Wanderlust

Growing up military stifles the ability to grow in relationships.  Friends and you are together for a year, maybe two, and then *poof* - gone.  Keeping in touch will last for awhile, but eventually, it becomes an effort in futility.  Trying to have a friendship with the current set of individuals is difficult enough. 

Moving from place to place also presents challenges.  But for the person with a wanderlust spirit, it makes life very interesting. Which is where I found myself after graduation.  I went to college for a year, but found I like hitchhiking back and forth more than I liked school.  It hooked me and for the next 12 years, that was the lifestyle I chose. 

It began with a jaunt from Minnesota to Florida.  It was wonderful being on the road and I liked having my thumb out for a ride. 
After a couple of years, I developed my own rules for taking a ride.  First and foremost, be certain you are not going to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere.  To determine this, you must always ask the driver where THEY are going; not the other way round.  If they can't tell you what their destination is, definately do not take that ride.  

Second, make certain you are standing in a spot where someone can pull over to pick you up or they will just pass you by. 

And most importantly, talk to the driver with humorous and fun conversation.  My thinking was always this:  if they think you are afraid of them and they have a bent toward being dangerous, they will take advantage of that and you might end up dead.  But engage them in conversation that makes them feel good and important, and you could very well diffuse a situation.

There were probably rides taken that could have proved my end, but for my continual banter with the driver.   And, of course, God watching over me --probably more than one guardian angel.  LOL! 

I did have one serious situation, but it was my fault and it involved pot.  Some good Samaritans took me in and let me stay until the driver was gone, but he put up a good fight for me.   And a memorable ride with a neighbor from my home town who lived just two blocks from my house.  That was fun and we spent some hours together talking about that.  

The road provided many stories that I will continue to tell.