lone star

i couldn't remember, as i drove down my family's driveway this past wednesday, why i was leaving. my sisters were standing outside crying, except for margaret who refuses to watch me leave anymore. my nephew was standing with them, waving and yelling with all the might in his little 2-1/2 year old body, "BYE, JAHMAY! BYE! SEE YA 'MORROW!"
the drive was long, to say the least. a lot of cornfields in northern illinois, but the southern part is beautiful. i stopped at a rest stop that happened to be on a lake shore; the sun was setting in brilliantine reds and the reflection on the lake was blinding.
i stopped in missouri after almost 12 hours, thanks to mary anne, who ordered me to instantly get a hotel room and go to sleep. i was a little focused: Must Get to Dallas Must Get to Dallas was imprinted on the inside of my eyelids, i think. the next day, i drove through arkansas, which is a singularly unpleasant state. but i realized, too, why i love virginia. as much as i love the countryside, i was born in downtown detroit and raised in the inner city as a wee one. consequently, the vast and endless expanse of sky and plains and sky intimidate me a lot. i miss my sweet, sweet virginia (what compels me to go?). the blueridge mountains, especially in the shendandoah valley, are like remnant of middle earth. they are the comforting arms of ancient, wise old mother earth, protectingly encircled around the little ones who fled to her bosom. "i turn my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help."
dallas is, indeed, hot flat and ugly. but it is good to be here. hopefully this is where i am supposed to be. i start classes on wednesday, and i am very excited. i don't know exactly what i'm taking yet, but i am excited to be reading and writing again. and my flippant, flighty little mind will be forced to focus and sharpen and all sorts of other good, useful things. bottoms up to liberal arts!