Eastern Standard Time

3,155 miles, a dozen cities, and 15 states.  I made it across the country to my final US destination, Boston, on Wednesday.  It's really nothing more than a blur at this point, considering how much ground I covered in such a short amount of time.  As harried as my drive may have felt at times, I was able to find time to see both the living and the dead.  I even ran into someone that I hadn't planned on seeing - a former colleague from Seattle (falls into the "living" category) who just happened to be at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn at the same time I was there with my cousin Marissa.  What are the chances?



Ran into this clown in Brooklyn

This last piece of my roadtrip was all about family.  In Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and West Roxbury (Boston), I shared news of my upcoming adventures with those that are no longer with us.  In one sense, the trip to the Old Country that I'm about to make is a payment of respect and gratitude to these ancestors who risked it all to ensure continuity of the bloodline.  Had they stayed put where they were, there's a very good chance that I would not be here sharing my stories with you today. 

I also met family members on this trip that were only names on a family tree before.  I am so greatful for the open and warm reception that I've received from everyone; for whatever reason, I have been given the gift of choreographing reunions of cousins across the country and beyond after a generation or two of withering family connections.  And I am cherishing every moment of it.


Rosenblum cousins meeting for the first time

Perhaps the most rewarding reunion to date is the family in Yonkers, whom I wrote about in a previous post.  It was an emotional day for me when I was able to finally meet cousin Beatrice and her daughter in person.  I was treated to stories of the family matriarch and patriarch, Sarah and Sam, and of Aunt Ida, who's mint-condition pale yellow upholstered chair I was able to rest my ass upon while viewing family photos.  My interminable and thorough detective work truly paid off this time! 

Marilyn and Beatrice in Yonkers

While in New York, I stopped by the Center for Jewish History to do a little research on the landsmanshaftn that some of my relatives belonged to in Philadelphia and Boston.  Very interesting stuff.  I didn't find anything particularly relevant to my family's past, but looking at original membership leaflets and social programs did give me a glimpse into what these immigrant organizations were all about back in the 1930's and just how important it was to find and build community with your own people in America during economically, socially, and politically turbulent times.

I am enjoying my final week in the US with family in Boston.  I leave on Wednesday evening for Europe, which I fully expect will inspire me to live life in a more meaningful way.  I owe it to myself and I owe it to all those around me who have to listen to me go on and on about my trip.

Utah Survivor

State Route Sign - Utah

Epic drive today - Las Vegas to Grand Junction.  The majority of the day was spent in the lovely state of Utah where I only stopped once for gas/food as I feared some form of abduction was imminent.  Although I did encounter large families of blond-haired, fair-skinned Joseph Smith believers, I escaped unharmed and carried on at 80mph!  Never seen a speed limit that high before, although it was pretty much impossible to reach that speed with highway resurfacing projects popping up every 20 miles.  Note to self - do not trust trip duration provided by navigation or Google Maps when driving long-distance during the summer months (i.e., construction season).

The scenery was nothing short of breathtaking, sort of like seeing 100 mini Grand Canyons, or at least what I imagine the Grand Canyon would look like. Couldn't pay too much attention, however, as I was very busy trying to unravel the mystery behind the Utah State Route symbol. It looks like a cross between a beehive and a teepee. Anyone?

Lighting for Winos - Palazzo Hotel/Casino

Las Vegas was Las Vegas.  My mom and I did go to a great NY-style pizzeria called Grimaldi's where I snapped this photo of great recycled lighting.  Also had a chance to catch up with a friend/former coworker from Atkins (San Francisco) who is going through her own major life change...but not a midlife crisis because she is just a kitten.  Happy birthday Kelly!  Finally, last night I was treated to a complementary concert by FUN.  They were playing the Marquee rooftop last night at the Cosmopolitan, directly across from my hotel room at Paris.  That is a great band!

Ugh, must...stop...eating.  Maybe I'll join Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers while I'm in Eastern Europe.  Over there it's probably known as Yeni Craigovitch.  If I become a spokesmodel then maybe I can get my trip sponsored/paid for!

I recently learned about the 90-day limit in a six-month period for American tourists in Europe, more specifically, in the Schengen Zone.  This is the borderless area that encompasses most countries of the EU + a few others.  As you know, I am planning to spend more than 3 months in Eastern Europe, so this is an unforseen complication that requires a little bit of fancy footwork or law-breaking.  Countries NOT included in the Schengen Zone that are a part of my planned itinerary are England, Ukraine, and Israel.  Since I can't afford to stay too long in the UK, and am afraid/ill-equipped to stay too long in Ukraine, I am beginning to explore the possibility of an extended stay in Israel.  Kibbutz?


