49 by 29: Follow the pink highlighted line...

49 by 29: a journey with jeremy

From Florida to Philadelphia, with a slight detour through Arkansas and West Virginia, my friend Jeremy helped me check off states 48 and 49 in my quest to see all 50.

I love a good map. I love seeing where I started, where I ended, and where I wandered in between. I love that I can trace a squiggly line in 10 seconds that represents three weeks of meeting new people, seeing new sights, and learning new lessons about this whole business of living--and living well.

Thanks to a nice boss who let me off for a month, and a good friend who likes to drive more than anyone I know, I was able to see 49 states by 29 years of age. And though it seems at times a silly goal to see all 50 of our United States, it's a goal I've never regretted "going for." Goals are good. They simultaneously move you forward and face you backward as you appreciate what you've attained and strive for what is yet to come. And, ideally, goals will help you stop right here, in this moment, to simply enjoy.

I don't know when I'll hit state #50. But I do think I'll dance a little jig when I step into the sands of Hawaii. 

49 by 29: July 26 - The adventure of working hard and loving people

Coffee:
Water boiled in my favorite red kettle. Coffee prepared in my beloved French press. I'm home.

From the journal:
I don't tend to miss the road right away after a trip. But I know I'll miss it soon. At that time, Father God, please help me embrace the adventures of working hard and loving people, day by day. Thank you for this journey. And you know I'm always ready for another one!

49 by 29: July 25 - Indy 500. Home.

Egg casserole, fresh fruit, and drip brew coffee at Aunt Karoline and Uncle Lyle's.

Latte, Indianapolis airport.

House blend, Minneapolis airport.

Coffee:
-Drip brew at Aunt Karoline and Uncle Lyle's house, enjoyed with a homemade breakfast of egg casserole and fresh fruit.

-Latte, no flavor, from Copper Moon World Coffees in the Indianapolis airport.

-Small house blend from La Brea Bakery in the Minneapolis airport.

From the journal:
I slept in today then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with Karoline and Lyle. I want to be like them as I grow older. They have invested themselves in relationships with others, and in each other. I love how much they laugh together.

Anyway, they took me to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. We rode a bus around the 2.5-mile track and learned all kinds of tidbits from our tour guide. The average speed around the track is 220 miles per hour. The fastest speed is 240 mph. For Nascar, the fastest speed is 190 mph. Racers make 200 laps for the Indy 500...and one lap only takes 38 seconds! Wow! The speedway was originally built to be a paved testing ground for those new-fangled automobiles in 1909.

After lunch, we went to the airport, and I began my journey home. It is hard to believe a month has passed. I've seen and experienced so much and met so many great people. I'm definitely going to need some time to process it all.

I'm now passing a 4-hour layover in Minneapolis...drinking coffee, journaling, people watching. I sure drink a lot of coffee in airports. (Of course, I drink a lot of coffee everywhere else, too.)

I love airports.

I love travel.

Where will I go next?

Where will you go?

Everything about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway feels big and fast. I'm not really into racing, but I enjoyed being on the track and learning about its history. I'm glad my aunt and uncle took me. And they even bought me a t-shirt as a souvenir...because they're sweet like that.

On the Indy 500 track. Vroom, vroom.

And home. Well, almost home. My folks picked me up in the Billings airport close to midnight, and then we drove home. They even got me flowers...because they're sweet like that. Must run in the family :).

49 by 29: July 24 - Time with my aunt and uncle

Coffee:

-General Mills drip brew at the Perrott's house...pictured above with a few leftover guest favors from the wedding the night before.

-McDonald's premium roast enjoyed with my Aunt Karoline and Uncle Lyle before we went to church together.

From the journal:

Uncle Lyle and Aunt Karoline picked me up at the Perrott's house so we could go to church together at Gray Road Baptist Church.

It was really special to worship with them. And I liked the pastor's sermon on how Jesus and His church are intimately connected, so you cannot claim to love one and not the other. The church is Christ's bride.

