Fuel

A clear head. A clear mind. Clear vision. One would assume that the combination of clear senses would result in a clear plan for the future. But alas, it evades me again.

I am happy. I am enjoying the road and my friends. I love what I'm doing now. A year ago, I never would have thought that I would be anywhere but the Pizza Box, rolling dough and taking orders. So there, my wee brain!

And yet while the present is clear, the future is foggy. I have yet to figure out why. Perhaps it is the lack of contact with those at home lately. Perhaps it is the persistent twitch of my fingers and the nagging desire in the back of my mind to spill out the words that want to come. But I resist. I've taken a new path and I will stick with it. I am learning a lot - surely my prayers for wisdom did not lead me down the wrong route.

A bump in the road (literal) jolts me from my thoughts and I glance out the back window. I smile. Our shadow is still with us. Who knows how many others would have grown weary by now? Most journalists would write from a distant, using the information they're fed by others. But not Alice. No, she's a wild one, she is. But even with a wild side, she comes with a heart that knows no bounds. Alice, what would we do without you?

And thus, my entry comes to a close. We're pulling up to a gas station now. Prime time for a potty break and a good ol' mountain dew to refuel. Wooee!

Sleeplessness

Insomnia... my enemy, yet he sticks close tonight. I use him as an excuse to write though. The bus is quiet. I think everyone else is asleep. I look out the window to see the quiet jeep as well. Shadows need sleep too. Tomorrow night we'll have a hotel with real beds. I can't wait, and neither can the girls.

Haven't been on the road that long, but already I'm beginning to settle. It's routine now. But even routines can hold adventures, and the road certainly does that. Today's flat tire was proof of that. How many guys does it take to change one tire on a bus? Don't ask. Alice - don't put that in your next article!

Spirits are high and the energy doesn't seem to run out. It's like the momentum of the bus is an energy charger so we're constantly filling up. Nightly devotional times in the group has been a great encouragement as well.

Tomorrow we're climbing a bit north again. A wee bit cooler, but spring is everywhere. We're Breaking Out, and spring is too. I wonder what it smells like back home as the season changes. Hey, Jen, can you box up some Nevada air and send it to me in the mail? They say there's no place like home, and I believe it now. But really... I'm getting along well. I'm really loving the new sights every day and loving the cause we're traveling for. If there's one thing I'm thankful for right now, it's saying yes to Hunter's invitation.

Oh, look, a firefly. Well, I'm wide awake, why not him too? I think I'll go take a nighttime walk and see if that helps.

Laughter

Just starting to sink in that this isn't a vacation. When traveling away from home any other time, there's always been that lingering feeling that the adventure's end was within sight, for good or bad. But not this time. The indefinite time frame has an odd sense about it. But it is indeed an adventure. And how could I not want an adventure?

Making a few stops to relax and regroup has been fun. Daily team meetings are a blast of course when we really get down to business. Surrounded by a group of friends - what more could a guy ask for?

Alice is still right behind us. Though I've sneaked over to her vehicle a few times just to get behind the wheel and get some different company, chunks at a time. I make everyone on the bus laugh. Alice makes me laugh. And she seems to run on her own energy to create her own laughter that bubbles over. I love Break Out, no doubt - but having one of my best friends along certainly makes things sweeter.

Another bump in the road - another jolt to the system. It's amazing we don't all need chiropractors after Jordan's driving. I'm going to stop typing now before my precious laptop goes flying off my lap.