California Dreaming

I've covered a lot of ground over the last week.  Since my last entry, I've traveled to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Seal Beach, and San Diego, where I am currently spending my last few days in the Golden State.  On Sunday morning, the long trek east begins...

Dolores Park

San Francisco was simply spectacular. I got to spend time with many friends, enjoy great unseasonably warm and fog-free weather, and see three naked men @ Castro/17th (notable because I recall only seeing one naked man during my previous visits to that location). Let's see, what else...the price of a slice of pizza went up to $4.20 at Marcello's, the Mission is now the unequivocal center of all hip activities in the City, Sunday Streets warms the heart and feeds the soul, and Mid-Market will never become gentrified.

After a regrettably short visit with my sister and her hubby in Santa Cruz, I took my grandma to one of the classiest joints outside of Leisure World, Denny's, and then headed south to San Diego for some quality time with the parental units.  Since I arrived on Tuesday, we've been spending a lot of time outdoors enjoying all that SD has to offer...Balboa Park, The Bayshore Bikeway, Mexican-style lobster feed in Old Town, a gigantic flat screen Blu-ray entertainment center, and Mama's fried matzoh.

I've also been busy trying to get all my affairs in order, as all my mail is being forwarded here and this is really my last opportunity to address any outstanding issues with the sale of my home in Oakland, the rollover of my 401K, and anything else that may have popped up since I began traveling.  After a fresh oil change and a new air filter, my car is ready for the next leg, despite taking quite a beating on I-5 last week.  As I was entering the Los Angeles Basin, something that looked like a large mud flap flew off of the back of a semi in front of me and slammed into the front of my car.  I am interpreting this despicable act of malice towards my sweet, innocent Kia as a sign that I need to get out of Los Angeles!

Aunt Mary's "Manya" Death Certificate

I received Manya's death certificate in the mail today, indicating where in the 5 boroughs she is buried.  For those of you who I haven't told already, Manya is the "missing" aunt of my grandmother that is also the person who brought me into contact with my Ukrainian relatives who represent another branch of the Barishpolsky family tree that nobody of the last three generations knew anything about.  A Ukrainian cousin, Julia, who now lives in New York, contacted me about Manya several months ago because she needs to fulfill her grandmother's dying wish of visiting her grave.  Her grandmother was close with Manya before she left the old country, and they stayed in touch for several years.  However, after about 5 years, nobody heard from Manya again and didn't know why.

Through my love of genealogy and highly-developed investigatory skills, I connected the dots and found Manya's progeny in Yonkers.  It turns out that Manya died in 1919 at age 25 of the flu during a time when there was a major worldwide epidemic.  That is why my grandma didn't remember anything about her aunt Manya, and that is why relatives in Ukraine stopped hearing from her.  I will visit Manya's daughter and granddaughter in New York at the end of the month, and I am also hoping to accompany Julia to Manya's grave so that we can pay our respects together.

Blast from the Past

Goodbye Seattle

Nobody told me that a new season of Project Runway had begun! As I sit here in my Yreka motel room on a mango margarita high catching up on the missed episodes, I am reflecting on the last few days catching up with old friends in the Pacific Northwest, spewing my story in all directions. It was a pleasure and well worth the mileage to reconnect with folks who mean so much to me.  For those of you who expressed interest in meeting me in Europe at some point during my sojourn, please make it happen!  I'm pretty sure that familiar faces would be welcomed after months on my own in the darkness and cold.

It was strange retracing my steps in the neighborhoods of Seattle, almost 5 years later, noting that character is being buried in favor of gigantic red-brick facade monotony. And the Pearl! Holy matzoh balls how it's grown...almost extends to I-405 now. Anyhow, thanks to everyone for accommodating me and my crazy schedule AND for allowing the spotlight to shine on me. Your time will come too, and when it does, you can expect reciprocal quantities of love and support.

Magnolia Blossom - Washington Park Arboretum

When the radio stations don't come in anymore and I tire of the 10 albums that I can stream from my phone to the car sound system, I work on my Polish (thanks B and BIL!) If you happen to see me drive by and can look past the multiple layers of dried bug guts, you'll see me talking to myself whilst driving. No need to worry...I am not about to join the mentally unstable, soiled masses on Skid Row. It's tough, but I'm learning the basics - just enough so that the locals can make fun of me when I attempt to communicate with them.

Oh, did I mention that I hate driving in WA and OR? I'm going to put up signs along every mile of every freeway indicating that slow-ass drivers need to get the hell out of the left lane. More importantly, I'm going to insist that a minimum speed limit be posted next to the max. Am I the only one who is appalled by this? Resources need to be mobilized, special committees need to be formed, emergency meetings need to be called by the UN, G7, and the WTO. This travesty deserves at least as much attention as the current controversy surrounding Chic-fil-A. Do widzenia!