Monday
Jul232012
Eat, Play, Drive
Monday, July 23, 2012 at 6:47PM Mrs. G. 
Photo by Pink Sherbert Photography
Mrs. G. needs a few days unwinding at home before she can even begin to reflect on various aspects of the trip and what they meant to her. While she simmers in the aftermath, she wonders if you have any questions about her loopy voyage. She only asks because nearly everywhere she went, derfs leaned in closely and whispered, "Are you really having fun?" or "Have you met any serious weirdos?" or "Are you lonely?"
Ask her anything. Mrs. G. will spill.
tagged I Am A Derfwad/Summer 2012
I Am A Derfwad/Summer 2012
Reader Comments (35)
Would you do it again?
What would you have planned differently?
I frequently put myself in your place and wondered if--at some point-- you felt like holing up in a dark closet with a telephone and saying, "Come get me. I can't say one more word about anything." I think I'd be that way even with all of the awesome folk you met.
How many non-Derfs did you meet (friends, husbands, kids, random neighbors)? And did they all laugh at the name "Derfwad Manor" if you told them?
Were there any MAJOR surprises (people NOT being like you thought, places being wildly different than your preconceived notions)?
What were your darkest middle-of-the-night ponderings?
What did you read during the trip? (books, I mean)
What are the first things you did upon getting home?
Call me curious.
YES! She's touring the West Coast this fall and WE CANNOT WAIT! The bar has been set high. I've got the American Vernacular Museum of Cat Art in my powder room. Come on-a my house!
http://youtu.be/mriXncI96lw
I just have to ask... When you discussed that you had left medication behind along the way you mentioned a "cat bite". Curiosity is killing me! Did I miss the cat bite post or did this occur early on with the cat on the leash during the rest stop incident? Or was it a bad incident with your treasured cat painting?
What did you like best and least? What did you learn about yourself? Do you feel differently about yourself now that you have undertaken this incredible voyage? What were the funniest/silliest/most unexpected/scariest things that happened?
Was there enough "down time" and "alone time" during this journey?
Did you wish for a traveling companion much of the time, or did you find you really needed that time in the car to be alone?
Is Flat Johnny going on the West Coast tour?
When are you going to visit Spokane? ;)
Any good Pie???
At one point, you mentioned that your journey was truly life-changing. Once the dust clears a bit, I'd love to hear more about that impact.
Also? We need to learn more about the dog situation at home. Seriously. This is important.
What was music like all those hours on the road? Did you listen to it more than half the time you were driving? Did you cruise local radio stations, or stick to your CD collection?
Was it hard to drive so long between stops? Did you wish you had more time at each stop?
Best thing you ate? I ask everyone this and would you do it again? Still sorry I missed you in KC.
There's no place like home, there's no place like home!
I think Kate in Michigan read my mind.
How did the G Men cope in your absence...any hilarious disasters to relate?
...or lists of things they didn't realise you did, till you were gone?
Was it sad turning in your car?
In what part of the country would you like to spend more time - now that you have had a taste of it?
OK, I will have to do TWO things for the West Coast tour - One, I will offer to host Mrs G in Los Angeles (actually, in unincorporated Los Angeles County just five miles form the beach), Two - I will try to drive up to Heidi's place, because I HAVE to see the Vernacular Cat Art.
As a matter of fact, I found some Vernacular Cat Art in Dijon, France, that I must post about. Not meaning to blog-whore-tease, but stay tuned......!
Someone please remind me of the dates for the West Coast tour? We have grandparents near LA so maybe I can make another Derf meetup!
Can I go with you next time? I seriously think it is fantastic that you did this trip. I would certainly expect it to be life changing. This would be far out of most people's comfort range, certainly mine. Just reading the blog posts, it makes me wonder if it restored your faith in humanity? Seems like every day life has way too many encounters with the idiots and jerks of the world, that maybe a few weeks on the road and meeting all sorts of fun new people would change your outlook.
