I have been back in Los Angeles for about 36 hours.  As expected, arriving to an empty home was a little anticlimactic. My place was cold and still. A plant in my garden had been knocked over and left upside down.  A large roll of duck tape was set on top of one of my sand dollars in the garden, crushing it into pieces.  Forcing myself to find some humor in the situation, I imagined Ty Pennington at my doorstep with a blow horn saying, “Welcome home Stephanie, Welcome home.”  How awkward it must be for him to say that without reference to family.

Yesterday, I felt a little high and out of it. The adrenaline from the road still running through me, mixed with exhaustion, new ideas and a list of things to do.  A colleague of mine reminded me get some nourishment.  Without overwhelming myself with the growing list of things to do, I simplified to the following:

1.       Feed and walk dogs

2.       Feed myself (go to grocery store)

3.       Return rental car

4.       Catch up with clients

5.       Finish unpacking

6.       Do some laundry (mainly for the purpose of having fresh linens for the bed)

7.       Get a good night (and part of the day) worth of sleep

I managed to accomplish all that which is allowing me to write this somewhat fresh from a long rest.

A couple of highlights from the last day on the road and yesterday:

1.       The gentle giant from the Indian trading center I stopped at in New Mexico who reminded me to “Stay true to my roots.”

2.       The interesting trucker at a truck stop who with his red hat and stylish plaids reminded me of the land version of Jacques Cousteau.  (BTW, I think truckers have mastered the art of overcoming isolation…more to come about that)

3.       The man at Whole Foods in Venice who helped refurbished my body with fresh vegetable meals as he talked passionately about a book he received over the holidays called The Graveyard Book.

4.       The young man from Hertz in Venice who drove me back to my house after returning the rental car who said, “This is the best conversation I have had with customer, no one ever talks to me when I drive them to their destination.”  I told him, “This is what it is all about.”  And this is what I am about.

5.       My good friend Tish sent me this note “I read your last post, call me for coffee when you are rested.”

Two not so favorable things worth mentioning:

1.       After unloading the car, I realized I was missing Mr. Deed’s (my small dog) fold up crate. Guess where it was? At the Oklahoma City Airport Hertz.  They did not call me. I called them. You might recall from my previous post that a couple of their employees watched me as I struggled to unload and reload cars. I wonder when they realized I left it on the ground.  Is it too much to expect a little compassion and effort to communicate?

2.       I also got a Facebook message yesterday from my opponent in communication hangman. I am not sure what prompted the note. There was no apology for the game.  Just this, “Sorry I missed you before you left. My schedule is whack and unpredictable.”  Hmmn.  The more and more I think about it, I am developing a zero tolerance for lack of integrity.

Yesterday during my shopping trip at Whole Foods, a little bottle of rose bubbly (see photo) managed to find a place in my cart.  Understandably, I do want to celebrate my journey.  Yet now as I look at that tiny bottle meant for two, I am asking myself, “Why did I buy that?” The journey is not over and I have work to do.

Thank you to everyone that checked on me and sent encouraging comments while I was on the road.  With some more sleep and work behind me, I will be back to share video and photos from the road along with new thoughts and ideas.

With love and inspiration –

Stephanie

To see all posts related to this journey in chronological order, click here.

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