After lunch, I took a nap. I love naps. I wish American jobs allowed for nap times like so many other countries do. It's a brilliant idea. Later, I showed Karoline and Lyle some photos from my trip. For some reason, the photo of the site where Jeremy and I got robbed took me by surprise. I had forgotten it would be in the mix. I wasn't planning on telling my beloved aunt and uncle about the robbery because I didn't want them to worry about me, but the photo was there and the story was there, so I told it again. It still doesn't sound like my own.

In the evening, Karoline and Lyle took me downtown to walk along the canal and see some of the sights in Indianapolis. I love my aunt and uncle. They are gentle, and loving, and just refreshing to be around. They make me feel so special. I wish we lived closer so we could see each other more often.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis. I wasn't able to get a very good photo, but it was an impressive monument standing just short of 300 feet tall and honoring Indiana veterans of most the wars in America's history. I would definitely visit again and spend some time admiring the intricate sculptures.

Me and my Aunt Karoline in front of a cool steam-powered clock.

A SWEET community garden in downtown Indy. Sights like this make me happy.

Canal Walk in downtown Indy. You can rent paddle boats and bikes to explore, or simply stroll along.

Me and my Uncle Lyle and Aunt Karoline. Love 'em so.

49 by 29: July 23 - Ben and Sarah get hitched

Coffee:

-Fresh ground Snooze blend...brewed in an ever faithful Mr. Coffee machine.

-Several cups at the wedding reception. How many is several, you ask? Ummmm, like 8.

From the journal:

The big day! Sarah Perrott becomes Sarah Hilmer!

I've never seen a wedding day that wasn't at least a bit on the frenzied side. It's always good frenzied, but frenzied nonetheless. How could it not be when months and months of planning finally have to "come together." There are a bajillion details, and a bajillion emotions, and a bajillion ways to fix the hair, the makeup, the dresses, the shoes.

But in the end, it all works. Or doesn't work. But at that point, it just doesn't matter. Two people who love each other are getting married. Two people are pledging til death us do part. It is a beautiful, sacred moment worth celebrating.

Anyway, it was a crazy, wonderful day. Here's the rundown:

Sarah prepared a pancake breakfast for friends and family who came from far away to attend the wedding...cause she's cool like that.

Then we drove to Fort Benjamin Harrison to check on the set-up of the ceremony and reception. Finding things in tip-top shape, we returned to Sarah's parents' house to get ready. I got dressed and ran to pick up a video camera for recording the ceremony while Sarah and her seven bridesmaids got their hair and make-up done.

Sarah put on her dress and "Sarah Green" shoes. As always, she looked absolutely stunning!

Photos were taken...lots and lots of photos.

Sarah, her seven bridesmaids, me, the photographer, and two drivers loaded into a white stretch limo. We started driving to the wedding site, but then Sarah saw a red barn she wanted to use as a setting for photos. So we pulled into the owner's driveway, knocked on his door, and explained why a gal in a wedding dress and seven gals in lapis-colored gowns were paying him a visit. He kindly agreed to let us use his barn (and horses) for a few photos. He even snapped a few photos of his own; it's not everyday a bridal party pulls up in a limo and asks to pose in front of your barn, you know.

The bridal party descends and bustles around the kind owner of the beautiful red barn.

Hold that pose...

And one more... (Kimber Shaw is an excellent photographer, should you ever need one in the Indianapolis area.)

We picked up both flower girls and took more photos.

We arrived at The Garrison at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park and hid out in a room until the ceremonies began.

Music played. Ben arrived. The wedding party graced the aisle. Heads turned. Sarah entered. Her mother dabbed her eyes.

I was honored to read scripture in the ceremony (Colossians 3:12-17).

Ben and Sarah said their vows.

Man and wife.

