Seth, thumbing reminds me of several friends and my own experience. Bob, a friend from elementary school in Lincoln was always thumbing. After I left town to join the world my mother would note in conversations that she saw Bob with his thumb out. Jona,, another friend from the neighborhood, took his thumb to the railroad yards and spent several summers joining the “hobo” world. Chris, a friend from high school was always thumbing”on the edge” with new adventures-beginning with excitement and ending in failure. He shared the final hour of one restaurant failure. He was in the corner of the room at the end of his foreclosure auction. All he had was his backpack and some cash and his thumb. He walked out the door with his thumb and spent several years exploring Australia and New Zealand. Finally there was Alan who had been told by his parents, “no thumbing and no pickups”. I am standing in Woods Hole just off the ferry with a friend from Chatham. I said how to we get home from here. He stuck out his thumb and spent car stopped. The driver said “where are you headed?” Our response was Chatham. He said I am a taxi and I just dropped my fare at the ferry. “Jump in”. We got a free ride to Chatham and I didn’t disobey my parents.
See you and Dan Monday morning at 10:30 at 157 Namequoit Road.
I love this Seth. It reminds me of Brian who hitchhiked to San Francisco and back. He lucked out on his second ride with a trucker who was going to New Mexico and took him halfway across the country. Brian's mantra was to always look neat and clean. He also had great stories of the people he met. I was jealous because even as a pretty free spirit, I knew it was much more dangerous for a woman to hitchhike!
Yes, though back then many also considered hitchhiking dangerous, foolhardy. But true, now there is no counter-culture "thumbs up" for it -- sorry, couldn't help it. :)
Seth, thumbing reminds me of several friends and my own experience. Bob, a friend from elementary school in Lincoln was always thumbing. After I left town to join the world my mother would note in conversations that she saw Bob with his thumb out. Jona,, another friend from the neighborhood, took his thumb to the railroad yards and spent several summers joining the “hobo” world. Chris, a friend from high school was always thumbing”on the edge” with new adventures-beginning with excitement and ending in failure. He shared the final hour of one restaurant failure. He was in the corner of the room at the end of his foreclosure auction. All he had was his backpack and some cash and his thumb. He walked out the door with his thumb and spent several years exploring Australia and New Zealand. Finally there was Alan who had been told by his parents, “no thumbing and no pickups”. I am standing in Woods Hole just off the ferry with a friend from Chatham. I said how to we get home from here. He stuck out his thumb and spent car stopped. The driver said “where are you headed?” Our response was Chatham. He said I am a taxi and I just dropped my fare at the ferry. “Jump in”. We got a free ride to Chatham and I didn’t disobey my parents.
See you and Dan Monday morning at 10:30 at 157 Namequoit Road.
Alan
I love this Seth. It reminds me of Brian who hitchhiked to San Francisco and back. He lucked out on his second ride with a trucker who was going to New Mexico and took him halfway across the country. Brian's mantra was to always look neat and clean. He also had great stories of the people he met. I was jealous because even as a pretty free spirit, I knew it was much more dangerous for a woman to hitchhike!
Thanks, Seth. Great read. Would enjoy reading more of your hitching adventures.
Glorious account. Wonder, tho, whether you'd be as inclined to hitchhike these days. Different times ...
Yes, though back then many also considered hitchhiking dangerous, foolhardy. But true, now there is no counter-culture "thumbs up" for it -- sorry, couldn't help it. :)
Loved this. So happy I get to hear your voice from so far away. xo
Oh goodness! I just loved reading this one Seth! I can picture you out there, every step of the way.
Good stuff, mate!
You might like Ed Griffen-Nolan's Nobody Hitchhikes Anymore. https://senseofdecency.com/2020/12/16/nobody-writes-books-like-this-anymore/
Lee Child has nothing on you! Great story.