June 19, 2018, Williamsburg-

I have used the two days, since leaving Philadelphia, to visit a couple of places that Penny, Aram and I missed on an ambitious, but tortuous, road trip, in 2007.

Throwing in a short photo shoot at the closed Edgar Allan Poe House, on Baltimore’s West Side, and some scenes in the Mount Vernon section, I found used on Fort McHenry, one of the places we missed, 11 years ago.

I found the structural aspects fascinating and Francis Scott Key’s complicated story, compelling. More about these, when The 2018 Road series resumes.

My next mission was to visit Penny’s second cousin, in southeast Maryland, as she had lost her mother, four months ago. It was a cathartic and crucial two hours.

As it happens, two other events occurred, as I was leaving HI-Baltimore: Penny’s only living aunt passed away, at the age of 99 and Aram got engaged.

Today, after meandering some, as far as Point Lookout, Maryland’s southern tip, I headed for Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the U.S. For lack of a $5 bill, I forewent visiting Point Lookout, with nearby Scotland Beach as a substitute. Just as well, as Jamestown is well worth a full four hours, or more.

This brings up the matters of nationalism and glory. Both at Fort McHenry and at Jamestown, the curators have taken great pains to illustrate the roles of people of colour in every chapter of our national story. I hope to see more of this, as the educational portion of my journey continues.

April 30, 2018, Twin Arrows, AZ-

As I sit in this quiet hotel lobby, watching over a little boy and his family, in various stages of sleep, I feel an odd comfort. They may very well have lost their home by now.

The power in their forest home may be shut off, also, as authorities seek to curb further sources of fire. The wind, meanwhile, is roaring, and is no doubt being answered by the blaze, 60 miles to the southeast, in a hideous call and response.

I am as alone now, as I’ve been in quite a while. An online group, with whom I’ve been sharing some fairly deep thoughts, have gone dark, after one of their number took exception to a post I wrote on their site. I deleted the post, but no matter. What’s done is done and even among the enlightened, there are limits to what one is allowed to say.

Here, at least, I can pretty much speak freely, so long as I am respectful of others. I love so many, albeit mostly not in a romantic way. (There are only two of whom I can say I am inclined that way and I’ve met neither, in person, so that may be fanciful thinking.) It matters little, though I am bound to be scolded for entertaining such feelings, yet again. We live in a judgemental society.

Enough of this. I need to rest a bit and focus my thoughts on the day ahead. There will be the drive back to Prescott, a couple hours of work, a haircut and a chiropractic treatment, then more rest and some time at the gym.

Be safe and well. I love you all.

April 4, 2018, Prescott-

I might have renewed my library card,

some time ago.

So, with my laptop

in the shop,

I determined

to the refuge

I would go.

A kind soul

recommended

Internet Cafe,

as well.

I used those,

in Europe,

but there are

none, in cities

like Prescott.

Our wonderful Library

system, though,

offers plenty of time

and space,

for catching up

on the mandatory,

like e-mail,

and the pleasantries,

like this network.

There are people on here,

who will be glad

I’m alive,

and others,

who will be relieved

that I won’t be

as ubiquitous,

for the next few days.

I see the latter aren’t

around much, themselves,

anyway,

so no matter.

I’m just glad to have

reconnected,

with a lifelong friend,

the Public Library system.

April 4, 2018, Prescott-

Fifth years gone.

How have I changed?

I have come to know

many more people of colour.

I have grown to know them

as complete human beings,

instead of just

sympathetic figures,

on a screen.

I have learned to listen,

rather than pontificate.

I have felt the pain,

not just of the victims,

but also,

of the oppressors,

both witting and unwitting.

Fifty years down,

where are we,

as a people?

We are more inclusive.

We are, in many cases,

more willing

to have neighbours

of demographics

other than our own;

to welcome

new family members

who don’t look like us.

Left to overcome:

the suspicion;

the blame-shifting;

the false equivalency;

the name-calling;

the residue of Jim Crow.

He is yet an inspiration,

and that some ask

how can a man of colour

be a role model for

a man of pallour,

is itself proof

of how far we’ve yet to go.

The boy, named for an archangel,

and renamed for a flawed,

but powerful, change-agent,

remains one of my heroes.

April 3, 2018, Prescott-

My trusty laptop

is in the shop,

until Saturday.

I’m hoping it can be

cleaned up and

stay up to snuff .

In the meantime,

I will check WP

when I can.