I went to church yesterday and of course the Church focusses on the religious meaning of Christmas and downplays the commercial aspects.  I’m good with that actually.  Once you get to be an old fart (speaking from experience) the “getting” part of Christmas loses its luster.  The giving part is really fun though, especially if friends/family and little ones are involved.  Nothing like the look on a kids face when he or she actually FINDS the Pony they were sure was there for them.  (All right, Pony, Video game, gadget, clothing item or whatever makes them smile).  But the giving experience is really more than putting some materialistic desire at the fingertips of those you love.  For me the “giver”, it is the twinkle of happiness, however misguided, childlike, or fleeting, enjoyed by the “givee”.  Yeah, in alot of cases it is materialistic on the givee’s part, especially the young ones, but it is far more than that as I observe.  I make the event special for myself.
Christmas can put people off a bit because religion and even spirituality are deeply personal things, at least to me.  I see the concept of the birth of the Son of God on Earth as an opportunit for redemption.  Not just religious redemption.  I am convinced that the world has become almost too worldly to focus on religious redemption.  I think that is a big part of the problem, i.e. not enough reliance on the “other worldly” aspects of life in our daily existence.  When I put Christmas in context in a worldly manner that works for me, I mean in a tangible way that I can demonstrate so others can observe, experience, and hopefully appreciate, I see the event of Christmas as an opportunity for a “Do Over” from the past.
New years resolutions are great but meaningless to me. So what is a new calendar year?  It means I have to ruin about a months worth of bank checks with the wrong date scratched out, initialed, and correctly printed.  It means I can say in early February, “WOW! Those didn’t work out.”
So what is Christmas in my worldly opinion?  It is an opportunity to look over the past year or years of life to see what I can improve. Now I know all the people in my life can do a lot more to improve themselves in my opinion, (that is a joke, OK?) but the reality of life is we all have a primary focus and it just may be on the “monkey in the mirror”  as I told my little ones when they first glimpsed themselves in a silvered glass panel hanging on the wll in the hallway.  One thing I have learned in my short but rich life, is that anything that “bugs” me is not with the other person or situation.  It is that I allow the “bug” to live in my head.  It’s all about me, always was and always will be.  Only I can prevent my own pain and discomfort.  Only I can provide for my own reasonable happiness, serenity and contentment.  So I do my best to stop looking around for my “White Knight”.  He’s right here, in my boots.  Shaazamm!
Do you know why I think Christmas happens every year for me?  I think it is because I am an imperfect being. (Imperfect?…That is an adjective of amazing understatement describing me.)  I need regular and frequent chances to try again to “get it right” in life.  I’ll never get enough “Do overs” on this planet, but at Christmas, I see the one time of the year that somehow, somewhere, I can be reminded that the past does not have to be the future.  I can behave better, treat others better, be more gracious in the face of defeat, be less barbaric in the face of victory, be more understanding in the face of adversity, especially other’s adversity because God has given me precious little adversity in life. (Thank You God!) The image on the cross depicts someone who gave his life so that ours would be better.  We celebrate it every year because try as we might, we lose sight of the objective.  That is to create a better life for ourselves using the tools and faith that God gave us.  It’s an endless effort and needs renewing at least once per year. (Daily in my case cause I’m a slow learner.)
You know what else?  I can choose to treat myself better too.  Gosh knows most of us are our own worst critics.  That’s just WRONG in so many ways. Hey, it’s Christmas and we can try to change that in the future can’t we?   But alas, back to my point that Christmas is not only a religious holiday on the calendar, it is an annual event in my life that reminds me all is neither lost or won.  The battle rages on and the outcome, although frequently in doubt, is viewed by a force so spectacular as to be without adequate description.  So next year at this time, I get to look at the my concept of Christmas and again review my score of the last 60 something years and try to put some more points on the board for the Good Guys.  I think I can do that.  As a matter of fact, why wait till next year?  I’ll start right now by publishing this letter.
Merry Christmas to all my friends, readers, and of course family.
PS  WHAT’S RIGHT WITH AMERICA is that I have this opportunity to fearlessly tell anyone who wishes to listen, just how blessed I am.

I had to stop the car several times on various nights to admire the night sky.  Do you know how many you can see when you are in  the middle of nowhere?  There must be at least 100 stars up there.  Maybe more but I quit counting at 100.  It was making my neck stiff looking up.

I also noticed each state has its own “thing” about it.  They are all different in many ways.  But they are also beautiful if you enjoy the ride and appreciate them.  They also all have alot of the same stars above.  I didn’t know that.  Did you?

Campsites for a tent are sometimes hard to find.  The state parks are marked off most of the main roads, but it can be difficult to find one, especially since I don’t start looking till nearly dark.  Living in the outdoors is fun though.  You just have to learn to give up some amenities, like guaranteed daily showers.  Once you get past that stuff, the Gypsy routine is not hard to adapt to.  I don’t eat out much, unless I am stalking a WRWA contestant.  I have been talking less and seeing more.  My trip to Houston sort of broke my rhythm, but I’m beginning to realize that whatever I do on this trip will be worth the effort.  Just seeing the people and land in this great Country is inspiring.  It really is worth fighting for and the traditions are worth saving.  My passion has been enhanced, that is for sure.  I’m blogging from a Starbucks in Topeka right now.  Weather has been very agreeable, but Texas in September is too far south for me and too hot and humid.  It was in the mid – upper 90′s when I was there.  Since I left, the temp on the route has calmed down to the 80′s.  It is cooler in the mornings, but I don’t mind that at all.

