We left Hilary and Nate's new home in Alexandria yesterday at noon and arrived at the campground at 6:00. Since we are staying this first night in Pennsylvania and not Ohio, we took a slightly different route. Different highways, same beautiful green rolling hills. We had to drive 30 miles off of 80 to get to the campground in Pymatung State Park. We drove through several Pennsylvania townships of various economic means from run down shack-like abodes to grand homes on large lots of land. One thing that tied them all together were the American flags and the Trump/Pence signs adorning their lawns. Some of the homes had huge flags and signs that said “Keep America Great”. So this is Trump country.
We are so insulated from this in the Bay Area. I personally have never met anyone who voted for Trump although I have done a lot of reading about why some Americans support him. Thomas has met exactly one person who has voted for Trump – someone delivering goods from Home Depot to us who is now disillusioned with the president and what he is doing. But the people in the homes we passed are still supporting a president who has shown himself to be a raging narcissist who cares nothing for the real well-being of the American citizenry. Thomas and I wondered, if we could sit down with one of these households and really listen to each other what would we learn. But of course, that is the real issue – we are now so polarized that we cannot really hear the other point of view.
I am getting ahead of myself here because the loveliest part of this travel day began before we left Alexandria. Nate and Hilary took us on a beautiful bike ride through Alexandria and it has stolen our hearts. They could not have landed in a more charming and welcoming city. They took us through the distinct little neighborhoods of the city down to the waterfront of the Potomoc River. Across the way we viewed the nation's capital ~ a city I have learned to love from those many trips with eighth graders seeing every monument and every museum. And I felt hopeful in both a micro and macro level. My kids have landed in their lives. Our country is on the brink of righting itself.
On a more personal note...I am curious as to the tone these next blog entries will take as we trail away. We have just said good-bye to our family. They are all settling into their own lives far away from us. It reminds me of a thought I had when my kids were very young. From the moment they can crawl they are going their own way and that is what is supposed to happen. In a time of what we used to think of as normalcy I could use all those points I have accumulated to plan my next trip back very soon. I could have my life in California and my time with my children. As we drive west Thomas and I feel so bereft. The weather on this first leg channeled our experience. First it was a little overcast leaving Virginia, then the cloud cover in Maryland darkened the sky, then it poured, then it rained so hard we could almost not see out the windshield. When it cleared in Pennsylvania, we were in Trump country. All the while the beauty of the endless lush and green land had us awestruck.
Today we left for our first day on the road. Your posts have captured so many of my anticipated emotions. Safe travels home!