Postblog from Missouri: Is This Oz?

Instead of going to California or staying home like I usually do when I have time off work, I decided this summer to just get in the car and drive - destination unknown. I tried very hard not to plan this trip (except for a stop in Nebraska) and to be honest, it wasn't easy. But the following postblog is a written snapshot from my travels.

Saturday June 12, 2010 - Listening to a Tom Shane ad on The Fox radio station made me think that there isn’t much left in the world that is unique. I listen to the same ad on the same station at home in Denver, only today the station’s number on the dial and the Shane Company address were different. Kansas City doesn’t look like Denver. It’s older, for one thing, and its downtown buildings are more interesting. But as everywhere else in this country, the next WalMart is only one exit away.

The first day of my “excellent adventure” took me through Kansas where billboards reminded me regularly that Jesus is the real deal. The sunflower state probably has the same number of fundamentalists as the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Instead of the Taliban, however, Kansas has Fred Phelps, leader of the gang that pickets funerals and carries a sign that says, “God Hates Fags.” As I neared Topeka, Phelps’ home base, I drove a little faster with the idea of leaving Kansas behind as quickly as possible.

Being gay, though barely according to some friends who question my decorating and fashion abilities, I thought today of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, going from black and white to color as she left her home state, and saying innocently to her dog, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”

And now I’m over the rainbow, camped out at a Missouri Quality Inn near the stadium where the Royals play. (Is that the first sports reference I’ve ever blogged?)

It’s fun to see the Midwest again. There are lots of trees, and it’s so green! Before dinner, I drove and hiked through a huge park complete with trails and campgrounds, and enough foilage to really get lost in. Living in Colorado, I’m not used to forests that aren’t in the mountains. And when the sun went down, I saw the strangest thing: little bugs that fly around and light up! We sure don’t see fireflies at home.

Keeping true to my goal of not over planning this trip, I can’t say for sure where I’ll be tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing more of the beautiful Show Me State and following the call of the open road.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why are you doing this? Every year I take a week off in the summer. Usually I just stick around home, perhaps driving to the mountains once or twice. This year I wanted to do something different. Realizing that when I do go places, I get a little OCD and plan everything out to the greatest detail, I decided to challenge myself. I took off this morning from Denver with no plan (almost) and an open mind about where I’d be going and what I’d be doing. This risk taking did spawn a thrill: I got the last room available at the Quality Inn. Whew! That was close.

Are you really doing this alone? The implication of this question is that it’s odd, even sad, to be traveling on an adventure alone. I assure you, I’m enjoying myself very much. The news today tells of a 16 year old girl who attempted to sail around the world alone. Well if she can try that, why can’t I do this? Besides, if I waited until I had someone to do things with, I’d never do anything!