MAY 27, 2011

Here I sit at another McDonald’s. If you told me nine months ago that I would spend more time at McDonald’s than any other restaurant, I would have said -No Way! It turns out that it is consistently the only place with public Wi-Fi in this country. I have become so used to writing at McDonald’s that I fear when I return to Boston I will not be able to write anywhere else…accept the van. When I finished building my Tear Drop Trailer, a friend asked me if I was looking for a womb. The spaces I built were getting consistently smaller and rounder. I laughed, but now I wonder. Imagine being born every morning into a whole new environment with all new possibility. It is a metaphorical womb. When my Mom died I was in North Carolina. I parked my van in a friend’s driveway in Ashville and flew to Buffalo. When I returned I just wanted to be in my van. It has become home for me. I left for Wilmington NC when I got back with the intent of camping overnight at a park. I found a place called the Uwharrie National Forest. It was a big green spot on the map, and I envisioned lush forests and quiet meditative hiking. I arrived late at night and found one site open. I parked and fell immediately to sleep happy to be back in my own bed. I woke up at 9:00 and headed for the shower house. As I walked I noticed that each camping site I passed contained a tent and a truck or a jeep with gigantic oversized wheels. It turns out a club called the Carolina Crawlers were at the park for the weekend. When I left the shower house to go back to the van, the air was filled with revving motors and dust. The irony of my choice made me laugh. As I drove out of the forest I saw a sign that said the Uwharrie National Forrest –land of many uses (no kidding). I envision myself returning to Boston.  I get up in the morning, leave my three-bedroom apartment, walk down to the driveway, get in the van, fold down the desk, shut the door and start working.

Golden Arches