I drove yesterday. I drove in the People's Republic of Massachusetts, and I must confess that, it was not all that pleasant. I started out with the need to just get away for a few hours, see something new, etc. So I head out of Beantown on the Mass Turnpike, out past Worcester (Woostah), and eventually headed north towards New Hampshire (New Ham-sure) on a state highway. OK, now this is a road that is shown to be a 'scenic route' in the atlas I have been using recently. Well, I realize that I am from The 4, aka 'The Empty Quarter', 'Fly-Over Country', 'Kansastan', you get the idea, so I'm used to driving through miles and miles of not much but miles and miles. And here I am in the 'rural' part of the P.R.O.M., and in the entire time I drove, I cannot say that I was ever out of site of the next house down the road. Obviously, the population density in these parts is somewhat problematic and it seriously effects the quality of the driving experience. I also firmly believe that living in such a place has a distinct influence on a person's philosophy as to what the 'good life' is. I had some genuine feelings of claustrophobia as I drove around. Now, I realize I am from God's Country USA, but am I really this much of a hick? And this also translates into some serious cultural disconnect for me here as well. The other day, somebody asked me what I was going to do after I finish here in May, and I told them I was going to go back to America and get a job. I wasn't being sarcastic, I meant it. I wonder now what they thought of that statement and attitude.

So, cut to the chase. Here is my exit question: Where is America? Where does this country really begin to assume the qualities of 'America' as you and I might consider them to be? Well, here goes: My perception of where America is really America is that as I drive west from Boston, I don't begin to feel somewhat comfortable until I am at least past Columbus, Ohio. And I don't want to stop for long until I am at least west of st. louis. So I guess that means for me that st. louis and all points east and north of it are really kind of foreign turf for me. I won't say that it isn't technically part of America, or that the folks who live there are troublemakers, but I just don't personally feel at home in that region.
I have said my piece.

be good.