. Some days I feel like I’m barely treading water, violently missing the community around me. Other days I feel complete euphoria like I can make it anywhere by myself. Most days I realize I’m really in the middle of those two extreme, as is best one can expect and really what I’ve found to be routine life for most people.
Of course, once again, traveling has made me even more bitter toward Milwaukee. I came back to recognize everything that doesn’t excite me, doesn’t thrill me, doesn’t draw me to this place. It’s good to be going to Minnesota this next weekend, I think, if not for the purpose of getting me back to my normal tolerance of Milwaukee.
Great trip, great people, great experience.