The United States

A project of sorts, a project about connections and places. The ramification of My Most Recent Life Decision.

The project is to get across the united states, from Idaho to New York, staying at night, when possible, through 1^st and 2^nd degrees of separation. This involves hopeful posts on facebook, asking people who they know in Nebraska, and checking email frequently. I did this in 2011, going the opposite direction heading to my soil science degree, with Buddy Holly. We slept in the spare room of my pastor’s brother in Chicago, in the adorable guest bed in Minnesota of my community college’s guidance counselor’s ex-boyfriend (before-she-discovered-she-was-a-lesbian)…. people who I’d never met before but who welcomed us and threaded us across the country.

I studied soil for a while in the west, then studied it some more in the Puget Sound, then went bicycling around southeast Asia, flew to the Puget Sound because my car was left there, and then had to make a choice between 2 job offers.

Originally when I stuffed my Subaru and rolled west, I told everyone I was for sure coming back. “Don’t worry I won’t stay there long.” But then, in the Puget Sound, I fell for the bike lanes in Seattle, the mild winters, the glory of Her Elusive Majesty Mt Rainier, the ever-linking public transportation, and a certain small and resoundingly supportive Episcopal church. So I leave a substantial book mark there.

I am returning east, to the small fingerlakes and collegy town of Geneva in upstate NY. In some ways I am thinking of this as returning home, and in some ways I think of this as a visit. I have taken a hands-on, experience-rich, and lowly job at Bejo Seeds, Inc (until this November). I will be trotting around outdoors this summer, learning the subtleties of irrigation, and of caring for and taking inventory of 54 types of vegetable varieties. What I think might be my dream jobs (university extension, sustainable agriculture research, urban farm projects) call for “X number of growing seasons experience” and so tra la this summer I shall gain said experience.

I am also very eager to spend a summer among the fingerlakes (and Lake Ontario), something I have not done since I was immature and unappreciative. I look forward to bicycling the drumlins, to cooling off in freshwater…but most importantly I shall be equidistant from all those important loved ones I left a few years ago. My aunts and uncles, my parents, Buddy Holly, all the Rochester people (who are also essentially aunts and uncles). This next chapter will be a blend of Moving Somewhere New (I won’t be living at home) and Being Bold And Brave Because It Is New, and also the irreplaceable comfort of people who’ve known me most of my existence.

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I’d spent the last week or so in Moscow ID playing Easter services for my other Episcopal church and living with some lovely church people, Mr. and Mrs. Hydrology. I come in one night, and there they are at the kitchen table reading issues of Nature. “Hey look at this supernova!” Mr. Hydrology says eagerly to Mrs. Hydrology, showing her his page. Oh scientists. I think they are adorable. They’ve been married 30 years and frequently go hiking and rafting.

Who’d a thunk, that 2 years ago when I was introduced to Mr. Tenor (aka Mr. Hydrology) at the Idaho Episcopal church, that I’d be coming back and baking them muffins and sleeping under their tribal blankets in the spare room. People are so wonderful.

Spending time in Moscow was lovely (save for the cold and wind), and almost convinced me I could live there. The co-op, having your errands slowed substantially due to chatting with everybody, the bicycles all over. Being close to my church so that I could wake up in the morning with a hymn traveling around my head, and then walk over and play that hymn. But I cannot see myself living for too long in endless acres of wheat.

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This trip germinated in 3 days; when a job offer is made then a decision must quickly accompany it. I had to choose between 1) vegetables in upstate NY, 2) customer support for environmental science equipment in ID, and 3) floating around for longer while applying for more jobs, helping out at my favorite pub, and playing for church. I chose 2, which then means I have to get there.

And so Mr. India, dear Mr. India who now happily has a post-doc assignment at UI in hydrological modeling, is accompanying me across the country. We shall have ourselves an epic road trip. But we are driving ourselves towards our end, ending while we are still golden, ending because in October (supposedly the auspicious month for this according to His Mother) he goes back to India and must acquire a wife of the arranged marriage variety. In a week he gets on an airplane in upstate NY back to Idaho and that is that.  (oh cultures and duty and differences and acceptance and grieving) 

But I’ve had the blessing of a romance out of Bollywood and I do not regret anything.