Common Threads: Weaving an American Adventure by Jason Charles

Early November, 2006, I met with Lawrence and Paula, both in their mid- late 50's, at their home in a Chicago, