A few pictures from my trip in the U-Haul from Boise to San Diego:
My ornamental cabbages get a very pleasing pattern of frost on them in the mornings now. I hope whoever is in the house next spring enjoys all the bulbs I planted. They'll have purple and blue crocuses in the back yard, huge yellow daffodils along the front of the house, and purple and white tulips and irises in the front planter.
The scenery between Boise and Salt Lake City is rather bleak and flat. But there is a certain beauty to it, especially near the end of the day.
Ye Olde ATM
We were amused by this cash machine out in the middle of nowhere, far away even from the convenience store that presumably owns it.
My dad on the computer in the hotel room in Las Vegas. He found ways to keep us connected all along the way. Laptop computer, wifi internet, iPhone, iPod, digital camera... we had it all. Too bad the computer couldn't provide cruise control for the truck!
When I was planning my escape to Idaho, I had a feeling that some things would become clear to me that I couldn't yet see through the haze of all the work and commitments I had in L.A. I was excited to find out what I would discover about myself and what it would mean for my future.
Unfortunately, such discoveries are not always pleasant. Stepping back and looking at my life through clear eyes showed me something I did not want to see, and led me to a path I never intended to take. There were warning signs before we left L.A., some subtle and some overt, but the excitement of leaving, combined with the emotional toll of saying good-bye to my cherished friends and activities, clouded my vision.
Being far away from friends and family and unencumbered by a regular job put my personal relationship in the spotlight. We cared deeply about each other and we were both committed to making the relationship work, but we had some recurring issues. Ultimately I discovered, unfortunately, that there was no acceptable middle ground. Our differences were fundamental and substantial. No amount of wishing or trying could take away the underlying fact that we were not right for each other.
After arriving at that realization, I took a couple of trips that I already had planned, visiting friends and family in Salt Lake City and checking out Portland, Oregon as a possible place to land. Then I flew to San Diego to be in the comfort of my parents' home for a bit, while I contemplate my next move.
When I started my blog, "Escaping Paradise" was an ironic statement. I was declaring my rejection of the characteristics that people seem to seek out in Southern California: the endless summer, the party atmosphere, the paparazzi. All these are things that I don't value. I felt that I could find my own paradise somewhere else, away from the distractions of L.A. But now I feel like I've accidentally escaped every aspect of paradise, and find myself instead in a very uncomfortable limbo.
I'm not saying that I regret going to Idaho. For one thing, I'm still too close to it all to hope for any objectivity on the subject. But I also see that life only moves in one direction, and whatever steps I took in the past have led me to where I am now. I'm happy to be myself and to be alive here and now, so I have to accept and appreciate the events that carried me here.
When I was in Portland, I spent a contemplative hour or two in the Japanese Gardens. One of my favorite parts of the gardens was the zigzag path.
I enjoyed following the path along its twisty way, turning a full 90 degrees at each new corner I encountered. I realized that it would be good to appreciate my life right now in the same way. I want everything to be straight and clear, to know my destination and see the way to get there. But if that's not the way it's going to be, why not regard the turns and changes of direction as a fun, scenic path?
And so I round this corner, a sharp 90-degree turn to the right, and look at things from a new perspective... again. I'm sure there will be another discovery waiting for me, just around the bend.
Here it is... the post you've all been waiting for! WE FOUND HIM!
Remember when I mentioned the guy who looked like Rod Stewart, striding around in a 3-piece formal pink suit? Well, we saw him again... and we had a nice long chat with him! It's so nice to be with someone sociable and pleasant like Peter. If it were solely up to me, I would lurk around the corner and pretend to be looking at my phone while snapping a picture of him. (Like I did with Cynthia Nixon... you can see by the look on her face exactly how subtle I managed to be.)
But Peter can easily strike up a conversation with anyone, no matter how aggressively his hair is spiked. So he offered to take my picture with the guy. I said only if we do it really quickly... but Rod Stewart II had a whole life story to tell!
We stayed and talked for a while. I should have let us stay longer, but I started doing the "honey, let's get outta here" arm pinch after 15 minutes or so. I guess I'm just uncomfortable talking to strangers... emphasis on the strange. But he was harmless and rather interesting, with, as it turns out, a good heart to boot.
Mr. Randy Fowler drives a limo for a living. He has dozens (hundreds?) of custom-made suits, and his clients are invited to request one upon booking their limo ride. You can take a look at the wide range of options on his colorful website. (Home page rodslimos.com. Tonight's the Night.) Randy used to be a drummer in a band, but one night he found himself in Boise, the only un-incarcerated band member, and thought he might settle down. He ran a video production business for a while, but when people kept commenting on his rock-n-roll look, he thought he might be able to capitalize on it better in a more public position. He enjoys his job and feels that the customer service he provides is what sets him aside from other options people might have. That and the suits.
A biography of Mr. Fowler has been in the works for some time now, but he says progress keeps stalling because publishers want him to talk about his brother. He says he had a rough childhood and doesn't want to bring his brother into the picture. We nodded knowingly, but I sort of wondered why he kept mentioning his brother, as if we already knew who he was. He seemed a bit hesitant to share personal details, so I didn't pry... until we got home.
According to several sources, Randy Fowler's brother is Kevin Spacey. (Kaiser Soze! The man who killed his own wife and family in cold blood!) Wikipedia confirms that Kevin Spacey was born Kevin Spacey Fowler, and that he has a brother named Randy. It also mentions how close-mouthed he is about his private life, which would explain Randy's hesitation to capitalize on his brother's fame. You can read more details in an interview with Randy at Uncle Boise, an area blog. (Or should I say...another area blog? ;)
Randy spoke at length about his most passionate project, working to prevent child abuse. Having survived it himself, he feels if he helps even one child to escape a bad situation, he will have done his part. He often visits schools to speak about the issue, and says he can capture children's attention more easily than others, given his quirky sense of style and rock-n-roll sensibility. I have heard from other area residents that he drives leukemia patients to the hospital as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation's program. (I just have to say, though... if I were ever to Make-A-Wish, it wouldn't be for Rod Stewart. Maybe he could start a sister business? Sting's Taxis, perhaps?) In any case, he's clearly working for some good causes, and we were touched by his selfless endeavors.
We told him we'd be sure to see him around. As we walked away, Peter remarked that he could have continued the conversation for quite a while longer. I felt bad to have cut it short. We turned around to look where he had been, standing outside a bar smoking his cigarette, but we couldn't see him anywhere. And like that... he's gone.
