Many years ago I worked as a construction project manager for a restaurant chain. Shuttling between those locales had me on the road all summer, always driving, ever exhausted.
A waitress overheard me on a cellphone conversation, mistakenly saying that I was in Fresno.
She corrected me by saying: "No, you're in the other pumpkin-farming hellhole".
Two things. No, three. First, gorgeous story. Thank you. Second, I cannot tell you how many times I have found myself alone in either a city or the middle of the country, wondering what was going to happen next, as I stood, utterly anonymous, in my circumstance. It's always turned out OK, but I believe I've been lucky, for all of the long dark places I have found myself. Lastly, I used a similar photo for a similar place in this very short essay on Willits, CA. Next week I'll return to the road between Oregon and California, me and the little dog, and I know that once again, I'll find myself cast out by choice, watching, and likely on some level, waiting.
Love it. As I was reading it, I wrote a note, so I wouldn't forget: "This should be a short story."
I can just see you knocking it out of the park, Deborah Treisman begging you to publish it in the New Yorker, and you saying, "Naahhh, I'm saving it for my paid subscribers on Substack."
Thanks! You, too. My husband’s is the 4th, so we’re taking a week off and a short trip together—and I call my friend Helene annually for hers on the 10th. This year she’s got some ‘splaining to do!
Hope you have an amazing next chapter in your life.
What a beautiful incident to write about! The simplicity of a chance encounter but the friendliness which has lived on really touched me. The German part is super funny! I took the requisite German courses over the summer quarter when I went to EWU in Cheney WA! I knew what you were saying! 😂
It says a lot about some innate goodness and how you present to the world that this woman chose you to be her protector (and also about how your kind actions validated her choice).
It reminds me of a pediatric nurse practitioner I used to work with. If we went to a restaurant or the store, toddlers would suddenly gather around her or crawl into her lap. I always figured those little kids could see some magic glow coming from her, a glow that most adults have lost the ability to perceive. I wonder if that German woman saw your glow or if she was just a very astute observer on a more rational plane.
I loved this so much. I walked across California with Santa Clara students this summer. One of the teachers was a German born hydrologist who has lived in the south bay for 25 years. I learned more about the water in our state than I knew before. She was also very direct.....and made judgements not meant to sting but they did. I hope you pursue this story and she reads this.
Always enjoyed your work. Delighted you liked my piece on Sister Lorraine. Tried to do something different here. Did it work? Got a ton of views (1,628) which I hope is a good sign.
Love it! That’s my hometown but I only went to Union Station once. It was with my mother in around 1956 and I was very little. While we waited for our train to Bakersfield, we sat in the cavernous waiting room on a round tufted bench. There was a man sitting there and he sidled up to me and offered me a drink from something wrapped in a brown bag. My mother freaked out and dragged me and our luggage away to sit somewhere else. Btw, if my crappy German is accurate, you and my son have same birthday. I’m proud of you, Sherman, as a fellow traveler. Be well!
The kindness of strangers as a female traveler is an absolute blessing. I’ve had so many times where I was helped for no reason by a passing angel. You were one for Hannah
Loved this, particularly the kindness. We all need a friend on the road. I’ve been living in Germany for a year now, learning German because my husband comes from here. This would be cool to translate into German!
Was it Fresno or was it Bakersfield?
Many years ago I worked as a construction project manager for a restaurant chain. Shuttling between those locales had me on the road all summer, always driving, ever exhausted.
A waitress overheard me on a cellphone conversation, mistakenly saying that I was in Fresno.
She corrected me by saying: "No, you're in the other pumpkin-farming hellhole".
Hahahahaha
Two things. No, three. First, gorgeous story. Thank you. Second, I cannot tell you how many times I have found myself alone in either a city or the middle of the country, wondering what was going to happen next, as I stood, utterly anonymous, in my circumstance. It's always turned out OK, but I believe I've been lucky, for all of the long dark places I have found myself. Lastly, I used a similar photo for a similar place in this very short essay on Willits, CA. Next week I'll return to the road between Oregon and California, me and the little dog, and I know that once again, I'll find myself cast out by choice, watching, and likely on some level, waiting.
The Willits essay: https://open.substack.com/pub/marymcdonaldlewis/p/on-the-american-road?r=7y4uo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I hope your adventures are going well!
Love it. As I was reading it, I wrote a note, so I wouldn't forget: "This should be a short story."
I can just see you knocking it out of the park, Deborah Treisman begging you to publish it in the New Yorker, and you saying, "Naahhh, I'm saving it for my paid subscribers on Substack."
Hahahahha. Wel, The New Yorker pays 5K!
My birthday is also October 7!
Hey, Happy Birthday (soon).
Thanks! You, too. My husband’s is the 4th, so we’re taking a week off and a short trip together—and I call my friend Helene annually for hers on the 10th. This year she’s got some ‘splaining to do!
Hope you have an amazing next chapter in your life.
What a beautiful incident to write about! The simplicity of a chance encounter but the friendliness which has lived on really touched me. The German part is super funny! I took the requisite German courses over the summer quarter when I went to EWU in Cheney WA! I knew what you were saying! 😂
Hahahah. I have even less German now.
It says a lot about some innate goodness and how you present to the world that this woman chose you to be her protector (and also about how your kind actions validated her choice).
It reminds me of a pediatric nurse practitioner I used to work with. If we went to a restaurant or the store, toddlers would suddenly gather around her or crawl into her lap. I always figured those little kids could see some magic glow coming from her, a glow that most adults have lost the ability to perceive. I wonder if that German woman saw your glow or if she was just a very astute observer on a more rational plane.
I'm a big teddy bear (with a mean streak on the basketball court)!
I loved this so much. I walked across California with Santa Clara students this summer. One of the teachers was a German born hydrologist who has lived in the south bay for 25 years. I learned more about the water in our state than I knew before. She was also very direct.....and made judgements not meant to sting but they did. I hope you pursue this story and she reads this.
Yes, I've found Germans to be very direct.
To paraphrase Wim Wenders, The (Native) American Friend.
!!!!!
How splendidly inconclusive.
Dichotomy!
A true gentleman
I try.
And here I thought it all began somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert.
Different essay!
Not really. We got the same GREAT BIG POST at the Georgia/Florida line.
Are you taking the title literally?
If everything begins at Bakersfield, then everything must end at Florida. Or visa versa.
Always enjoyed your work. Delighted you liked my piece on Sister Lorraine. Tried to do something different here. Did it work? Got a ton of views (1,628) which I hope is a good sign.
Thanks
John
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnnogowski/p/im-not-there-the-sequel?r=7pf7u&utm_medium=ios
Love it! That’s my hometown but I only went to Union Station once. It was with my mother in around 1956 and I was very little. While we waited for our train to Bakersfield, we sat in the cavernous waiting room on a round tufted bench. There was a man sitting there and he sidled up to me and offered me a drink from something wrapped in a brown bag. My mother freaked out and dragged me and our luggage away to sit somewhere else. Btw, if my crappy German is accurate, you and my son have same birthday. I’m proud of you, Sherman, as a fellow traveler. Be well!
The kindness of strangers as a female traveler is an absolute blessing. I’ve had so many times where I was helped for no reason by a passing angel. You were one for Hannah
Loved this, particularly the kindness. We all need a friend on the road. I’ve been living in Germany for a year now, learning German because my husband comes from here. This would be cool to translate into German!