½ Tank #1

(Editor’s note: The title refers to the fact that we are trying to keep our gas tank at about half full, so instead of gauging what we’ve done per tank, it’ll be per half-tank. Sorry for any confusion this causes.)

On Wednesday, September 23, 3009, I filled Pete (that’s our car, in case you haven’t read any previous posts yet...which you should do) with gas and we headed out of Bellingham via Chuckanut Drive. We met Hannah at her younger brother’s soccer game down in Edison, then hoofed it to the ferry going to Orcas and got in line just in time. That night we hung out with a few of Hannah’s friends from high school, which was fun, although I zoned out a bit because I had no idea what they were reminiscing about. Hannah and I did get into a couple “strong discussions” during the few days we were on Orcas, one about our food- and health-life choices of all things, but I think it was actually really good for us. Partly because it gave us practice with disagreeing and still being friends afterwards and also because I think we both got to hash out our opinions and came to more of a respectful understanding.

We had planned to leave Orcas early on Saturday morning, but instead we decided to leave late on Friday so that we would have more time (and energy) to do everything we needed to do Saturday. It was difficult to watch Hannah have to say goodbye to her family, especially her brother, because it reminded me of my farewells to friends in Bellingham. There was a voice telling me that it was difficult because I don’t have anybody like that in my life, but I remembered that that simply isn’t true of my life anymore, so I told it to shut up.


As we were running errands Saturday I told Hannah that I hoped every day of the trip would be like that day. We had a pretty tight schedule for the day and it could not have gone smoother. The whole we were just about right on time for every stop we had planned. Even when it seemed like Costco shoppers, traffic, and community donation centers not accepting a mattress were going to be barricades, we were able to pull through at all the right moments. It served as a great example that although things may seem impossible, God is in complete control. There were many prayers answered and I even saw a few signs (literally) of comfort as I was questioning the beginning of the trip and what was to come for me. One was a business reader-board saying “GOODBYE,” another was a “IGBOK IT’S GONNA BE OK” bumper sticker, and another was a well timed real estate advertisement for “NEW HOMES.” And when I was wondering about that last one really being from God today, I saw another sign saying the same thing but followed immediately by a sign for a politician where only the last name was really big enough to read. His last name is LORD. :)


So by the end of Saturday night Han and I were exhausted and very ready to relax with our old roomie Sam and a couple other friends. It was great to hang out with Sam again, and it definitely made me miss the old college days when we all still lived together. And we figured out (AKA were commanded by Sam) that the latest we could return to Seattle is March 5 because Sam gets married on the 6th. So there is some good news for those of you who might be afraid we’ll never be back.

There were a couple thoughts that stuck with me after all the people we came into contact with during this first half-tank. For starters, I was awed by how many people talked to have actually been on trips like this before, whether it was across the states, or over in Europe. I thought my idea to drive around the U.S. was an original one, but it seems like there’s a LOT of folks out there who have already done this. And that was great for us because we ended up getting a lot of great advice and encouragement. One of the bits of advice we received from almost everyone was not to trust anybody. At first I didn’t think much about it because I just naturally don’t trust other people, but then I realized how it bothers me that everyone said the same thing. I despise the fact that we live in a world where you can’t trust anybody, and where people advise you not to trust. I really wish it wasn’t that way, and that people weren’t creepy and, well, unworthy of trust. It stinks that there are people out there who do horrible things and thus ruin it for the rest of us who are trustworthy. Ugh. I really wish I had some chance of changing the world, and just making it a better place, but I have no idea how to do that. I’m not sure if it’s enough to just live my life in a trustworthy manner and hope that others will begin to do so as well. It certainly doesn’t feel like enough.

To view more pics, go here.

God bless, over and out.
~Marissa


“Live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be.” -- an episode of Angel (Go ahead and make fun of me because it’s an awesome show. Watch it a few times and you’ll see. Joss Whedon, I love you. WB or whichever company cancelled the show, you suck.)

The End is Not the End

I write this post on the eve of my departing Bellingham for hopefully the next to last time.

I have been saying a lot of goodbyes in the past several days, some of which have been more difficult than others. Because I switched schools a lot in my youth, I now have a difficult time getting attached to people. When I meet new people I tend to assume that they won't be close friends for life, although I know some people will always be friends, even if I only talk to them once a year.

I believe that life does occur in "seasons," or, as a friend and I discussed last night, in "subplots." When one story begins to be wrapped up, a whole new plot line begins. So I'm not really sad about moving on, at least not yet. I have greatly enjoyed my time in Bellingham, and have met SO many amazing people. Some people I got to spend a lot of time with while others were only around for a short period, but everyone had an impact on my life, and I can only hope that I had a good impact on them. I see no point in missing anyone because I know that I am going to where I'm supposed to be, and that you all are where you should be. If our paths cross again in the future, that will wonderful, but I don't like the idea of pining away for the past. I have fond memories that I will carry with me, but I also know that I will be making new ones as well.

