April 2, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
Posters and History
Good News Garage, Hartford, CT (20)
Before I begin discussing my time in Connecticut, let’s talk about my getting here. First of all, I’m a terrible driver. I’ve never attested to anything but. However, I must say the particular rental car with which I’ve been blessed is somewhat lacking in the, let’s say, driving department. I’m really not trying to insult any major manufacturers here, and maybe we can just blame this all on my lack of motor skills but honestly, it was not good.
This car (make and model will remain nameless) has quite a few issues that have caused concern thus far. First of all, it’s the get-up-and-go of the vehicle that initially raised eyebrows. Each time we stop at a toll road, which is more than I ever imagined in the northeast, I am seriously Flintstonin’ it after passing through the gate. I’m not kidding, you’ve gotta be able to speed it up during rush hour, so I’ve really thought my foot was gonna push through the floor board at some points. Luckily, I’ve pulled through and left the footin’ it to Fred. Secondly, can I just say they really need to find some way to make this particular model not slip backward if elevated in the smallest bit. Yet again, I’m not kidding, an ant hill would trip this car up. Plus when trying to reverse with the car being parked down hill, I’m like Jeff Gordon screeching and all trying to not hit the car in front of me. This car is crazy. The last thing, and really I should blame this on the rental car company, but somehow with all the tolls, the E-Z Pass supplied by the car company which would allow us to pass through the roads without stopping, has clearly been depleted. Various states: Here come Bonnie and Clyde!
Anyhow, once we got to Hartford, it was pretty much all fun and games. For this “Purpose” I would basically be providing support for another “Purpose.” I would be hanging posters promoting Good News Garage, the group for whom I worked in Vermont. The organization affects much of the northeast and I loved the idea so much, that I decided to change up the process a bit, but work for the same group. Clever, huh?
So I awoke this morning and thought about the day ahead. While I was super excited to enjoy the spontaneity of this particular task, I was kind of nervous as well. Slowly I was realizing that much of my time would be spent asking restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, to post the advertisements for me. I don’t mind rejection so much (no comments please); I just don’t like disturbing others. Without the donation of these vehicles, the vision of Good News Garage would cease to exist. Advertising to make the public aware of this service was but one way to ensure this organization’s survival. So, today I would be facing my fears. Though I knew it would prove difficult, I would accomplish this mission.
Driving through Hartford posting signs near community benches and boards, made it wonderful to see the layout of this great city, plus having Netflixed the entire box set of Gilmore Girls I felt very much a step ahead of the other tourists. Then came West Hartford. There’s a fantastic strip of small stores, cute shops, something just out of the movies. Going door to door to advertise for the wonderful Good News Garage would be my feat. As the nervousness heightened, I gathered the courage to annoy the masses.
The first attempt was by far the most difficult. Walking in, quiet not to disrupt, I asked for permission to add my poster to the others along the wall. At first she seemed hesitant but then reconsidered. Fantastic! As I walked from store to store, my nerves definitely made their presence known. It got better though as I approached door to door, perfecting my simple routine of entering, asking and posting. And even when people told me no, I swallowed my pride for the sake of this charitable contribution.
As the day ended and the posters were hung we spent our remaining time with some of the greats who existed many years ago, but whose words continue to influence us today. Two homes, right together, sat on a corner close to West Hartford…One belonged to Mark Twain and the other to Harriet Beecher Stowe. I threw my hands in the air from excitement, but remained speechless as both feet stood firmly on the hills that once inspired novels that would shape the way our country viewed human rights, civil rights and equality for all. For a moment, I imagined their long conversations, discussing the great “Toms” of that or any time. I wondered if they’d become involved in some passionate love affair, though I assumed they were much too refined for that (and after researching the subject, have found that they were both equally dedicated to their spouses and families). As I walked from his home to hers, branches swaggered from side to side and the eerie presence of these visionaries still hovered above us. I looked out into the distance, saw the horizon I’m sure they both once claimed as their own, and felt for a moment, as though my life was so much bigger than me. Their history was defining my future.
Just before leaving, printed along a glass wall were Mark Twain’s words, “I have sampled this life.” While I’m quite certain I understand his remark, I’m curious as to what he would describe as sampling versus living. In his eyes, I’m not exactly sure which I’ve been doing while in this world. Maybe it has been some of both. Ironically however, I think a lot of my time has been spent leading my life as well. This may not make sense, but I guess I mean leading in a sense of the control I’ve had over the way my life has unfolded. Not to contradict the distinguished Mr. Twain, but for me, sampling indicates experiencing. I feel like I’ve simply experienced life in some cases, but I also feel as though I’ve controlled it in some ways as well. While it all seems confusing, I guess I would say that with the circumstances I’ve been handed, for each season, I’ve sampled, I’ve lived and I’ve led this life. Regardless, at the end of this journey, at the end of my time here, I hope I’ll be satisfied with the choices I’ve made, and with the life I’ve enjoyed.
