December 12, 2004; Somewhere?, Texas

I woke this morning at Sue's and she continued to be my surigate mother for a short while. Nothing new for me, I have had surigate mothers almost continually since I left the house at 16. A warm shower and an egg sandwich is a heck of a way to start the day.

We talked for a couple of hours between last night and this morning. I realized that every one of us will have numerous personal tragedies throughout life; if we don't we have not lived long enough or held anybody close enough. Don't get me wrong, Sue has had a good life. Just one of those moments of realization.

I left for San Antonio at about 10:30. My path inadvertently doubled back over itself in Round Top. I stopped for a bike lunch and enjoyed it on a swinging bench at the front of the rustic convience/grocery store. While I was eating, a Goldwing pulled up, carrying a character by the name of Steve. He went in to get some grub and came back out to take in the sun with me. We got to talking and I very briefly explained what I was up to. He said "oh, so a Jack Kerouac's kinda thing?" He had managed to sum up in a sentance what I had struggled to put into a paragraph. Although neither of us could remember the title of "On the Road", or even the specifics of the book, it seemed to feel right.

Further along In Austin I made an ambitious reservation for the Kerrville State Park. Never made it there. I got tied up in my first glimpse of Texas hill country. Too many detours and not enough daylight ended me up in a motel. Screw the sleeping bag- it's frickin' cold. I would like to tell you where I am at, but I don't really know. Honestly, I don't really care. I have a warm bed for the night and there is nothing here for me to return to.