Problogue

I still remember moving back to Tulsa after college in a two-car caravan with Isaac. The day we left was the day the northeastern US and part of southeast Canada lost power, and we were leaving from Detroit. I figured it would be safest to be on the highway, because most city roads are dependant on electricity for traffic lights, but highways are made to manage traffic flow. I didn't plan on Isaac's bright yellow Jeep needing gas. No gas pumps were working the greater Detroit area, so we limped along to the other side of Jackson, where we found a gas station with a working pump - along with about 50 other travellers. And oddly, I still remember seeing the Williams logo on a storage facility along the way. Later, I would do some work related to that company, but it wasn't even a thought of mine at the time.

The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful, though we had several occasions where we weren't sure we'd find gas in time to keep Isaac on the road. My car didn't exactly sip gas, but his Jeep probably could've taken a drink from a fire hose.

Each chapter in life seems to have bookends, and some sort of significant event seems to mark the beginning of those chapters. Or, maybe chapters of our lives are defined by significant events. Either way, I'm off on an adventure that will surely be worthy of its own chapter in my life. In a few days, I head off to live in Australia for three months - which is really the reason for this blog - to chronicle the life and times that make up this short chapter, which has prompted me to reminisce about the chapter I'm closing--or interrupting, I guess, since I'll be back in a few months.

Funny that the last one began and ended with crashing at some friends' houses (thanks, Ben and Virginia, for putting up with me a few years ago, and Aaron and Blair a few days ago), while all my life's possessions were either in a small storage unit or in the back of my car.



I remember getting in trouble with Ben for not calling to let him know I would be getting in late one night. And I remember getting in trouble with Aaron and Blair when I felt bad about coming in really late, so I slept in my car for a while until I knew it wouldn't be bad if I woke them.

I guess those are my bookends. Cup half empty - homeless vagabond, mooching off kind people. Cup half full - living with open horizons and without ties, and grateful for the kindnesses of (and time with) friends. And I'm a "half full" kind of guy.