SINGING ROAD TRIP DAY

Singing travel writing photographer tries to connect with the world.

Singing out loud and proud with car windows down on the outskirts of some small town. No, that is not how I attempt to begin writing a country song. Instead, it is how I attempt to embrace joy and freedom and make connections and make some sense out of life.

This is a raw, honest look at a day in the life of one person who tries to connect with the world. She does so through travel, photography, and writing. Sure hope you are paying attention to the little details.

This hobby, this passion for solo road trips and songs leads to…this next thing…stopping each time I see an old and abandoned building. This other hobby, this other passion makes me grab my Canon. I love the beauty in abandoned places and want so deeply to capture the perfect photo that I could share with the world in both words and images.

Is it ironic that I spend hours alone in my vehicle searching for lonely structures that sit looking so sad and empty? What I mean is… the irony… is how intensely I desire to connect with you (or y’all) and share all this with you. Of course, by you (or y’all) I mean the entire human population of this beautiful Earth.

Perhaps I love solo travel on quiet country roads because I have trust issues. My history of family dysfunction followed by poor interpersonal relationships could make for a great novel someday. But today I am too busy applying these labels to myself: singer, solo road tripper, photographer, and travel writer.

If you and I did happen to meet in person along the way, I would love to sit down over a cup of coffee as we compare notes on all the labels which we apply to ourselves.

At first our chat would be all upbeat, full of sweetness like puppies and cotton candy. Later I could ask you my standard set of interview questions which I would use in a month or so to write a wonderful article about you and how you connect with the world.

Yes, I have done that quite well and often.

But if we lingered too long together, I would eventually try to tell you how much I care. How much I care about you and love and peace and joy. Or even worse, I might ask permission to hug you… knowing full well that my poor heart would be wounded if you were to say no.

Yes, that has happened a few times. Singing travel writing photographer tries to connect with the world.

So, let’s review, shall we? Sometimes the only things that really make sense to me are to take pen, paper, and camera on a leisurely drive. The pen and paper are proof that I am proudly both old and old school. The leisurely drive will most likely be somewhere between Louisiana and Virginia because I am a lover of the Southeastern United States.

Yes, I do say y’all and I do eat grits. And, yes, I have an unquenchable desire to connect with those who can appreciate the subtle beauty and joy in art and nature.

While driving I usually sing songs that somehow relate to my current location. In Louisiana it could be anything by  Louis Armstong with an occasional bit of “Zydeco Bounce” thrown in just for kicks. In Mississippi it may start with “Biloxi” by Jimmy Buffet and probably conclude with “Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good)” by Sugarland. My two absolute favorites while in Alabama are “My Home’s in Alabama” and “Sweet Home Alabama”.

Yes, I do have favorites for all thirteen of the states in which I travel and write.

The perfect singing road trip day often looks like this. I am taking photos of a stunning sunrise near a river.

Next comes coffee and shots of small towns, old barns, and those forgotten and forsaken remains of any structure, be it either chateaux or shanty.

When my tummy growls, I stop at the most charming small town nearby. There I go for just a teensy-weensy salad followed by the biggest and most decadent dessert available. Both are devoured voraciously with no attempt to hide my hedonism.

Selectively I scan for locals who appear friendly. This is the tricky part. I wish to engage in meaningful conversations without overstepping or offending. I want to share my love of travel with them while simultaneously gleaning useful local information. Remember that part I mentioned earlier about my poor heart being wounded? Right! Now do you get the gist of my problem?

The best conversations are cause for rejoicing. The ones that did not go so well make me feel like I’m in hell. Once I’m back in my car I begin singing  to either celebrate the magical connection or soothe my spirit while recovering from the awkwardness. There you have it, the whole linguistic drawing of the whole bigger picture. The circle is complete.

This is a raw, honest look at a day in the life of one person who tries to connect with the world. She does so through travel, photography, and writing. Sure hope you are paying attention to the little details.

You and I are right back to where we started. Hopefully, you are tuned in and connected so completely that you do, indeed, get it!

Singing out loud and proud with car windows down on the outskirts of some small town. No, that is not how I attempt to begin writing a country song. Instead, it is how I attempt to embrace joy and freedom and make connections and make some sense out of life.

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