I don't want to be your friend: Facebook for Freshman

In the last month I've had about half a dozen Facebook friend requests. You'd think I'd be overjoyed, yea! More friends! But I'm not. Because. Because they're all 14 year old girls with their first Facebook account trying to accumulate as many friends as possible. They're friends with my cousin's 14 year old daughter and are clicking on the suggested friends links.

How do you know they don't think you're an awesome role-model & want to be your friends to hear your opinions?

While I am awesome, no parent wants me as their child's role-model, and my opinion is not intended for a 14 year old audience.

So why do you care? I care because I was once a 14 year old girl. And I can only imagine that if these girls are sending me friend requests they are also sending friend requests to another real-life friend's less-than- scrupulous uncle who has a massive collection of kiddie porn on a hidden hard drive.

Oh My God, Katie, how could you think something like that? Because when I'm knitting or painting I have Law and Order SVU on the TV.

I have a secret.

I've been in this town 3 days and I'm contemplating how to make a break and stay. True to my nature it's a tug of war between watching my nephews grow up and following my heart into the wild. So maybe not this year. Maybe not next year. But maybe after the boys fifth birthdays I might make the move. Plan and scheme, scrimp and save. At the same time go back to working full time plus, working to buy a house I don't plan to live in long term.

I have tears in my eyes contemplating this.

So on to prayer. Is this really what I need to do next?

10 Hours, One Way

When I planned this journey I looked up the distance between Copper Harbor and my hometown. Google Maps said 10 hours, via the Interstate. I did not, take the Interstate. It's taken a little over 4 days driving, with stops in Detroit, Port Austin, Paradise, Tahquamenon Falls, Crisp Point, Grand Marais, Munising, and Marquette. I did not see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, other than one scenic overlook at sunset and every single campsite. Every single campsite
Was occupied.

So I kept driving. I was tired at 6. At 11 I stopped for dinner knowing it was just going to get worse if I kept driving. Finally at 1:30 AM I found a campsite so far from where I intended to stop I decided it wasn't worth going back. But I knew it was where I needed to be. When I pulled into the site the crescent moon was rising over the tree line, sharp, clear and perfectly reflected in the water of the lake I was camping beside. I have never in all my travels seen as many stars as I saw last night. And I *think* I saw the Little Dipper for the first time. First time.
I slept in until 10 AM. I made the decision to not be discouraged by the struggle yesterday. And had a beautiful day on the road, talked to some lovely people & swept the negativity about the gossip back home out of my mind.

Just in Case

Just in case you are following along and haven't figured it out, I'm traveling through Michigan solo. I'm checking in with my dad daily in order that my mother doesn't put herself in the hospital with worry.

After the second phone call the second day, after turning down her request that I stay in her backyard, I stopped answering my sister's phone calls. I just found out she confided in my other sister that she thinks I'm suicidal and this is my last hurrah. With the connotation that I should be given my circumstances.

For the record, I'm not suicidal.

True Story

'Want to try it?' Said a small child proffering the straw in a frozen 'coffee drink' to a woman I could only assume was their mother.

'Mmmmm, that's tasty Lou.
I can see why you like it, it's pure sugar.' Said the 5 foot 2, 350 lb mother heading to the register with a 44 oz soda in each hand.