"Scruffy Young Man" has left the building!
Sep 30th, 2009, 01:42 PM
#41
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've said it before and I'll say it again : Kudos to you Arts. Your son is very lucky and very fortunate to have a sensible and supportive parent in you.
I come from a large extended family where many of the women are/were strong and sensible like you and they are appreciated by all. They've had to put up with more than their fair share of hijinks and doozies from my cousins, siblings and I during our formative years, but truely, we've all turned out fine and successful in our lives, and we all know deep down that it was due in no small part to them.
I hope it will be so for your son too.
I come from a large extended family where many of the women are/were strong and sensible like you and they are appreciated by all. They've had to put up with more than their fair share of hijinks and doozies from my cousins, siblings and I during our formative years, but truely, we've all turned out fine and successful in our lives, and we all know deep down that it was due in no small part to them.
I hope it will be so for your son too.
Sep 30th, 2009, 02:21 PM
#42
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 20,650
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The younger son went to Europe by himself when he was 19. We had a joint bank account just in case he's in financial trouble.
He started at the friend's house in Germany, and I had that phone number. His friend's mom is a nice woman, we called each other more then once trying to figure out where our not-so-little brats are
I worry sick even now when my 30-year-old went to Africa (another son), but I would never even think of trying to stop either one.
Artsnletters is doing something right if her son feels free to inform her of his adventures. I wish you no sleepless nights
He started at the friend's house in Germany, and I had that phone number. His friend's mom is a nice woman, we called each other more then once trying to figure out where our not-so-little brats are
I worry sick even now when my 30-year-old went to Africa (another son), but I would never even think of trying to stop either one.
Artsnletters is doing something right if her son feels free to inform her of his adventures. I wish you no sleepless nights
Oct 8th, 2009, 09:05 PM
#46
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Most 21 years old today are 21 going on 16. They haven't even been out on their STREET, much less out into the WORLD".
Really? Evidently the young adults you know are quite different than the young adults I know, divineMissM.
Really? Evidently the young adults you know are quite different than the young adults I know, divineMissM.
Oct 8th, 2009, 09:18 PM
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I got a phone call from Scruffman Greg this afternoon. Here's the update:
He had a great time in Portland. He was waiting there for his close friend West to show up to continue on with him to NY.
The first time I met West, he was 14 years old and had blue hair and a lip ring. Contrary to any expectations I had from his appearance, he immediately stuck his hand out with a grin and introduced himself: "I'm West. Pleased to meet you." His family is decidedly counter-culture (both parents' hair is usually some brilliant shade of purple or pink or orange), and this apple didn't fall far from the tree - the blue hair and lip ring are gone, but somehow he doesn't look much more conventional. His entire family (including the grandparents) has been attending Burning Man for years.
(For those who don't know, Burning Man is a crazy festival of some 35,000 people in the middle of the Nevada desert that goes on for a week and involves, well, nearly anything at all. Your imagination will not exceed the reality. Trust me on this.)
Anyway, West and Greg met up according to plan in Portland. Some how photos were taken, and a few of them even made it on to Greg's couchsurfing page - which was the only reason I was sure he was still alive. It looks like a good, if gray-skied, time.
The boys hitchhiked yesterday from Portland to Seattle without incident. They stood by an on-ramp in downtown Portland with the traditional cardboard sign and got a ride within 30-45 minutes with a 60-year-old guy who reminisced about his own hitchhiking adventures back in his youth, and also five months ago. A kindred spirit, apparently. He dropped them in downtown Seattle, where they subsequently met up with their next couchsurfing host.
There have still been a few snafus. A guitar string was broken. A new sleeping bag turned out not to be not even warm enough for a basement floor in Portland. A little Portland sunshine caused a backpack to be rather more damp than is desirable. A communal household of couchsurfing hosts turned out to be the sort of people who host a Beatles sing-along all night and get little sleep.
These crises will be duly dealt with with a visit to REI and a guitar store, and some more gleeful singing in the night.
Scruffman Greg and sidekick West will be in Seattle another day or two, and then the next destination is Denver, via whatever route they figure out. Boise was mentioned. Mom suggested sticking to I-90 through Spokane and then Montana, followed by a jaunt south through Wyoming - more scenic territory. Only the next phone call or e-mail will reveal where the road takes them.
He had a great time in Portland. He was waiting there for his close friend West to show up to continue on with him to NY.
The first time I met West, he was 14 years old and had blue hair and a lip ring. Contrary to any expectations I had from his appearance, he immediately stuck his hand out with a grin and introduced himself: "I'm West. Pleased to meet you." His family is decidedly counter-culture (both parents' hair is usually some brilliant shade of purple or pink or orange), and this apple didn't fall far from the tree - the blue hair and lip ring are gone, but somehow he doesn't look much more conventional. His entire family (including the grandparents) has been attending Burning Man for years.