Well so much foir this episode.  Next stop, downtown Nebraska.  Later fans.  Drake

So what have I been up to otherwise?  Let’s see, the 3rd night on the road, I was in WV and it got dark, so I was keeping an eye out for a place to stop.  I saw a sign for a 4H Camp and turned in. It was about dusk.  I went to the custodian’s house and was met by a large black dog who did not look socially inclined to make new friends. So after he barked away for awhile, I decided there was no one inside.  So I asked myself what anyone should ask themselves in this situation.  “If I was the custodian and a strange person came onto the camp and I wasn’t there, would I approve of him setting up a tent?”  Sure I would, that is what 4H is all about “Helping House Homeless Hobos.”  thus the 4H motto was born.  So I pitched my new tent and had every intention of informing the custodian of my plight when I was done.  Lo and behold, as I finished and I was walking back to make nice with the Big Black socially maladjusted dog, a truck approaches.  It’s 4H Dude!  He was very nice and told me to make myself at home in my tent.  As we exchanged pleasantries, he said to have a quiet night and told me I may have “visitors”.  So I says to him,  “Visitors?” He said, “Well we have deer that get curious, but they are harmless.”  I said thanks and turned toward the tent.  He then said, “Don’t let the coyotes howling bother you.  They won’t hurt you but they do get noisy at night.”  I thought to myself, “Why didn’t he just quit at the Deer?”  I said, I think I’ll sleep with my .45 tonight.  He thought that was a good idea.  So I did.

I got a good night’s sleep and enjoyed my new tent and meeting my new 4H friend, Darrell.  Next morning, he came driving up after I was out of the tent and asked how I did.  I told him the coyotes came by but I brandished my weapon and they left fearing for their lives. I think they were gang bangers looking for some action, but I was ready for ‘em.  He laughed as we kidded around.  I must say they were quite noisy and I wish I would have recorded the soundtrak of their howling. It went on all night intermittently. It was perfect for a werewolf movie.  Darrell, my new best 4H friend then offered to open a cabin and let me shower and clean up.  I couldn’t refuse.  It was not as exciting as the “River Wash”, but the water was warmer and I still got clean.

After that, I dried out the tent, ate some Cheerios and went on my way after speaking to Darrell about the plight of the old USA.  I made some notes and audio snippits of our conversation.  What a guy, a true American.  It was time to move on about 10:15 Thursday morning.

That’s all for now, library closing.  Talk to you in the next episode of “As Drake Turns the World Upside Down.”  It features exclusive documentary from various States in the local vacinity.  Later.  Drake

Wow.  Busy trip since I left my first Blog last Wednesday.  I will try to catch you up.  In short, I am so glad I decided to do this.  The most interesting thing about this “adventure” is that I have no schedule.  You know how it is when you are traveling somwhere?  You are trying to “get someplace” to enjoy yourself at the other end and then get home.  Well, take out the destination part and any time requirements.  If you had nowhere particular to go, and no time frame to get to where you weren’t going, what would the trip be like?  I’ll tell you what it is like.  It’s GREAT!  You just get to enjoy the journey.  There is no excuse to not take in everything you see, hear and are curious about.  Other benefits, you don’t care if you are in a traffic jam because you aren’t going anywhere.  If you get hungry, you eat.  When it gets dark and you’re tired of driving, you sleep.  Baths are optional. (My grandkids would love that).  The map is kind of optional; as well. 

I have been in VA, WV, OH, IN, IL, MO, AL, TX, LA, OK,  and now Kansas.  When I was traveling thru the mountains in WV and OH, Christine, (that’s my car) started making strange noises from her right front wheel. Now I have done lots of work on Christine since I brought her home from the auto adoption agency.  She is no sissy.  So when Christine talks to me that way, I tend to listen.  The intensity of my listening is in inverse proportion to the distance we are from home.  I was 700 plus miles out, so I listened real good.  I was outside Cape Girardiou MO when I decided to take a short detour to Houston TX. (700 mile detour)  Hey, my itinierary is wide open and I have 2 grand brats down there I don’t get to see enough.  So I arrived Monday night/Tuesday AM and proceeded to entertain the daughter and her family for the next two days while I got Christine diagnosed and found her a new wheel bearing and hub.  For you tech types, I also replaced her outer tie rod end. But I digress. On the AM of the 16th I headed back north to regain my proposed path to the west across the heartland.  So here I am.

