#smalltown usa

[candlelitcorners]

she called me out into the field. i brought her to my cabin.

[candlelitcorners]

out back after church

[candlelitcorners]

only visitors i get out here are the mormon ladies, and folks lookin to serve papers.

i dont answer the door to neither.

[candlelitcorners]

as a midwesterner, I would rather die than go through another winter, and I'm starting to feel a little worried about that as summer ticks away

[candlelitcorners]

I live alone. I don't have neighbors; I'm far from town. No one ever comes by. My home is silent, and still.

But today, someone walked across my yard early in the morning- someone I didn't know. My breathing quickened as he crossed the tall grass.

I watched, frozen, as he stood with his back to my home for a long time. I was too scared to come out or call through the window.

My heart was beating so loudly he might have heard it, but I couldn't move to pound on the glass or screamed at the stranger.

I should have said something; should have... warned him.

I could only be still and watch as he left and the broken creature stalked behind him.

[capturedbykat]

// same crosswalk //

different time of day

shot on holga 

[pod7etliveblogs]

Summary of Day Whatever this is

So today we started in Lafayette, CO and I spent a lot of time talking to my friend’s mother-in-law. We’ve known each other for a few years and it was great. My friend and her husband however, were long gone on a business trip. They left at 4:30AM.

Then we started driving. Colorado slowly became reminiscent of the North Dakota scenery, which if I’ve spoken with you since then, I’m sure I’ve told you it’s the most depressing scenery. Part of me is amazed by the flatness of the state, but the rest of me is bored to tears by the amount of corn and insects. Also that bird that dove in front of my car.

Then eventually we hit Kansas. Surprisingly, Kansas had the BEST rest stop I’ve ever seen. It was clean and big and filled with friendly staff and even had free coffee. I didn’t think that Kansas would register on my list of states that I liked, but it did. Also, as soon as I crossed the state line I started playing Carry On My Wayward Son and while [name redacted] was trying to nap. But there was no way that I could enter Kansas and not listen to Kansas. That’s preposterous.

Speaking of [name redacted], she has some massive amounts of work to do and like, I might have to drop her off in Ohio at the Republican National Convention soon. And if that happens, all ya’ll east coasters watch out, because that means I have some free time to visit ya’ll while she’s working. I can travel at pod7et’s stupid travel rate. I uhhh . . . met this German couple who is also road tripping and we both have traveled for 12+ hours/day only I managed to travel over 1000 miles and they haven’t. Uhhh . . . I swear I haven’t broken any land-speed records in my Prius. I mean, it’s a PRIUS!

So after Kansas, we went to Oklahoma, and then to Texas, and then back to Oklahoma and we stayed with this awesome couple on Oluskee, OK. If you ever are traveling, I’d recommend them. They re a great example of southern hospitality from New Yorkers. A+, would do again!

Tomorrow we are headed toward Arkansas (a phrase I never thought I’d utter, but I have a friend who lives there because her husband works at a local college). I can’t wait to see them again. It’s been years. And on the way I might get to have coffee with @formidablepassion which is EXTRA exciting!!!

[whatwoulddianearbusdo-blog]

I ventured into the small town of Hampton yesterday with my friend Olivia Langdon. The recently elected mayor was arrested for selling prescription drugs, and it was our job to find out how the community was taking the news. 

It was a really cool experience. We went door to door in residential areas, asking people how they felt. Many were standoffish, but many were very helpful.

We lucked out and ended up tracking down his brother. 

Read the full story here.