I can so identify with trying to navigate unfamiliar territory, whether it’s a snarl of city traffic or trying to decipher how to simply order a medium cup of coffee on the “order here” digital screen at a fast food place.
Ha! So funny you mentioned the touch screen coffee machine. I didn't need to visit a fast food eatery (thank goodness), but I did have occasion to mingle with a fancy, digital coffee machine in the office where the meeting was held. Daaaang! Thanks for the solidarity, Janet. Great to see you!
"Driving in Washington"... Should be the name of the next horror series on Netflix... Each episode should present the various ways one gets run off of the road... yelled at ...cursed at ..and wrecked finally trying to get across the bridge that leads to nowhere... I had rather French kiss a rattlesnake than to ride through Washington... Glad you survived Betsy.... Maybe you would also rather have a rattlesnake experience instead....
😱 It's so awful! I'm not sure those who are more familiar can ever fully comprehend what it does to those of us who are not. French kissing a rattlesnake, however, *might* be worse. Haha! Thanks for understanding, Barry, and making me laugh.
Glad you found the garage AND got safely turned around out of that one-way road. Sounds like quite the excursion - and stressful chaos. Great photo of the "Dreaming Out Loud" van.
Thanks, Amy. So much to be glad about, and really, per my usual, there was much to love even in in the midst of all the craziness. For someone who has a limited set of connections with organizations in DC, I was delighted to lock eyes on that van. Whether it was meant to send a message or not, it did. :)
I don't like carparks (claustrophobia), and will always opt for metered spaces, but that requires reverse parking and then operating a damned digital machine.
I did laugh at the dog pee - fortunately the Womble's pee would only reach ankle height.
One sentence struck me and I've noted it for my journal: 'every occasion is an odyssey.' If only we all had the intestinal fortitude to approach every hump in the road with that view. But sometimes, the humps are just too big...
I know you're not talking about the speed humps that punctuate some of the more residential roads, but it's fun you've chosen an apt term all the same.
Despite the fact that there was a lot of jaw clenching yesterday, I was proud of myself for also finding delight where I could.
That dog was the size of a pony! 🐴
Thanks for empathizing, Prue, and imagining the possibilities alongside me.
The city life is most certainly not for me, I'll take farm obstacles anytime...when I lived in the southwest we'd have herds of sheep blocking the roads. They are so funny how they jump in front of the cars like the drama queens they are.
Simplicity and balance, our themes, eh, Elizabeth? And taking it one day at a time... theme of the week.... Welcome back to the Eastern Shore. It's a warm, calm homecoming. J
Mmm...your last line makes me smile. Not that we don't have our ISHews here, but it is a calmer lifestyle for sure. I don't know that I'm going to live long enough to master simplicity and/or balance, but I have made small strides in relinquishing control of outcomes. So maybe, if reincarnation is a thing, I won't have to start all the way back at the beginning on that one. 😅
St Michaels Rd.! I used to let out a big sigh crossing the Oak Creek Bridge knowing I was almost home! Home, where I could hear owls at night, the whipporwill in the woods, my neighbor's guinea hens and the mewling of the osprey. I could breathe the tangy scent of the cove or the spice of the woods, instead of exhaust. I could see glorious sunsets over The Bay and stars without much light pollution.
I love that you recognize that view, Susan! That run from Easton to the Oak Creek Bridge and just beyond is truly the "home stretch." My shoulders drop every time. 🩷
In addition to all that went on in that article, how on earth did you keep track of all those details? I picture myself having to jot down details, or make an audio note on my phone or something. Anywho, this is a great piece with a lovely voice - calm, funny and reflective. Thanks.
I especially like how helpful the parking guy was, like this sort of thing happens all the time.
In 2005-06, I commuted from Royal Oak to Georgetown University Hospital where I worked. Got to know Rt 50. Got to live the physiological transition of crossing the Bay Bridge west-to-east versus east-to-west. It's a life skill in practicing compression and decompression.
Thanks, Stew. I'm a magnet for something, that's for sure! 😂 I really appreciate your observations here, and hadn't really considered what it is about me and my brain that makes it seem easy to remember so many little details, almost like I'm making mental snapshots. On the other hand, there was quite a lot of 0-5 mph movement, so I had time to take things in!
That compression-decompression life skill is one I have not-by-a-long-shot perfected. Clearly. I do, however, count among my blessings the opportunity to experience both.
"Just doing your thing..." Haha! I think my thing was doing me! DC is uniquely difficult to navigate, o so I've heard from people who've spent far more time than I driving in other cities. At least for those of us who aren't used to it. I get where I need to go and back again, so I guess I'm not entirely hopeless.