And while I sound strong right now, I may break down as I'm driving away tomorrow. Just like I broke down last Friday as I headed home from my last day of work. Those people set the bar really high for my next job. Thanks again to all of you if you're reading this. :)

This trip has so much in store for Hannah and I, although we have know idea what all that is. We have already learned a lot about ourselves and about each during the weekends that we've spent together and we haven't even left yet. Part of me had been worried about the disagreements we would inevitably have, but so far we've been able to "fight" (that word is too strong, but I don't feel like trying to find another one right now) and then work it out, which is a new experience for me, and one that I am really enjoying. I'm learning to stand up for myself and not feel bad for voicing my opinion, even when I know others won't like it. Typically I just avoid confrontation altogether because I want people to like me. Now I'm learning that I can voice my disagreement with people AND *gasp* they still like me. To all of you who are helping me learn that, including Hannah, thank you!!

There's probably a lot more I could say, but I'm not sure any of it is really that important. So I'll just say "Goodbye Bellingham."

I want to end this post by thanking everyone who is reading this (yup, I'm talking to YOU), whether I know you or you are some creepy stranger who randomly stumbled upon this blog. It's nice to know that there are people out there who are actually interested in my life and who are excited for us. If there is some aspect of this trip that you want to know more about that I seem to be completely lapsing on, feel free to ask about it. I'm a pretty open person most of the time, so if there is ever anything you are curious about, don't hesitate to post a comment or email me (hopefulsoul619@gmail.com).

God bless, over and out.
~Marissa

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." -- Romans 12:12

17 Days and Counting

September 26, 2009. That is the day Hannah and I plan to begin our journey. I can't even express how excited I am to have a real date set. I've been dreaming about this trip since Dec. '08 and it's starting to look really tangible. (I'd like to note that the song "Hungry" -- this version by Candlefuse -- just started playing on the online radio station I listen to. Very appropriate.) There were many days where I questioned whether or not I should try to make this trip happen, whether it was really okay with God that I do this. Part of me felt like I was running away from my responsibilities, but another part of me felt so unfulfilled in what I was doing. I'm not sure yet where my passion lies, or how to live it out for God, but I don't think it's what I'm doing now. So hopefully I'll find it in another city or state.

The downside of having a specific date in mind is that Hannah and I are realizing how much we have to do in so little time. Today I finally went through the process to get my student loans deferred, and hopefully this afternoon I will get the phone situation figured out (if we end up having to get a new phone number for a while, I'll let ya'll know). Hannah and I are both trying to figure out how much of various things we need to bring, and trying to balance that with how much room we have in the car. It can be an overwhelming task.

This past weekend was great, though, and helped get me more pumped for the trip and the experiences we'll have. I went to visit Hannah for a few days, and we mostly just hung out at her Grandma's house. On Saturday the three of us had a really cool discussion about all things God and we were all able to share our views on various ideas. It reminded me how fun it is to talk to people who have different opinions, especially when the people involved don't cling to their beliefs so much and don't feel the need to defend themselves. I am sooo looking forward to having more moments like that!!

Well, I think that's all I have to say for now. As always, your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated, and if you have any questions about anything, please ask!

God bless, over and out.

~Marissa

Pete!

Whelp, it's finally happened -- yesterday, I bought a roadtrip vehicle! It's a '92 Honda Accord wagon. It's "pearl green" according to the couple I bought it from (who were incredibly nice, btw). :) I decided to christen it as "Pete" because the 3 letters on the license plate are PYT. I will be sad to lose Klaus, it's been a good car, but it is exciting to have bought my own car.

That's really the only big news I have. This week will be a busy one for me since I have to move out of my apartment by this Friday at noon, and that also means most of my stuff will belong to Goodwill or Value Village soon. So far I haven't come across anything that I'm super sad to get rid of, but that will probably change.

Hannah just moved back home and is working hard to make extra money while also trying to enjoy what's left of summer. We're both trying to improve our photography skills so that we can accurately document the people and places we discover on the trip. If you get bored, check out pictures here.

I can't think of anything else you all might want to know, but if you have questions, feel free to ask.

I hope that things are going well for all of you who read this!!

God bless, over and out.


~Marissa

Here's the deal

With all of the fun things that have been happening lately, I've decided that the trip has officially begun. We still don't have a car, and we're still working (in two completely different cities), but the point of the trip is to have adventures, and adventures we are having!

Hannah and I's birthdays were last week (you'd think we were twins, but we're not -- hers is two days before mine) so I went down to visit her and then we went camping with a couple other friends. The night of her birthday we went to dinner at this awesome little seafood restaurant (Totem something). We noticed the place because their reader board said "God bless the world" and Hannah had been craving salmon, which didn't end up getting. When the owners found out it was Hannah's b-day, they gave her a free fish taco in addition to the meal she had already ordered, and a free milkshake. Later they also brought us both a free apple crisp-type of dessert. It was very cool to see how willing people are to give even before the trip started.

