“Anytime I look up into the night
sky and see the same stars…I am home.” (Abigayle)
January 27, 1999
8:00 A.M. I’m still on the road…still humbled in the presence of too many miracles to count… still filled with joy… and still on my way to "I know not where". Right now I’m in Blythe, California (near the Arizona border) and the sun is shining again! I can’t believe it’s January and I’m in short-sleeves. What a treat for a girl from the Oregon Coast! Other than financially speaking, my life is perfect. I am as healthy and happy as I have ever been and I am only too eager to accept the gift of another glorious day on this beautiful planet.
So much as happened during these first 6 months on the road, I can’t begin to catch you up. I'm keeping a detailed journal which I'll use when I write the book. I've decided to call it Poetry on the Road, and it will be a story of adventure, faith, hope and loss. Each and every day I find myself facing the unknown, and yet… there is no fear. I am alive and surrounded by beauty. I am alone and yet NEVER alone. There is so much to tell… but for now here are just a few of the highlights.
When I left Gold Beach I had less than $100 in my pocket, no savings account and one emergency credit card. Now, here I am... six months later, and I still have close to $100 and haven’t had to use the credit card. Lucky has broken down more times than I care to remember… but somehow, things always work out. (But I sure am learning a lot about engines!)
I stopped to visit my mother in California for the first time in many years. We were separated when I was seven years old and I've only seen her a couple of times since then. (A story for the book...) I had only planned to stay for a short while but apparently, fate had other ideas. While I was there, I came down with a really bad case of the flue and ended up staying a whole month. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know her again, and I’m sure she felt the same about me. It's the beginning of a whole new relationship and I’ll never lose touch again. In fact, now I record cassette tapes as I travel and mail them to her. She’s holding them for me so that when I write the book, I’ll just have to listen… and remember.
I finally figured out a way to share my poetry AND make money for the road. (No small feat!) In each little town I come to, I go to the Chamber of Commerce and ask for a list of halls for rent or public use. Then I get a list of the local clubs and their contact persons, the radio stations and newspapers. I also get the names of the local school principals, the hospitals and even rest homes in the area. After I unload my bicycle (a new acquisition) and begin making the rounds, I arrange to use one of the meeting halls (usually rent free - since I don’t charge admission and what I do is considered a public service) and then I head for the newspaper and radio stations. It’s funny how things always work out. I walk in and introduce myself. I tell them I’m an inspirational poet and plan to put on a performance in their town. Would they be interested in hearing a sample of my work? Then, if they like it, (and surprisingly enough... they always do), they agree to help me publicize the performance.
Then I go to the Senior Center, hospitals, rest homes, schools and public library. I offer to perform for them (at no charge, of course) and (surprise-surprise) they always accept. Sometimes I entertain the seniors while they eat their lunch. Or perhaps (after hearing a sample of my work) the school will arrange an assembly. Sometimes I just perform for the English or drama classes... but whatever works for them, I do it. Then there are the clubs, like Soroptimist, Lions, Rotary and Red Hats (to name a few). I'm a Soroptimist myself so that's always a good entry point. When I speak to the clubs, they always seem to enjoy hearing stories from the road as well as my poetry. I'm certainly not a preacher and never intended to use these performances as podiums from which to preach, but without fail, at every single performance, they ask me "What made you decide to go on the road and do this?" Well, you can imagine the answer to that. I tell them about the miracle... and suddenly the room is filled with the Holy Spirit. Preacher or not, I am honored to have the opportunity to magnify His works in such a humble way. Sometimes I approach the local churches and usually find them receptive as well. No matter what denomination, they all seem eager to listen. That has to be the Hand of God at work because they certainly don’t know me from Adam… As far as they know, I could be a nutcase. But, amazingly enough, they accept me warmly, and by the time I’ve finished giving all those “samples” of my work, (usually about 30 minutes each) they’re eager to hear more… and that’s how I get people to attend the “open” performance I hold in each town..
But how do I get the money I need to live on? The way that works is totally beyond my comprehension and I know that I am truly being provided for while I am on the right path. Behind me (as I stand and perform my poetry) I set up a table where I put copies of the poems I will be doing that evening. I also place a little yellow picnic basket on the table with a sign attached to it. It says, “If you would like a copy of one of these poems, please help yourself. If you would like to help keep this Poetry on the Road for others to enjoy, your contribution would be very much appreciated.” At first, I felt strange about doing that; it almost seemed like begging… but it didn’t take long for me to realize that people really WANTED to help and that they LIKED hearing what I had to say. (Amazing!) I never once found less than $100 in my little basket and sometimes even as much as $400/$500. Usually the audience takes every single copy I place on the table and I often spend hours after the performance autographing the poems they've selected.
I began writing and performing my own poetry when I was 7 or 8 years old, and have continued to do so ever since. Even when I was working as a paralegal or playing a professional sport for a living, (which I did for 7 years), whenever people asked me, "What do you do?", I always answered, "I am a poet." I knew that from the day I was born, but I never once imagined that it would lead me to this. Fortunately though, I remember every single poem I've ever written, so I don't need to use paper... and I don't READ my poems. I perform them- up close and personal. I believe poetry should be fun... not boring and hard to understand. It should make you feel good (or at least "inspired") and even people who usually don't like poetry should enjoy it. That is one of my goals, (along with eating and putting gas in Lucky's tanks) and so far... it seems to be working.
To tell you the truth, I am dumbfounded! I never imagined that the general public would receive my work this way. Usually I schedule my performances for an hour… but they seldom finish at the appointed time. People always want to hear more and sometimes it goes on for 2 to 4 hours, with me answering questions about my journey or about my life. They want to know where I’m going next and how they can get a copy of my book when I write it. The Lord certainly does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t he…
So… that’s what I’m doing. The “basket money” buys me enough food and gas to get to the next town, usually with just enough left over to make more photocopies and print flyers promoting my next performance. I’ll admit it’s a pretty lean budget and sometimes I find myself without an extra dollar (and an almost empty gas tank), but that’s when it’s time to stop in the next small town and start all over again. What an adventure this is turning out to be!
Since it’s winter everywhere else in the country, I think I’ll spend time in Arizona and Southern California until it warms up this Spring. Lucky is still running (?) but I’m a little leery about putting too many more miles on her until I have the money for repairs. She still gets really HOT every time I drive her and my batteries are giving me a lot of trouble. So… I won’t drift too far for the time being. Besides, I’m really loving this Southwestern winter sunshine!
Much more to come,
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Picture below: I knew there was propane in there somewhere!