Does this give you the courage and confidence to try something new/different that maybe a month ago you would never thought of doing?
What was your favorite moment on the trip (besides seeing Miss G, of course!)? :) I know it's hard to choose, but maybe pick what first comes to mind...
Bonnie, she will likely tell you that MY APPLESAUCE PIE here at my house was the BEST pie she has ever had in her life....and really, that leads nicely to my question: staying here and partying here was the absolute BEST part of your trip, wasn't it Missus G? Thanks, I thought so :)
Did you miss having alone time? I'm not talking about the time in the car, but the time when you are at someone's home and just wanted to stop talking for a bit and putter around the house, sit and read a book, eat, or anything and just feel like you weren't "on".
What would you do differently?
Was it overwhelming to meet people against the backdrop of visiting iconic places all over the country (some for the first time)? Did you get to certain spots and wish you had family/friends from home to share with you? (Aside from seeing us in the Boston area, of course.)
Which talk show are you most looking forward to when you promote the book?
Are people more the same than different?
Good questions - all of them. And I will enjoy reading the answers. My only question is - Do you want me to send you some grits?
as I was driving home from the store yesterday and just thinking, thinking, thinking about this wondrous trip you took on, I had this secret smile on my face. It was the type of smile that comes when someone you know has done something so fabulous that it makes your heart sing. My heart was signing as I was reliving the things that you did and how good, very good, it must feel to have done it.
You met so many people, ate such good food, had good conversations, laughed, cried (?) maybe a tear or two- I would have been at buckets... and saw many. many things.
I think, or would like to think that you had the time of your life and enjoyed it all, well almost all.
I think you were funny, kind, caring, gracious, gregarious, additive, lively and quick.
I think you were better than Christmastime, better than the Easter Bunny and had an impact as good as the good witch in the wizard of Oz on us all.
Sigh, questions.
Yes, when will I see you again- you are living in my head, my heart and I would like one more minute with you.
Hugs, Hugs galore.
Was there a point when you said to yourself, "I have just completely lost my mind and am turning this car around NOW and going home"?
This usually happens to me until I've crossed the border, then I figure I'm here and might as well enjoy myself.
Did you overcome your fear of bridges?
Did you meet any weird strangers (besides the woman at the rest stop)?
Did the cat painting start conversations at gas stations, etc? Or did people give you a wide berth and not make eye contact?
What core belief was confirmed for you? What core beliefs was shattered?
What was your favorite area you drove through, what was the least favorite.
Doing this trip with a friend would have been awesome, doing this trip alone was amazing. You...Mrs. G...are amazing. Thanks for the memories.
During the trip, I kept on flashing on the character of Claudia, from The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler. At the end of the book she says to her her brother that she doesn't want to go home differently, but wants to go home different. What kind of difference did this trip make? Did you find whatever you were looking for?
I was going to ask the same thing ChristinNY did, which was, Did the trip accomplish what you wanted it to accomplish?
How DID you stay on the whole time you were with others (I'm assuming you did from others posts, and from yours). You were so gracious and welcoming in Kansas City. I know you had the pre-prepared questions in case we hit a quiet spot, but how did you psych yourself up to stay ON after driving for hours and hours?
Did you get to really leave your responsibilities at home? (Mine always seem to find me, no matter where I go.)
What is the working title of the book?
Did you ever have any doubts about meeting people whom you undoubtedly have a good relationship online with, but might not go well when meeting in person, and maybe finding out more about them than you wanted to know? I ask because that would have been a concern of mine.
Didja get most of your stuff back?
Which gas stations are the best to stop at, for the inevitable potty-break?
Did you have any major fears that you had to over come for the trip, or overcame during the trip? Any tricks you used? (For example, I would be scared to death to drive through some of those big cities.)
How did you plan your wardrobe and packing for such a long trip?
What are the best road trip snacks?
Approximately how many times did you call someone or get called a whore/slut?
what was the best tasting new food you discovered?