Halfway from here

And just like that, we're here. A month ago we were loading into Atlanta.  A month from now, we'll all be back home. It's appropriate that Denver, our true halfway point, was, for me, a transformative experience. I don't feel the same - in a good way - and it's a feeling I'm still trying to process. There will be a blog post about all of that later - probably many blog posts - but first, here's some fun things I've learned in the last 4 weeks on this national tour.

1) Uber service varies widely from city to city. And sometimes, like in Austin, there is no Uber at all!  In Miami, it's really good to know Spanish if you're calling an Uber - especially at the airport. And I think Denverites are still getting used to it - their drivers anyway.  See Exhibit A below ... 

No, Teresa, you're not arriving now.  You're not even on a road!

2) The road box - its arrival, delay, ability to turn up in one piece - and all the logistics that go into receiving it, will always be the first challenge of the week. In Miami and Denver, it was late. In Austin, it showed up before we had a place to store it. In LA, it was mostly on time but arrived looking like this ... 

Ellen's face tells you everything you need to know.

3) Hahaha to changing ANY of your habits or getting a lot of personal work done. Yes, I've brought clothes to work out in - and I even lived with a gym in my building for a week. Have I gotten into the daily exercise routine I just knew I would on this life altering, body transformative national tour?? Hells no. My tennis shoes clad feet haven't seen the first elliptical or treadmill.  But they have hiked all over downtown Austin, swum in South Beach ocean waters, climbed a Rocky Mountain and this week, transportation willing, they'll make their first EVER footprints in the desert. There may be no formal time at the gym but there is a helluva lot of moving.

These feet have earned their keep

4) All that moving will be counteracted by all the eating.  But EAT.  EAT THE FOOD!!!  Have the shrimp and grits in Atlanta, cuban ANYTHING in Miami, tacos in Texas and rattlesnake in Denver (ok, so I didn't but Evelyn did!) And don't worry about it. Your husband still thinks you're cute and you can detox when you get back to DC.  #greensmoothielife #hereIcome

EAT ALL THE THINGS!!!  YOU WILL PROBABLY NEVER GET TO DO THIS AGAIN!!!
Shrimp and Grits in Atlanta, Pressed Cuban Sandwich in Miami, Torchy's Tacos in Austin, Mexican bakery in San Antonio, Tacos authentica in Denver and a BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato in Denver
(L-R, Top-Bottom)

5) I am not particularly patriotic or nationalistic, but America really is something else.  I've had moments when I'm so busy, it's easy to drown out election and all other national news that usually keeps me riled up and on simmer, at the least.  Luckily these busy moments, typically coincide with high local interaction. Every city has its story and if you listen with intention, the people will tell it. It's a broad story and varies from place to place. It's diverse in philosophy and form but American in its essence; from our really lovely server at that first breakfast in Atlanta, the one who was willing to speak frankly about abortion to me and Marie to Steve at Su Teatro whose flexibility and easygoing temperament helped facilitate our most successful show in Denver and Debbie at Barnsdall in LA who greeted us today with hugs. I've had AirBnB hosts who gave me great touring tips and an Uber driver who shared with me his playwriting process. No matter where we've gone, the ratio of lovely people to assholes has remained high in favor of the former. And that gives me hope.  

America, you're wild, weird and kind of wonderful.  Here's to four more weeks.