I made the drive up from Reading earlier today; watched the sky turn from blue to gray, as snow began to fall, light and airy at first, then fiercely as I winded up local roads. The Interstate doesn't cut through the north-central part of Pennsylvania, so I found myself caught in the post-industrial romantic beauty of forgotten river towns and rural villages. The trek was a solid 5 hours, but it didn't seem too long to me - maybe the scenery forced me to be present in the drive. I let my mind get lost in it. I found comfort in the twang of country radio. On the homestretch, I found myself engulfed in tornadoes of powdery snow, dispersed by blustery winds that were born from stretches of open fields to the left, to the right. I slowed the car and turned on my headlights. I felt my nerves and kept the steering wheel straight, hoping pavement was still ahead. I was worried, but I felt it would work itself out. Tonight, after the show, a similar predicament befell. My GPS wasn't working on my phone. Frustrated, I called Rob to see if he could help. I knew it'd be hard to pinpoint my location, but he did his best. I tried to piece my route together by looking at Google Maps, even if it wouldn't actually direct me. After wandering, lost, through pitch black country roads, making a U-turn and dodging ridges of slippery ice, I found myself back at the hotel - a fancy Hotel/Spa that sits large and stately atop a hill, unlike its more modest surroundings.
I checked my e-mail and silently chastised myself - I'm checking e-mail and social networks too often. I'm tempted to give Facebook a rest for a month. I'm craving some time to myself. But something good came out of it. The student adviser at last night's show at Albright had passed on some music, including Dawn & Hawkes - an Austin couple that made their way to Tuesday's episode of The Voice. I love the idea of them. I hope they make it through the show... http://www.dawnandhawkes.com/ One of their videos is below. Goodnight for now.