Now about these people in “Flyover country”, as the politicians call them.  They are universally done with the clowns in DC and I predict, like Dick Morris, (the political analyst and campaign specialist from the Clinton era) did a few weeks ago or earlier that the democrats will lose the House and the Senate.  The writing is on the wall and just a few comments from virtually everyone I have met along the way tells me the incumbents are soon to be outcumbants.  That’s a good thing.  I will close now and open a new blog as my computer time is about up.  Later, actually sooner. Like in a few minutes.  Drake, a.k.a. Gypsy

For instance, yesterday, late afternoon I drove on a road parallel to the Morgan river or Morgan creek in western VA.  It was 5 PM and I hadn’t had a bath since I left home.  So I said, lets go take a bath in the Morgan River.  On with the swin suit, down to the river bank and voila’,  I’m clean.  Water was a little cold, maybe 70 – 72 but it was clean and clear.  Back in Lake Michigan, in the middle of August, the best the water gets is about 70, so I wasn’t surprised.  I will probably remember that bath till I die since I don’t remember the last time I did it.  Must have been on vacation in ’58 with the grandparents at Sand Lake in Spooner, Wisconsin.   Just before that, a few miles up the road, I stopped at the George Washington National Forest and climbed the trail to the top of the waterfall.  It was about 2 miles and seemed like straight up.  It wasn’t of course, but you get the idea. 

Nights are fun.  I drive till I feel tired and flop somewhere.  Tuesday night I slept on a picnic table at a church ground.  They are very hard to sleep on, but I’m really glad I got that sleeping bag before I left.  Last night, I decided to sleep in the car at a Trailhead area in the State park just off the back road.  I don’t know which I prefer, cars or picnic tables, but each has it’s advantage.  My body feels pretty much equally as bad when I get up, it just hurts in different places.  

Earlier today I passed thru a place called Richwood WV.  Don’t let the name fool you.  Except for the character of its population, there was nothing “rich” about it.  Seems it was always a coal mining town, and according to Maxine, the local office administrator of the newspaper, in 1984, about 500 mining jobs were lost because at that time, the price coal was too low to make it worth taking it out of the ground.  Since then, the town has been in slow decay.  I got a few pictures of it and it looks right out of the 50′s 0r 60′s.  Funny thing is all the people I spoke to there were not negative or angry.  They were content at least and hopeful at best.  There are Real Americans.  These are the ones I came out here to meet and talk to. 

I have some audio of my notes after interviewing each person.  So far there is nothing unexpected about their response to What’s Right with America!  There are a few common themes.  I think as I get more used to this dialogue, I will need to find a way to bring these folks out a bit to get a little deeper into their thoughts.  I have been happily able to stay out of politics, except on those occasions when the other person brings it up.  I have handled myself excellently, even if I do say so myself.  My Therapist will be proud.

Last night I met a really nice couple in VA. I stopped at a local restautrant, because thankfully, on this trip, all there are are local restaurants.  I went in and sat next to them specifically wishing to start a dialoge.  It was easy.  By the end of the dinner we were like best friends and Ken, the gentlemen, paid for my dinner without asking or telling me.  I’ll bet I have at least a zillion more stories to tell like that one before I get home.  I will sign off now and try to put out more later today or as soon as I get to another library. 

This was a great idea, and my feet aren’t even sore.  Later Gang.  Drake

I am in Hilton Head SC right now visiting with a few of my Grand Children and planning my trip modifications.  I am pleased that the physical setback presented itself early in the trip.  The mileage was not a problem, especially without any time constraints.  Problem was I was not prepared to carry all my equipment on my back, and my chiropractor was not aware that the load would be that substantial.

Well I am regrouping now and figured I can achieve all the intended purposes for the trip without physical drawbacks.  The addition of a walking/driving trip versus walking exclusively will allow me much greater flexibility en route.  I can now maintain my initial route, but additionally take excursions to nearby targeted congressional districts across the country.  While there, I would very much like to ask the folks in those targeted districts what they think of governmental changes in the last 18 months.  I’d like to get their thoughts specifically on their Representative’s support or opposition to the sweeping Government expansion via Healthcare and Financial reform.

November is around the corner and I’d like to ask folks if they are aware of what they are voting about.  More later.  Thanks to all who sent well wishes.  The tour is certainly not over and my passion and desire not one bit diminished.

Also, thanks to Ellen Barta for the unique garment she hand made for me for the trip.  It is a two piece “Bib” with my tour title, “What’s RIGHT with AMERICA” on front and back.  Thanks Ellen and Robert and Petey.

I have spent the entire last week preparing for the trek.  Stay tuned for details if you are new to my Blog.  I still have a few things coming in the mail and I expect them Friday, tomorrow.  If they don’t show, I think I will procure them elsewhere and head off by Saturday 31 July.  I can’t believe all the well wishers I have met.  People might say I was nuts for doing this, but surprisingly, most applauded my passion and dedication to this walk.  I believe there are a bunch of folks out there that feel the same way as I do.  I now have business cards and have sent them out via snail mail letters to supporters for whom I have no email address.  My email addressees will get the basic contact info within a day or so, definitely before I leave.  I am getting ready to record a YouTube clip so people can see and hear me.  I might get to that tonight, we’ll see.  That’s all for now.  More info, opinions, facts and links later.  Drake OUT!