Page One is Blank

Page One is Blank
A British man I met today set the tone for this journey when he said to me, “So today is page one and its blank”? Well I guess so. It wasn’t until then, standing at the gate to board my flight to London, I actually got a bit scared about this entire thing. Until that moment I had been so sure of myself. So sure of the success of this project that I had never really thought about the possibility of failure. Is now the time? HELL NO!!! It’s go time.

The last few weeks have been crazy. My last day in Austin was bizarre. The movers showed up two hours late, electricity wasn’t transferred to the new occupant on time, and I didn’t get to see a few friends before I left. But I made it to Cleveland after a few hiccups.

My trip to Cleveland was amazing to my surprise. Not one fight or argument with the family which is a first. I spent more time with my mother in a 5 day span than I had in the last 15 years. Visited my old high school and spoke with several classes of students about my project. These students may never know how much they have motivated me. Seeing the curiosity and amazement in their faces at what I’m about to embark on was enough to feed my passion for a lifetime. True passion comes from your roots.

Cleveland City Pride Display

TIP: Always return home no matter how bad it gets. Someone like you will always be there looking for inspiration to change their life.
Spent my thirtieth birthday in my hometown with my eldest son, who will be thirteen soon, and good friends. Truly special sharing that milestone with the person that pushed me to start another phase in my life when I was younger. Partying until the wee hours of the morning with my brother, second born after me, was special because as kids we always talked about our dreams. His life took a bit of a different direction than mine but I’m proud to see he’s just as hardworking and honest as ever and can’t wait to see what he’s about to do.

After Cleveland I flew down to McAllen and things got ugly. So on the way to Cleveland I was able to bypass the terrible weather in Chicago thanks to Southwest attendants. Not so lucky going back. Stuck 6 hours in Chicago. I eventually made it into Houston and met with friends for dinner as I decided to spend the night instead of flying all day. Shortly into dinner I began to feel severely nauseous. I ate a small salad and headed to CVS for some Pepto tablets. Didn’t even get to use them as I walked into my room I started vomiting violently. Worse than I ever have in my life. As I lay dying on the bathroom floor my stomach started bubbling. Round TWO but from the other end. I spent the night in a bathtub, literally.

I felt quite a bit better the next morning and decided to take my flight to McAllen as it was only an hour. As soon as I landed in McAllen I headed to the VA Clinic. Turns out I caught a stomach flu. 36 hours of only clear fluids and no spicy food. McAllen is basically Mexico. Definitely a challenge. I followed doctor’s orders but spent as much time as I could with my family. We attended the Borderfest which was surprisingly fun.

Borderfest Sign 2013

As I hugged and waved goodbye to my family I felt the excitement and the nervousness. No one will say it, but almost every person close to me isn’t totally happy about me leaving. I can sense it. Most don’t understand it. Why after a successful military career, countless job offers, and turning thirty would I sell everything and hit the road? Because I have a passion to explore and educate.

Western society has convinced us that we have to do one thing for our entire lives. That we have to follow some standard blueprint of what life should be. Well I burned my blueprint. Burn yours. So many people have told me I’m lucky. Bullshit. Luck had nothing to do with the sacrifices I’ve made to organize and fund this trip. Luck has nothing to do with what my family is going to experience while I’m away. Put in the effort and get the result. Simple. FEAR and LUCK are two things I reject in my life. Will you reject them also?

MLK.Jr Bust surrounded by patriotic flare at Shaw High School, East Cleveland,Oh. Classroom of Lori Urogdy- Eiler.

I’m a poor black kid from East Cleveland. I was educated in one of the worse public school system in the country. I served my country well. I went to college and worked my butt off. And now I’m sitting in a plane, halfway over the Atlantic Ocean, with most of my possession’s stuffed into two bags. Am I afraid? NOPE! Do I hope to get lucky? NOPE!
If you read this and still have no idea what I’m thinking, good. All you need to know is this is page one of my Odyssey, and it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Myself and Shaw High students after my presentation on travel and cultural exploration

TOM L. JOHNSON STATUE, Cleveland Mayor 1901-1909 Public Square, Cleveland, Sculpted by Herman N. Matzen and erected in 1915.

Myself and Shaw High class after my presentation on travel and cultural exploration

Flags on display in Public Square, Cleveland

Tower City Center, Cleveland

Old Stone church was built in 1855 and largely remains original. The only major modification was the 1998 addition of a steeple that replicated the original.

Beef rib from the food court are of Borderfest. Everything was huge and delicious. Possibly the reason McAllen is the fattest city in America.

Thousands of people, mostly families, descend on Borderfest each night. The food court is a major attraction featuring traditional Mexican fare as well as TexMex favorites.