2,200 Miles, Roundtrip, One Weekend, One Flight, One Car

As the title may suggest, I’m still recovering from my latest adventure.  In rather calculated impulsivity (if there is such), I booked a flight last Thursday for a Saturday flight to Orlando, FL, and then drove home.  There was a severe wind advisory at liftoff in DFW and for the record, liftoff made an impression on all those aboard, including myself.  Touchdown in sunny Orlando increased the temperature about 40 degrees and decreased wind shear to windless.  That trip took about 2.5 hours; the comeback trip tipped north of 13 hours of continuous driving on a Sunday after making small inroads the night before.

In reflection, I still blame THIS ARTICLE for making me stir crazy – maybe next year I’ll look back and say thank you.  Maybe in time I’ll come to realize perfect timing is the way of unicorns and the end of rainbows.  My impromptu trip was largely driven by an attempt to prepare for and better control a future I largely cannot.  While I was driving back, I realized I’m pretty good at these long solo treks and that I don’t want to get too good.  School folks as a subset of everything else are battling current conditions like everyone else.  This latest round of pandemic is pushing new buttons and new boundaries.  Both my boys have missed school this month due to testing positive and their ability to not fall behind in their studies is largely dependent on their own resilience.  In conversations with our superintendent as recently as today his goal is to keep schools open unless we are completely unable, and I completely agree.  He’s even gone so far as to campaign connections matter this year in efforts to unify and reunite.  While self-isolation is a recommended pandemic response, it’s not too different from social isolation.  And I suspect there is a laundry list of unintended consequences that have occurred over the last two years.   

So on my drive back I spent a lot of time reflecting.  I didn’t have satellite radio set up, so I was using the FM seek button often as I crossed 5 states.  I decided along the way I was going to buy Adele’s latest CD, which arrived today by the way.  When I teased my wife that I would maybe let her borrow it she laughed it off while pointing out we have Apple Music.  When I stopped at an Auto Zone just outside of Jackson, MS, for new windshield wipers the kid that helped me was chatty and knowledgeable and since it was just me and him in the entire store, I slowed down the conversation and asked him about his next steps.  He shared with me he graduated from high school last May but had to delay college plans for now given his situation.  Based on my research, he’s certainly not alone in that decision.  But he was hopeful and helpful and I was encouraged by our chance encounter.  I met another character in Rayville, LA, at a gas station/casino/bait shop when I had to fill up.  My wife would suggest these are my peeps and any place that offers live bait alongside burritos and beef franks must be legit.  There’s also a pizza place in Rayville I took my son to once on our frequent escapades, probably in large part due to fond memories I was attempting to share – Johnny’s Pizza House – you have to try the SWEEP THE SWAMP.  Lifted straight from the menu description:  “Hankering for some Cajun spice? It’s got that too.  How about a taste of crab or shrimp?  You read our minds!  All of that and some jalapeños, onions, and delicious mozzarella cheese and you’ve got yourself a crowd favorite.”  My final stop along the way was a do-it-yourself carwash in MacTown before arriving home.

2,200 Miles, Roundtrip, One Weekend, One Flight, One Car (and one lifetime to make a difference).  I’ve never been more proud of the work public educators do – my random travels to all parts continue to remind me of their impact.