(For those who don't know, Burning Man is a crazy festival of some 35,000 people in the middle of the Nevada desert that goes on for a week and involves, well, nearly anything at all. Your imagination will not exceed the reality. Trust me on this.)
Anyway, West and Greg met up according to plan in Portland. Some how photos were taken, and a few of them even made it on to Greg's couchsurfing page - which was the only reason I was sure he was still alive. It looks like a good, if gray-skied, time.
The boys hitchhiked yesterday from Portland to Seattle without incident. They stood by an on-ramp in downtown Portland with the traditional cardboard sign and got a ride within 30-45 minutes with a 60-year-old guy who reminisced about his own hitchhiking adventures back in his youth, and also five months ago. A kindred spirit, apparently. He dropped them in downtown Seattle, where they subsequently met up with their next couchsurfing host.
There have still been a few snafus. A guitar string was broken. A new sleeping bag turned out not to be not even warm enough for a basement floor in Portland. A little Portland sunshine caused a backpack to be rather more damp than is desirable. A communal household of couchsurfing hosts turned out to be the sort of people who host a Beatles sing-along all night and get little sleep.
These crises will be duly dealt with with a visit to REI and a guitar store, and some more gleeful singing in the night.
Scruffman Greg and sidekick West will be in Seattle another day or two, and then the next destination is Denver, via whatever route they figure out. Boise was mentioned. Mom suggested sticking to I-90 through Spokane and then Montana, followed by a jaunt south through Wyoming - more scenic territory. Only the next phone call or e-mail will reveal where the road takes them.
Oct 8th, 2009, 09:25 PM
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For those of you who worry, the Scruffman is not a stranger to independent travel. For example, he drove a couple friends down to Joshua Tree National Park this summer where they all camped out in the wilderness and went rock-climbing for a week. They took all necessary food, water, etc., and came back happy and in one piece. He just wasn't experienced with Greyhound bus travel. That's now been resolved. He'll be fine!
Oct 9th, 2009, 05:44 AM
#54
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All-in-all, I'd say he's doing pretty good so far. I've heard about Burning Man and its pretty wild. Thanks for the update A&L.
I myself leave for a 3 week adventure a week from today so I may miss out on a couple of your updates. Really interested in seeing how the world unfolds for Scruffman (in a good way) and appreciate your candour and honesty.
M.
I myself leave for a 3 week adventure a week from today so I may miss out on a couple of your updates. Really interested in seeing how the world unfolds for Scruffman (in a good way) and appreciate your candour and honesty.
M.
Oct 9th, 2009, 09:18 AM
#56
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>A communal household of couchsurfing hosts turned out to be the sort of people who host a Beatles sing-along all night and get little sleep.<
This sounds like a hoot. Truly enjoying reading about your son's adventure and I am more than a little envious - makes me wish I had been able to do something like this when I was younger.
This sounds like a hoot. Truly enjoying reading about your son's adventure and I am more than a little envious - makes me wish I had been able to do something like this when I was younger.
Oct 12th, 2009, 02:47 AM
#57
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,044
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When DS was 17 I encouraged him to visit a 4-H friend in AK. I didn't realize the friend's parents thought nothing of letting the kids go backpacking in the wilderness by themselves. DS said some of the rock climbing was a little scary since he was inexperienced. Also, when he reported bear in the yard (horse was getting spooked) parents just asked what color? Oh, black bear, no problem, just ignore. Kids have to get experience on their own. Parents give as much training as they can but until a kid goes out by himself, you don't know if they've been paying attention. When we camped around the NE when DS was 13, he was a little uncomfortable with the idea that sometimes we didn't know where we would be the next day and worried the truck would run out of gas. DS learned to scope things out and make the best of things. One time stranded in DC trying to fly via Denver to AK he decided to get earliest flight to Denver since he prefered to be stranded there. Hadn't been to Denver before, rented a car and made the best of a lengthy delay.
I look forward to more of Scruffman's travels. I wish DH and I had had some of those adventures when we were younger.
I look forward to more of Scruffman's travels. I wish DH and I had had some of those adventures when we were younger.
Oct 13th, 2009, 05:44 PM
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very sweet of you to consider it, kerouac. I can assure you, if you meet the Scruffman, you will probably be quite impressed with him. He knows how to be good company. I've been impressed with what his couchsurfing hosts so far have to say about him. He's not quite so considerate when he's visiting me.
