Okay, let me start off by saying that traveling cross country via Greyhound is a wonderful idea in concept. But – my GOD – it is a very difficult test of endurance and sanity. Though I got to take pictures and explore numerous states and cities (I think eight states and over a twenty cities), the real prize, after enduring such a grueling trip, was the new friends I made throughout this journey.
I made friends with a fellow writer who also had a knack for drawing. He showed me his artwork and explained that he was going to Dallas, TX because he had an art gala that he was hosting along with a manga series he was working on. Even though I wasn’t very knowledgeable about the subject, we continued to talk about various anime and explore what we wanted to accomplish in our craft. Unfortunately, I couldn’t give him my business cards since it was in my suitcase, but we were able to exchange Instagram profiles, so it was a complete loss.
Along the way, I was running into a lot of passengers of Latin and Hispanic lineage who didn’t speak a lick of English. Worst yet, I came across numerous Greyhound drivers who didn’t bother to translate the rules and instructions to Spanish. This led me to use Google translator to help the passengers AND made sure that they got to where they needed to go. I swear…most of my phone’s energy was alternating between translating, YouTube and Netflix – but mostly, Translator. But, I’m not complaining…I would hope that someone who offer me the same courtesy if I was in the same predicament.
Well, after four days on the road, I finally made it to Philadelphia where I was greeted with very familiar landmarks and dialects (yes, Philadelphians have an accent and dialect). Around two in the morning, I finally made it to my cousin’s house where we spent the rest of the dawn talking about everywhere I traveled and every picture I have taken. He asked me if I was home for good; I told him no before telling him my plans. I could tell he was a little disappointed but proud.
Now, I need to set my plan in motion because I want to be back in California in a timely fashion. Please, don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads) which are on the right side of my web page. Also, I do love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2018.
