blue highways

[M2]

by William Least Heat-Moon

PSUFAN recommended this book to me three or four years ago. At that time, I borrowed it from the library and started to read it. I thought it sucked so I took it back mostly unread.

I just finished reading a new non-fiction novel called The Last Season by Eric Blehm. The blue highways novel was mentioned several times as being one of the most influencial books on the main character. So I figured I'd give blue highways another shot.

Now I'm hooked like a mofo. Maybe you have to be at a point in your life where you feel attuned to the forces that drove the author to Ghost Dancing. When I first tried to read the novel, I was in my late 30's, still kicking ass and conquering mountains. Now, I'm in my early 40's and I'm probably on the back side of a mild midlife crisis. Some days I wonder what it would be like to chuck all that I have worked for (and which is now working me) for absolute freedom and chance. But I've got obligations and stuff. So I'll read about Mr. Heat-Moon's adventure.

People give M2 a hard time. And I admit, its sometimes tough not to want to bring the sledge down on a dude in chain-mail who's shoving wind chimes in your grill. But you have to respect the dude's committment to a chance lifestyle. Rack the wanderers.

88, I've never worn chain-maile...

I'm a businessman...

Yeah, it's good being a gypsy...

[mothster]

Show my dear friends
It's to put your hands
I ought to start this here
Rain for a day glow
But when you wants to boy so
And I wake up in the USA

Oh you know we're gonna ride
On a blue highway
Walk with the legs you're blind
On a blue highway
Wave hellow to pride
on my highway
Yes I almost died
On a blue highway

Oh some sweet mask
Or it's kind of a bitter risk
Out to ride the night
Oh sister's so hip too
I hear you and I miss you
Co-starring in the USA

Oh you know we're gonna ride
On a blue highway
Walk with the legs you're blind
On a blue highway
Wave hellow to pride
on my highway
Yes I almost died
On a blue highway

Why do I miss you
Why did I kiss you
Because

Oh you know we're gonna ride
On a blue highway
Walk with the legs you're blind
On a blue highway
Wave hellow to pride
on my highway
Yes I almost died

So glad that you're living now
I'm glad that you're here
I'm glad that you wanna stay
Because

You know we're gonna ride
On a blue highway
Walk with the legs you're blind
On a blue highway
Wave hellow to pride
on my highway
Yes I almost died
On a blue highway
On a blue highway

Wings and we'll wind the love
Yes there's a time a time for love
Then you kissed me
On a blue highway

Why do I miss you
Why did I kiss you

[BSmack]

88, I've never worn chain-maile...

I'm a businessman...

Yeah, it's good being a gypsy...

I had a job that had me traveling for a year and a half straight. One day I woke up in a hotel room and honestly wasn't sure what city I was in. Oh, I figured it out fairly directly, but the thought that I was becomming quite disconnected was more than a little disconcerting. That's when I started to realize how important roots can be.

I know there are people who can travel non stop and never feel out of sorts. I'm just not one of them.

[indyfrisco]

I know there are people who can travel non stop and never feel out of sorts. I'm just not one of them.

Rack!

I felt this way just when I had a wife only. Now that I have a kid too, I cannot see me ever being a road warrior.

[Felix]

One day I woke up in a hotel room and honestly wasn't sure what city I was in. Oh, I figured it out fairly directly, but the thought that I was becomming quite disconnected was more than a little disconcerting. That's when I started to realize how important roots can be.

been there.....done that.....

[M2]

88, I've never worn chain-maile...

I'm a businessman...

Yeah, it's good being a gypsy...

I had a job that had me traveling for a year and a half straight. One day I woke up in a hotel room and honestly wasn't sure what city I was in. Oh, I figured it out fairly directly, but the thought that I was becomming quite disconnected was more than a little disconcerting. That's when I started to realize how important roots can be.

I know there are people who can travel non stop and never feel out of sorts. I'm just not one of them.

I understand. You can wake up in the morning and not know what city you're in, till you open the curtains and look outside.

There is no doubt that I'm in Cheyenne,WY as I look outside right now. I'm actually going to spend another $150 for the 2 rooms I have here... one is more of a living room office, and the other a bedroom kinda thing. After being on the road a few days, I have around 25 phone calls and a shit load of paper work to get done. I'll be happy if I return around 4 or 5 of them.

I'm not really on the road as much as some buisness guys that move around on a regular basis. My travel is more leisure mixed in with buisness. I try to take off a couple of weeks before I need to be in the next town, so I can take side trips to places I haven't been.

Once I'm in a town for work... I'm usually there for 2 or 3 months and get to know the community, and interact with the people and their different folkways. Which is kinda cool.

For more than half the year... I'm in "The City" or some part of the Bay Area. I'm not the kind of person that enjoys working 9-5 and coming home to a few hours of primetime tv... in the same house for 52 weeks a year. I think I'd go nuts, if that were the case.

Point being... I don't think I "travel" a lot, but I do see a shitload of different states and places. I enjoy seeing the mountains and different landscapes, but now I'm more into seeing the different architecture and culture of the people in different places. It really is quite dramatic to see the different values and the way people live in different regions of the country.

[M2]

Shit, I wake up every morning at home...and don't know what city I'm in.

You're creative in the "Art" of Captain Morgan!

That's always a bonus... when you're in Alabamer.

[PSUFAN]

PSUFAN recommended this book to me three or four years ago. At that time, I borrowed it from the library and started to read it. I thought it sucked so I took it back mostly unread.

Have you ever read "Travels with Charley"?

[mothster]

88,

Have you read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig? If not, check it out.

No. But I will.

that's a pre-requisite for alot of philosophy courses

[Kansas City Kid]

Moon was one of my professors in grad school at Univ. of Missouri. "Blue Highways" kicks ass! It really is well written and makes you want to immediately take off on a road trip!

[Bizzarofelice]

88,

Have you read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig? If not, check it out.

No. But I will.

that's a pre-requisite for junior year in high school

fixed

[Smackie Chan]

Have you read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig?

Yep.

Have you ever read "Travels with Charley"?

Affirmative. In fact, I have a copy of the "lost chapter" to that book. A friend of mine who was an English prof I had in college made acquaintance with Steinbeck's son (and widow, too, I believe), who gave him a copy of it, and he copied it for me. Has handwritten notes in the margins from Pat Covici, Steinbeck's editor.

Both are excellent books.