Day 31 (Fri., July 8)

I have Saturday and Sunday off, so it's time for me to hit the road. One of the best things about being around here is that there is a lot of land to see and drive through in Texas. Although it's a huge state w/ a lot of open land, this state has a lot to offer. I saw that today as I explored a new road on the state map.

I worked an early shift and finished by 2 p.m. I headed out toward Houston, but not before making some new friends here in San Angelo. Joe, a really cool and outgoing 42-year-old man, greeted me and asked me all kinds of things about California. He is the guy that helped me at the oil change service place where I took "La Huera" before heading out on the road trip. He even hooked me up w/ some of his co-workers, including his nephew, so that I have people to hang out w/ when I come back from my trip. Houston is 360-plus miles away from San Angelo. The internet said 380-plus miles and a seven-hour ride. However, after doing some looking in my road atlas, I was able to find an alternative rout.

Then, 362 miles later and just six hours after hitting the road I was cruising my way down the Houston streets.

The drive was very nice as I was able to see the sun set. The weather was hot and I happened to drive by a lot of banks with 98-degree signs. I couldn't believe how hot it was throughout the way. There was a lot of different types of land as I drove through the Texas Hill Country. I drove by one of my favorite cities in Texas: Austin. I wanted to stop and enjoy Austin, but I really couldn't wait to get to Houston.

Drives like these help think about life. My life has gone through a lot of changes lately. I am changing by the minute and I am not sure if the changes are what I expect and wish. I have seen that there are a lot of changes that will be good for my future. Yet, there's sometimes the uncertainty of it all. I love to make tough decisions. I love to take risks. I love to live. And, I love to learn. I don't usually mind the decisions and never really have regrets. I have walked away from some bad situations and life seems to be turn out well.

It's a sign of growing up. I see my life as that of a lizard or a snake. Although devious and it's shady behavior, the snake knows how to get things done. It rids itself of old skin as it sheds it w/o thinking twice. It makes a life for itself and always look forward. A snake never really has to look back, the tail always looks the same and it slides forward and never back.

Today, I drove away from my San Angelo apartment and didn't have to look back. I will be returning Sunday night, so I don't have to worry about where I am coming from, but where I am going to. I think a lot of people get caught up in the past and in a previous setting and never get a chance to move to the next stage. It's unfortunate that I cannot live in the past. It's weird because I want to live in the past. You can tell that because of the journal. Someday, I will look back at this and live in the past. I hope that by then I still remember to keep on moving forward.

Yesterday - Main - Tomorrow