The reception. I sat with Megan, Nannette, Bonnie, and Marcey...fellow Operation Christmas Child peeps from Sarah's time of serving with OCC in Ohio. They were lovely ladies, and I enjoyed the conversation.

Every guest received a bottle of Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce...Ben's favorite.

I snapped a few silly photos in the photo booth. Dancing began, but I couldn't bring myself to join the group.

Sometimes I am the wall behind the wallflower.

I wish I would have danced. Next time, I will dance.

This time, I cleaned. And I suppose that is okay, except that it's awfully anti-social of me. Alas, it is water under the bridge.

Ben and Sarah are married, and I am truly, truly happy for them and glad to call them friends.

Perhaps someday it will be me. And perhaps not. Father, God, help me live with grace and joy and a servant's heart, come what may.

A coffee toast to a gosh darn cute, coffee-lovin', life-to-the-fullest livin' couple. Love yah bunches, Ben and Sarah Hilmer!

49 by 29: July 22 - Rehearsing for the real deal

My coffee amidst many coffees. I'm sure there's some deep analogy in there: we are each a different brew at a different level in a different mug. Some are weak; some pack a punch. Some are half empty; some are holding out for a refill; some are to the brim once the cream is added; and some are frothing up and over, just begging someone to take a slurp. Some mugs are serious and functional; some are colorful and silly; some are made of glass; some are made of stone.

What are you? What do you want to be?

Coffee:

A French press of fresh-ground coffee from Snooze, the best a.m. eatery in Denver. Snooze is where Ben proposed to Sarah...even though they were living in Indianapolis at the time. He surprised her with a flight to Snooze, bought her her favorite food ever (pancakes), and proposed. Pretty romantic, if you ask me.  

From the journal:

Sarah made a lovely breakfast of quiche and French toast with yogurt and berries for all her bridesmaids...and me, too, cause she's sweet like that. It was a bubbly bridesmaid breakfast, and the day only got crazier from there.

After breakfast, Sarah, all seven of her bridesmaids, her mom, her mother-in-law, and me went and got manicures and pedicures. My manicure was my first. I got sparkly pink nails, which I thought looked weird, but it was really sweet of Donna (Sarah's mom) to include me in the girly fun.

After nails, everyone got dressed for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Ben's parents put on a smashing good barbecue complete with pulled pork with Country Bob's all-purpose sauce (Ben's favorite), chicken, another meat I can't remember, beans, green bean salad, pasta salad, lots of other salads I can't remember, and pies galore. I had strawberry-rhubarb, and it was delish.

All in all, the rehearsal went off without a hitch, and I think Ben and Sarah will do a wonderful job of getting hitched tomorrow.

Bridesmaid breakfast, day before the wedding.

Manicures and pedicures for all the girls.

The bride with her ever-present Starbucks.

Mother-daughter time at the spa. Looking good, ladies!

Love is blind to oncoming motorhomes in this post rehearsal dinner kiss.

49 by 29: July 21 - Reunited!

 Philadelphia airport. 5 a.m.

Detroit airport. 8-ish a.m.

Indianapolis Starbucks. 3-ish p.m.

Coffee:

-House blend in a to-go cup from Peet's Coffee and Tea in the Philadelphia airport. Consumed while shaking off the haze of getting up at 4 a.m. to catch my 6 a.m. flight to Indianapolis.

-Medium roast in a to-go cup from the Coffee Beanery in the Detroit airport. Consumed with second breakfast while reading and killing time on my layover.
-Grande mocha lite frappuccino with whip at a Starbucks in Indy. Consumed on the way to getting my friend Sarah spray tanned for her upcoming wedding. Eeeeeeyyyy!

From the journal:
Said goodbye to Jer today. I will miss him but am so glad he so enthusiastically agreed to this adventure. We made great travel buddies. 49 down!

Said goodbye to the road today...at least this portion of the road. I will miss it but know I will always be "on the road" in some respect or another. It's in my blood.

