Day 26 - PA, MD, and VA - Home Sweet Home

A long and gnawing drive awaited me, much of it without crucial rest stops. I powered through the rest of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland before finally making it home. I encountered more mountains and rain which at this point were traumatizing.

When I was closing in on home and became most eager, of course I ran into the metro DC traffic I have grown to despise so much. I endured an extra hour of driving before I got home. Honestly, it was pretty miserable, but I finally arrived home to my family and my dog, with all my souvenirs intact, and my mother's requested cacti alive and well.

Looking back, the trip was without hesitation the best experience of my life. Doing something of this epic magnitude and taking the leaps beforehand to make it happen became the ultimate empowerment. This trip truly showed me that life is nothing but a product of the choices we make, and that our choices define how we live, in spite of the circumstances that we endure. I now really feel like I'm in control of my own life, and my choices and decisions really do fuel the outcomes and determine my happiness.

Before I left, the trip seemed overwhelming, but now, it seems like just a matter of hopping in the car and going for a drive. To live my life a little bit. I feel like I can accomplish anything I want. I feel like even if I have a bad time somewhere, or even a bad (entire) day, it is only temporary, and soon I will be back in my enlightened little life of liberation. Any anxiety or depression or feelings of being overwhelmed will pretty much melt away.

I learned what it meant to be truly alive, and more importantly, I took away that our happiness and freedom are literally within our reach, and all we have to do is take a deep breath, reach out and grab it, and open our eyes to the reality we desire.

I am alive. I am free. And I am happy. And these truths, much like the memories of my trip, are only one decision away.

Until my next adventure, I wish you all happiness. May you find your freedom and elevate above whatever is holding you down. This life was meant for us to experience absolutely, and I hope you all choose to take it up on its offer.

"And this is only a little of what I've been given,
Still can't believe that it's only the beginning."
- Black Milk

"My destiny found me, it was clear why the struggle was so painful,
Metamorphosis, this is what I changed to,
God, Im so thankful."
- Nas

"Today is different...I must be happy today,
I must have chased the dark clouds away."
-Evidence

"Until they kill me,
I'll be living this life, I know you feel me."
- Tupac Shakur

Day 25 - Illinois, Indiana, Ohio

After trying to outrun the outrageous thunderstorms that had been beating up the Midwest, I finally found some peace in Illinois. Pushing myself harder than ever, I caught up to Eastern Standard Time after crossing the Mississippi river again, though under different circumstances.

The only interesting thing my experience in Indiana yielded was that as I tried to exit the toll road in South Bend to find a restroom, I accidentally ended up in Michigan for about 30 seconds. That was a pleasant surprise considering my American roots lie there.

Driving through the country roads in Ohio was brutal, but I was determined to make it to my friend David's house. I thought I could get there by 8 p.m. but I didn't stroll in till 11. And I was beat.

Thankfully, he had a delicious dinner of meat and meat ready for me. Pork tenderloin and Kielbasa. Holy thunder. We then took to the basement bar to catch up and I drank way too much whiskey and Canadian beer, in a throwback to our partying moments that spanned the globe. You see, we met in Rome, and he has been to VA to visit me, and I had not only seen him in Ohio, but we made a trip to Canada with our friend Tom to visit our friend Pedro. Labatt Blue is our soundtrack.

Of course we toasted vodka before we got started, so when I woke up the next morning to my 9 hour drive and his two boisterous kids (who were present out of the three available) I was not feeling great. Nonetheless, it was awesome to hang out and catch up, and see his children firsthand.

One last push and I would be home!

Days 23-24 Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa

Wyoming was rather uneventful, although it did have some wonderful views; both the High Plains and the people were very attractive. There's something to be said about the corn-feeding in the Midwest.

The people in Wyoming and Nebraska were well put together, even if they were a bit ugly at times. It was uncanny. Wyoming had lovely mountains, bright plains, and a neverending horizon.

I pushed hard into Nebraska, but the now norm of apocalyptic thunderstorms with white squalls of sheeting rain pounding the slim, curvy, and unsecured mountain roads made me stop a bit early for the night.

A wet morning followed, and I drove across Nebraska, desperately seeking the sun. I finally found some relief outside of Omaha, where I stopped for steak. I found a well-reviewed steakhouse which was half high-end restaurant and half dive bar. I headed to the bar partition, where an incredibly obese woman was singing and playing guitar with her family. The steak, much like most of the food I sampled, was weak. Usually I don't complain about bacon, but my prime rib's au jus tasted like bacon, which was too unexpected.

Don't ask me how, but I powered through to Des Moines that night, where I cajoled the night manager into letting me soak in the hot tub before crashing, though it was after hours. Home was starting to sound marvelous at this point, and I was eager to see my family and my dog.