In his book, Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey recalls the time he told father that he was going to become an actor. His father’s reply, “Don’t half-ass it,” surprised him. McConaughey took it as an affirmation. “A job’s not worth doing if it isn’t done well,” is a statement credited to Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of ChesterfieldContinue reading “Don’t Half-Ass It”
Author Archives: jmlewisjr
When I Have Nothing to Say
In John Prine’s song “Angel from Montgomery,” he says, “How the hell can a person go to work in the morning, then come home in the evening, and have nothing to say?” I ruminate about blog topics, sometimes coming up empty handed. I want my posts to have greater value than idle chatter. Can IContinue reading “When I Have Nothing to Say”
How My Feet Strike the Ground
I’m at a bucolic setting outside of Sperryville, Virginia. Today my friend and I hiked Little Devils Stairs along the Shenandoah Mountain Ridge. We crossed a beautiful, rocky stream many times as we curved our way up. I divided my attention between my footing so I’d be stable and the sights in my environment soContinue reading “How My Feet Strike the Ground”
Power and Practicality
My journey has started off with a 2 1/2 day deluge. It’s perfect if you’re an inexperienced rig driver with an inkling for driving a 25 foot truck over curvy mountain roads with diminished visibility. It’s ideal if if you like sleeping with a wet dog. It’s a bonus when your back up camera becomesContinue reading “Power and Practicality”
Anxiety Rears Its Futile Head
My sister came for a visit at the beginning of the week. I laughed so hard the first night she was here that I thought my ribs were going to break. Our laughter was an antidote to my anxiety. I’ve begun to feet anxious about being suspended in the vacuum of not knowing, the veryContinue reading “Anxiety Rears Its Futile Head”
Who Is This Rig?
I picked up my rig, temporarily christened “The Beast” on Monday, April 12th. It is much bigger in real life than it appeared in its photographs. Maybe I’ve shrunk since first contemplating becoming a nomad. Its stature intimidated me. But reality isn’t a good choice for an adversary. It has everything that I wanted andContinue reading “Who Is This Rig?”
Leisure
Leisure by William Henry Davies What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see,Continue reading “Leisure”
Interiors
Indoor life mostly cycles between the bedroom, the bathroom, and the kitchen. This triad of influence guided me in the selection of my motorhome, a Jayco Melbourne 24L. I thoroughly looked at used rigs and found that the most appealing part of the search into a second hand vehicle was finding attractive prices. However, priceContinue reading “Interiors”
Tethers
A mention of “tethers” recently occurred in a conversation with Chris Coniaris, my friend and yoga teacher. Chris lives a rigorously simple, mostly untethered life. I admire his spartan ethic. A tether is typically considered a limitation, something that ties one down and restricts range of movement. In its most restrictive application, it’s incarceration. FreeContinue reading “Tethers”
What Makes My Journey Interesting?
Why would anyone read my blog? Borrowing a phrase from peace activist Wavy Gravy, I’m just another “Bozo on the bus.” I’m just a guy with a dog who wants to see what life is like outdoors on the road. However, I’ve been surprised by the number of people who, upon hearing my plans haveContinue reading “What Makes My Journey Interesting?”