Ann Patchett is a favorite, and I did know she has a bookstore in Nashville. She also mentions it in at least one essay. Hope to go there someday. Have you read Dutch House? I listened to that one, too, with Tom Hanks as narrator, and loved it! Tom Lake, with Meryl Streep, was also a pleasure.
Thanks for coming along for the ride with me, Eileen.
If you're at all into audiobooks, you might consider listening to it. My copy came from my library (Libby or Hoopla, can't recall). It took a minute for me to get into it, and at first I didn't like Hanks' at all in the role of narrator. But I stuck with it and am glad I did.
Oh Elizabeth, this is such a wonderful, wonderful piece of writing - thank you so much for it.
You've turned the everyday into the extraordinary, and moments of noticing into the warp and weft of a colourful story - a complex pattern of anxiety meeting calm, of energy mixing with soothing silence, of stress finding solace.
'I can’t help wondering how people here make time for dreams when I can barely remember to breathe.' Me too. But golly me, I was breathing deeply by the end of this piece. Awesome. xxx
I had a feeling you'd be "in the zone" with me on this one, Rebecca. Those of us who get a little heart-racy in certain situations have to stick together, right? ☺️
Thank you for reading and for your lovely, generous comment. Let's let our shoulders drop together more often, shall we?
Shudder. I’m very thankful to live in the country half an hour from a pleasantly quiet city. A beautifully descriptive post. Way too vivid in some ways but a good read. Thanks so much.
I can only imagine the parts you found to be "too vivid," Beth. I'm very thankful that my trips to the city are only sporadic. So good to see you here, and I appreciate you chiming in.
I can so identify with trying to navigate unfamiliar territory, whether it’s a snarl of city traffic or trying to decipher how to simply order a medium cup of coffee on the “order here” digital screen at a fast food place.
Ha! So funny you mentioned the touch screen coffee machine. I didn't need to visit a fast food eatery (thank goodness), but I did have occasion to mingle with a fancy, digital coffee machine in the office where the meeting was held. Daaaang! Thanks for the solidarity, Janet. Great to see you!
"Driving in Washington"... Should be the name of the next horror series on Netflix... Each episode should present the various ways one gets run off of the road... yelled at ...cursed at ..and wrecked finally trying to get across the bridge that leads to nowhere... I had rather French kiss a rattlesnake than to ride through Washington... Glad you survived Betsy.... Maybe you would also rather have a rattlesnake experience instead....
😱 It's so awful! I'm not sure those who are more familiar can ever fully comprehend what it does to those of us who are not. French kissing a rattlesnake, however, *might* be worse. Haha! Thanks for understanding, Barry, and making me laugh.
Glad you found the garage AND got safely turned around out of that one-way road. Sounds like quite the excursion - and stressful chaos. Great photo of the "Dreaming Out Loud" van.
Thanks, Amy. So much to be glad about, and really, per my usual, there was much to love even in in the midst of all the craziness. For someone who has a limited set of connections with organizations in DC, I was delighted to lock eyes on that van. Whether it was meant to send a message or not, it did. :)
I felt your journey.
A city scape, despite not being alien, is.
I don't like carparks (claustrophobia), and will always opt for metered spaces, but that requires reverse parking and then operating a damned digital machine.
I did laugh at the dog pee - fortunately the Womble's pee would only reach ankle height.
One sentence struck me and I've noted it for my journal: 'every occasion is an odyssey.' If only we all had the intestinal fortitude to approach every hump in the road with that view. But sometimes, the humps are just too big...
I know you're not talking about the speed humps that punctuate some of the more residential roads, but it's fun you've chosen an apt term all the same.
Despite the fact that there was a lot of jaw clenching yesterday, I was proud of myself for also finding delight where I could.
That dog was the size of a pony! 🐴
Thanks for empathizing, Prue, and imagining the possibilities alongside me.
Still laughing at the image of that dog!
I opted to not mention in the post that its owner looked to be not much more than 5' herself.
The city life is most certainly not for me, I'll take farm obstacles anytime...when I lived in the southwest we'd have herds of sheep blocking the roads. They are so funny how they jump in front of the cars like the drama queens they are.
Simplicity and balance, our themes, eh, Elizabeth? And taking it one day at a time... theme of the week.... Welcome back to the Eastern Shore. It's a warm, calm homecoming. J
Mmm...your last line makes me smile. Not that we don't have our ISHews here, but it is a calmer lifestyle for sure. I don't know that I'm going to live long enough to master simplicity and/or balance, but I have made small strides in relinquishing control of outcomes. So maybe, if reincarnation is a thing, I won't have to start all the way back at the beginning on that one. 😅
Sheep as drama queens - hahah!