I left Philly at 6 a.m., paused in Detroit, and landed in Indy at 11:30. I seriously thought I would pee my pants with excitement when Ben and Sarah picked me up! I can't believe it's been a year and a half since we last saw each other while working together at Operation Christmas Child in Denver. Guess it just goes to show that true friendships last over the miles (and travel over the miles to reunite whenever possible).

The day was spent running errands and doing wedding prep with Sarah and her maid of honor, Robin. We got Sarah a dress for rehearsal dinner, got Sarah spray tanned, got crafty stuff for her crafty wedding, got to meet Ben's parents and lots of other wonderful folks, and got tired. Or at least I got tired, so I took a nap while Sarah's bridesmaids gathered for a night of wedding prep and pre-wedding girl hangout time.

Later in the evening, I met up with my cousin, Nikki, and her family for frozen yogurt. It was so great to meet her husband and kids and get to know them! I do wish my extended family lived closer so we could know each other better, but we bonded right away. That's the beauty of family blood. A big THANK YOU to Nikki and Bennett and Caden and Eva for the wonderful evening!

Me and my cousin Nikki, her husband, Bennett, and their kids Caden and Eva enjoying some frozen yogurt goodness at the Orange Leaf in Indianapolis.

49 by 29: July 20 - "Mountain" biking in Deleware

Coffee:

A mug of never-empty goodness at Honey's, a great eatery in Philadelphia that knows a full cup of coffee makes a happy customer.

From the journal:

Today was our Philly day. We ate breakfast at this hideaway eatery called Honey's that buys fresh, local, and organic and prepares as much in house as possible. It was one of Jeremy's favorite places to eat when he lived in Philadelphia, and I can see why. I had scrambled eggs, potato latke, challah toast with homemade blueberry jam, and the aforementioned never-empty coffee. I definitely recommend a trip to Honey's if you're ever in the Philly area.

We walked around Rittenhouse Square and went to Barnes and Noble to find books to assist Jeremy in his next adventure: eating plants and bugs. I learned a surprising amount about how much of our world is edible! Perhaps I'll try a few plants and bugs of my own...

We got lunch at Trader Joe's and walked along the river behind the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Waterworks Museum. It was kind of cool to see the location where the idea of pumping and moving water into individual houses came to fruition. Overall, it was a pleasant excursion. (What am I? Seventy? Such quaint speech.)

We then toured more of Philly Jer style: on the road. We hugged the Schuylkill River on Kelly Drive, wound up the fast and curvy Lincoln Drive, cruised through a quaint French section of town with cobblestone streets, and zipped down South Street, the trendy, hipster area of Philly.

After our whirlwind tour of Philadelphia, we joined Joel (Jer's brother-in-law) and his friend Duane and his son Luke for a gnarly (What am I? A '90s girl? Where's my flannel?) mountain biking adventure through some sweet single track with lots of rocks, roots, narrow passes through tree branches, and ups and downs. It was a great ride. I do wonder, though, why all my "mountain" biking adventures have occurred in Pennsylvania and Delaware? Hmmm, I better find some trails in Wyoming's REAL mountains. But first, I definitely need to learn to pop a wheelie.

Dark and early tomorrow morning I am off to Indianapolis for Ben and Sarah's wedding! I'm so excited to see my good friends again.

It's still hard to believe this part of the journey is at its end. But I have a feeling Jer and I will meet up again...somewhere down the road. That's what travelers do.

Breakfast at Honey's. Yum.

Schuylkill River behind Waterworks Museum in Philadelphia.

Waterworks Museum interprets stories from one of the nation's first metropolitan water systems.

Luke, Duane, Joel, Jer, and me before our biking adventure. Jer said the helmet DID NOT make the headstand hurt his head less. It actually made it more painful. Now you know in case you were plotting to try a headstand in a bike helmet.

Jessica, Jared, Joel, and Jolene. Jeremy's sister and her family were fun, helpful, hospitable hosts. Thanks!