On Friday we headed out to Turlo campgrounds with a couple other people and had an amazing time relaxing in nature away from the daily grind. That night we had lots of laughs while playing card games next to a small river. It was so great sleeping with the sound of rushing waters in the background. Saturday morning Hannah and I dunked our faces in the river (which is formed from glacier runoff) to help us wake up, while Justin decided to go all the way in for a "river shower." Hannah and I decided we should too, so we went to change. The ranger was cleaning the bathrooms while we were there and his response to our plan was laughing and then asking, "You're not really going to, though, right?" LOL But we really did it. It was SO cold but such a fun experience. And we actually started feeling warmer afterwards (Justin explained that it's good for your circulation), so of course we went in for another dip before heading back to get warm. We decided to drive back into town for breakfast and ended up meeting up with Sam, a past roommate of Hannah and I.

When we got back to camp we asked out neighbors if they knew of any good hikes in the area and they recommended Lake 22 which was just up the road. It was the MOST AMAZING hike I've ever been on. Not that I've been on many hikes, but the views were incredible. We got high enough up that we were actually hiking through snow for a good while. The lake and mountains we discovered at the end made everything worth it.

After the hike we were all a bit tired, so we just sat around the fire and chatted. Sam ended up leaving early, and the rest of us got into a "discussion" about God and our differing opinions. Justin stayed pretty quiet, gracing us with some guitar playing despite a broken string, and when Becky and Hannah were starting to get too heated, God blessed us with a distraction -- a few bikers had pulled in a bit earlier and they had decided to come over and hang out with us. They brought us an offering of "Holy Water" (Vodka) which I thought was pretty ironic considering the situation they were walking in. [If anyone ever says God doesn't have a wicked sense of humor, don't believe them.] James, Jenny, and Michael ended up staying for quite a while and were kind enough to share some of their firewood with us, since we were out. We found out that James was married and had two daughters, something Justin didn't envy, and that he had apparently been to prison, although I don't think he ever fully explained why. James was hilarious, tripping multiple times over the same root, and kept pretty quiet except to make small, mocking jabs towards Michael, who was more of a talker. Michael told us that he was from Illinois and had worked at a church camp during summers until he was 19, when he was kicked out of the house. He eventually became a stripper to pay the bills, but he "never danced for dudes or did anything extra." Insert a comment from James. Michael wasn't married and didn't have kids, but he sounded like he was hoping to find the right lady sometime soon. Jenny was fairly quiet too, but very animated when she did talk. She was also married and had a step-son who recently turned 18. It sounded like he doesn't respect her a whole lot, so these little bike trips are a happy getaway for her. Jenny was describing her husband to us a bit (tall computer geek with a ponytail, but will to ride in her sidecar) and we asked how in the world they had gotten together. She then told us that she used to work at Microsoft [shock!] as a programmer [shock!]. Here's this lady who wears leather and rides a motorcycle and she used to work at Microsoft! I love people's stories!! Anyways, she said that because of the free pop they were given at work and the many hours she put in sitting at a desk, she gained a lot of weight and got really unhappy. She also developed carpal tunnel and eventually decided to leave. Now she and her husband have a farm with a variety of animals, including horses (Hannah was more than a little envious of this). Around 2 or 3 A.M. our new friends were feeling the effects of the "Holy Water" and decided it was time for them to wander back to their camp. Before passing out one of them did start up their bike to rev the engine a few times, as they had promised. We eventually made our way to our tents as well, and slept very well that night. If you want to see more pics from the week, go to here and here.

It was such a fun week, and I'm not completely excited to go back to work tomorrow. But Hannah and I are looking forward even more to when we actually leave the state. We've heard from a few new people about where we might stay as we travel -- two in Pittsburgh and one in Colorado -- so things are slowly falling into place.

As always, your positive thoughts and prayers are always needed and appreciated, so keep 'em coming! We hope you're all doing well, and having adventures of your own.

Over and out,

~Marissa

So it begins...

Hello! And welcome to our adventure! Hannah and I are super excited for this trip to commence, so we decided to start a blog a little early. We are, of course, still in planning mode right now, and our big task at the moment is to find a car. We're interested in getting some sort of wagon, probably a Subaru. We aren't sure exactly how we're going to afford it, since both of us have pretty limited budgets, but we know God will provide the right opportunity. So if anybody knows of anything, let us know! We're all about networking...

I think the big news of today is that Hannah got her old film SLR camera working. She's learning how to take rad pics with it, so we'll have at least one good photog on the trip. :) If we could get our hands on a decent video camera too, we'd be set.

I'll be honest, I am amazed at how well things have come together lately. Just two weeks ago I had no idea who, if anyone, would be sharing this trip with me, and now Hannah has committed for sure and I couldn't be happier about it! Plus finding out that my roommate and her fiance believed in my going so much that they bought me an atlas for my b-day -- simply awesome and so encouraging (thanks Abby and Jon)!!

This trip is going to be one of a kind (and hopefully the first of many more to come) and I can't wait. I know it will be really difficult at times, but those moments will be the ones that bring us closer to God and teach us more about ourselves. Thanks to everyone who will be supporting us by following our journey and wishing us well -- we're so looking forward to it all!!

Over and out,
~Meandering Marissa

If you know us at all...you know how fun we are, and how fun this trip will be.