Escape Velocity

6/28
Today we left LA. The wife’s little brother came by in the morning to see us off. The movers arrived at 10am and finished around 3PM. They were impressive. I felt a little guilty sitting around doing not much while they worked so hard in near 100 degree heat. Even more guilty as they put about $30 of labor in protectively wrapping a $10 chair.

My best friend came by with lunch and a road gift – 10 mix Cds. I’m guessing that’s one for each day we intend to be driving.

As I was leaving the apartment building for the last time a group of guys were gathered around a friend rapping. One said “I told all my boys when I hit LA, it’s on.” A new arrival. I thought there’s a beginning to mirror my LA adventures ending. Again as one LA begins another ends.

So around 4pm we’re off. Out of here. Gone. Not that I was eager to leave but after so much prep we just wanted to be done with it. But it’s hard to feel like you’re on your way when the 101 freeway is crawling along at 10 MPH.

Then the radio news tells us of massive flooding in upstate NY. (Our destination!)

We stopped for a meal and it turned out to be the worst Chinese food we’ve ever had. Even worse than the Homeless Express place on Vine near my old bachelor apartment. I should have known better. In fact I did. There were plenty of warning signs. It sat in a strip mall with Big Lots, $1 Bargains, Food For Less, and Payday Check Advance. I remarked that these were seldom the neighbors of a good restaurant and yet in we went. The wife had orange chicken which I swear was made with Smucker's Orange Marmalade.

We listened to the road mix volume one and it was filled with so many “Don’t go” or “Come back” songs I nearly turned around.

After those 22 tracks we popped in the “Birthday Bash Fusion” CD (a J&E production). It was extremely apropos to drive through the desert at sunset to the sounds of Mutaytor’s “Drop the Laundry”.