A wonderful tale and a gorgeous last line. I felt like I was there with you.
Thank you, friend. I've been thinking about you. And Vinnie. 😬
And my trip would have been a LOT more fun if you had been there with me.
♥️♥️♥️
What a lovely thought!
St Michaels Rd.! I used to let out a big sigh crossing the Oak Creek Bridge knowing I was almost home! Home, where I could hear owls at night, the whipporwill in the woods, my neighbor's guinea hens and the mewling of the osprey. I could breathe the tangy scent of the cove or the spice of the woods, instead of exhaust. I could see glorious sunsets over The Bay and stars without much light pollution.
I love that you recognize that view, Susan! That run from Easton to the Oak Creek Bridge and just beyond is truly the "home stretch." My shoulders drop every time. 🩷
Lovely tale.
You are a magnet for adventure!
In addition to all that went on in that article, how on earth did you keep track of all those details? I picture myself having to jot down details, or make an audio note on my phone or something. Anywho, this is a great piece with a lovely voice - calm, funny and reflective. Thanks.
I especially like how helpful the parking guy was, like this sort of thing happens all the time.
In 2005-06, I commuted from Royal Oak to Georgetown University Hospital where I worked. Got to know Rt 50. Got to live the physiological transition of crossing the Bay Bridge west-to-east versus east-to-west. It's a life skill in practicing compression and decompression.
Thanks, Stew. I'm a magnet for something, that's for sure! 😂 I really appreciate your observations here, and hadn't really considered what it is about me and my brain that makes it seem easy to remember so many little details, almost like I'm making mental snapshots. On the other hand, there was quite a lot of 0-5 mph movement, so I had time to take things in!
That compression-decompression life skill is one I have not-by-a-long-shot perfected. Clearly. I do, however, count among my blessings the opportunity to experience both.
DC drivers can be pretty unpredictable...perhaps your wrong way turnaround didn't yield any honks because they knew you were just doing your thing....
I love Ann Patchett. Did you know she owns a bookstore in Nashville? I'm glad she was with you for your road trip. She has a soothing vibe.
This tale made me so happy I cannot/do not drive anymore. I do not miss it one iota.
"Just doing your thing..." Haha! I think my thing was doing me! DC is uniquely difficult to navigate, o so I've heard from people who've spent far more time than I driving in other cities. At least for those of us who aren't used to it. I get where I need to go and back again, so I guess I'm not entirely hopeless.
Ann Patchett is a favorite, and I did know she has a bookstore in Nashville. She also mentions it in at least one essay. Hope to go there someday. Have you read Dutch House? I listened to that one, too, with Tom Hanks as narrator, and loved it! Tom Lake, with Meryl Streep, was also a pleasure.
Thanks for coming along for the ride with me, Eileen.
Have not read Dutch House. Will check it out.
If you're at all into audiobooks, you might consider listening to it. My copy came from my library (Libby or Hoopla, can't recall). It took a minute for me to get into it, and at first I didn't like Hanks' at all in the role of narrator. But I stuck with it and am glad I did.
I do like audio books now, took me awhile to get into it, but it’s nice for commuting, etc. I loooooved Meryl reading “Tom Lake”.
Me, toooooo!! Helps that I already love her.
Oh Elizabeth, this is such a wonderful, wonderful piece of writing - thank you so much for it.
You've turned the everyday into the extraordinary, and moments of noticing into the warp and weft of a colourful story - a complex pattern of anxiety meeting calm, of energy mixing with soothing silence, of stress finding solace.
'I can’t help wondering how people here make time for dreams when I can barely remember to breathe.' Me too. But golly me, I was breathing deeply by the end of this piece. Awesome. xxx
I had a feeling you'd be "in the zone" with me on this one, Rebecca. Those of us who get a little heart-racy in certain situations have to stick together, right? ☺️
Thank you for reading and for your lovely, generous comment. Let's let our shoulders drop together more often, shall we?
And….. breeeeathe…..!
Yes, definitely! I’m right there with you! xxx
Shudder. I’m very thankful to live in the country half an hour from a pleasantly quiet city. A beautifully descriptive post. Way too vivid in some ways but a good read. Thanks so much.
I can only imagine the parts you found to be "too vivid," Beth. I'm very thankful that my trips to the city are only sporadic. So good to see you here, and I appreciate you chiming in.