The last time I was in California, was a little under two years ago, when Venice and I took 20 days to drive cross country. Once we got to Cali, Venice remained to attend school to get her doctorate in psychology, and I returned to my beloved Atlantic.
The trip was life changing. Venice and I have always been as close as siblings can be, and we've shared the same groups of friends since we graduated High School, but that trip brought us ever more the closer. It's not something that words can do justice for. It was an experience that we shared fully together. It was a cornucopia of explorations, adventures, people and emotions.
The true beauty was in the little moments. Like critiquing rest stops across middle America, or bellowing out Rolling Stones tunes first thing in the morning. One thing that we were absolutely tickled by, was the varying accents we encountered as we made our way across the country via Interstate 80 and 90 (among others). Minnesota alone had enough to supply the whole country!
Then, over in South Dakota, we saw the remnants of the Sturgis Motocycle rally from the week before, en route to Deadwood. Deadwood was a trip man. First, we saw a reenactment of the old-west gun fight that took Wild Bill Hitchcoc's life. Cheesy? yes. Fun? Absolutely. Then we met "Rooster," an old recording artist in Deadwood, South Dakota, when we were looking for some live music. We wound up hanging out with him one on one all night, and he played us a pretty much private show. One of the first tracks he played on in the studio was for none other than Steve Earle (who everyone knows is a personal idol of mine). Even recounting some of the many tales now doesn't do them justice. It's quite simply my hope that we get some good stories this time around as well, and can all just enjoy each other's company.
Fortunately enough for Venice and I, we get along with each other's significant other. This goes a LONG way, let me tell you. And if I have my way, the four of us will continue to travel places together, because we share common interests, and seem to move at the same pace in life. Not to be totally cheesy, but I think we've had a nice dynamic so far, and some really interesting (and at times hilarious) experiences. I anticipate that this trip will be no different. For example, it's only Johnny's second time on an airplane. The security line promises to be a scene ("do I have to take my pants off to walk through this thing?!"), and the personal touch screens with Virgin America will surely spoil him right out the gate!
So, the journey begins, and I will be sure to document it. I can't wait to see the little communist ("Veni-che"), as living on the opposite coast from her can wear on me at times. Its shaping up to be an epic trip, so finger crossed, we'll take the West by storm again. Much love to you all.
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