Reality: Forgotten America, At least we forgot.
version: draft 1, in progess and more coming
It was a dreary day. Much like any other day in San Francisco. It was mid to low 60's with overcast skies. It was decided previously, that I was to pick up Jose in northern California after his long bike trip up the coast. I Left around 11 a.m.. I couldn't see more than a few hundred yards in front of me due to the fog. Golden Gate Bridge was non-existent. All that was visible was the pavement in front of me and several crimson pillars. I thought to myself..this is mid-summer again in SF. Cold, foggy and depressing. Then I hit the other side. Temp shot up to 70, 80, 90 as I drove up highway 101. It was amazing. I began to ponder this question: When had I last seen summer? My answer came like this, " I can't remember it's been THAT long". Summer in San Francisco comes in October and is very short. If you want to see the route, click here. I will divide this trip into a few sections: North Bay, Crossover and Coast. North Bay is undergoing what I call, The Cinderella Syndrome. You take a Busted ass, Hick ran, Hill Billy town, slap an art piece in the center, lay some cobble stone, redo downtown store fronts and BAM! You're now a rich white hot spot. The same town where Bobby sue and Frankie T got their 2x4's and horse feed is now a popular wine tasting place! You can put a great cover on it, but the HICKS STILL LIVE NEAR THERE.
Between Cloverdale and the coast is nothing. Nothing but redwoods. There's a tiny town called Boonsville and it's just like it sounds. At one point we were driving for a good 30 minutes in pure darkness. Then we'd see random people walking down the road. *plays banjo to deliverance* This drive was amazing. I couldn't believe this still was out there to enjoy. This city makes me focus on itself. It's like a needy animal. Begging for attention.
The ccoast wasn't all that suprising. Mendocino was a cute town. Nothing but B and B's and far as i could see. It's a place where millionaires get away to relax. It's apparently a place where hobo's get away to die or something. We went to a Firefighters fundraiser and bought some BBQ. Out of the 150-200 people there, maybe 1-2 non-white. Including Jose... Also, maybe 4-5 we're around the age of 25. The rest were 40+. Of the 3 girls our age there, one was preggo. Just some fun Stats!
So now the commentary and why this is Forgotten America. It's funny to think, what I saw, the mustache wearing, pro-American rednecks, make up a huge chunk of our country. Living in this city I forget how we are just a speck on this map, compared to all the nooks and crannies that are filled with this forgotten America. They live a much more slow and care free life, but which is better? To have aspirations and subject yourself to the confines of a city? Or to have nothing but not aspire. These people are content to live in the middle of no-where, drinking beer every day. Sitting around and enjoying the sunsets. We all want it. But we have learned to aspire and throw away that life. What is it we should be happy with?
It was a dreary day. Much like any other day in San Francisco. It was mid to low 60's with overcast skies. It was decided previously, that I was to pick up Jose in northern California after his long bike trip up the coast. I Left around 11 a.m.. I couldn't see more than a few hundred yards in front of me due to the fog. Golden Gate Bridge was non-existent. All that was visible was the pavement in front of me and several crimson pillars. I thought to myself..this is mid-summer again in SF. Cold, foggy and depressing. Then I hit the other side. Temp shot up to 70, 80, 90 as I drove up highway 101. It was amazing. I began to ponder this question: When had I last seen summer? My answer came like this, " I can't remember it's been THAT long". Summer in San Francisco comes in October and is very short. If you want to see the route, click here. I will divide this trip into a few sections: North Bay, Crossover and Coast. North Bay is undergoing what I call, The Cinderella Syndrome. You take a Busted ass, Hick ran, Hill Billy town, slap an art piece in the center, lay some cobble stone, redo downtown store fronts and BAM! You're now a rich white hot spot. The same town where Bobby sue and Frankie T got their 2x4's and horse feed is now a popular wine tasting place! You can put a great cover on it, but the HICKS STILL LIVE NEAR THERE.
Between Cloverdale and the coast is nothing. Nothing but redwoods. There's a tiny town called Boonsville and it's just like it sounds. At one point we were driving for a good 30 minutes in pure darkness. Then we'd see random people walking down the road. *plays banjo to deliverance* This drive was amazing. I couldn't believe this still was out there to enjoy. This city makes me focus on itself. It's like a needy animal. Begging for attention.
The ccoast wasn't all that suprising. Mendocino was a cute town. Nothing but B and B's and far as i could see. It's a place where millionaires get away to relax. It's apparently a place where hobo's get away to die or something. We went to a Firefighters fundraiser and bought some BBQ. Out of the 150-200 people there, maybe 1-2 non-white. Including Jose... Also, maybe 4-5 we're around the age of 25. The rest were 40+. Of the 3 girls our age there, one was preggo. Just some fun Stats!
So now the commentary and why this is Forgotten America. It's funny to think, what I saw, the mustache wearing, pro-American rednecks, make up a huge chunk of our country. Living in this city I forget how we are just a speck on this map, compared to all the nooks and crannies that are filled with this forgotten America. They live a much more slow and care free life, but which is better? To have aspirations and subject yourself to the confines of a city? Or to have nothing but not aspire. These people are content to live in the middle of no-where, drinking beer every day. Sitting around and enjoying the sunsets. We all want it. But we have learned to aspire and throw away that life. What is it we should be happy with?
7:16 PM
I'm afraid these God fearing, flag waving patriots are being sold down the river by the affluent neo-con power borkers they want to be when (and if) they grow up. Perhaps the proper grammer might be "across the ocean". Free trade emasculated the Democrats who lost their labor union power base when industry simply replaced American workers with what amounted to cheap foriegn "scab" labor. I really think this is eroding the ranks of the American middle class. Is this country going to be truly comfortable with 10% of the population living in palacial mansions and the rest of us in trailer courts? Most Americans constantly chasing the few remaining manufacturing and service sector jobs in an economony dominated by college educated technocrats managing the financial affairs of foriegners?
God bless America?
God save America!! top