The Dude Abides

As for man, his days are like grass, /he flourishes like a flower of the field; /the wind blows over it and it is gone, /and its place remembers it no more. Psalm, 103:15, 16.

So I have finally given in and started a travel blog. I have read the blogs of others, and generally enjoy them. I would encourage all who read this to write comments bordering on the absurd, irreverent, and inane. I prefer snide remarks that rebuff my writing, quotes from movies, and random thoughts posted without context. To the person who either writes the funniest comment or has the funniest username, I shall give them one small Asian child. Let's see what you all come up with.

P.S. If you join the blog you can add a picture and pick your username.

Upon a Leaving

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding spiders across the stars..." - Jack Kerouac, On The Road, 1957

I have found this quote appropriate when I think of my life. I've had my last weekend in New York, and I now live the tedious last week at home preparing and packing for my travels. I am not only packing what I will bring with me, but I am packing away what I will leave behind. Add your own meaning to this seemingly obvious metaphor, as I don't wish to be sentimental. I've added this quote at the beginning of my travels because I feel Kerouac personifies best what I hope this blog will become. He wrote about the American road with a passion and honesty that endeared him to a generation of Americans. I hope this blog will be half as interesting and twice as clean for the sake of my mother and grandmother. Enjoy what you read, and thank you all.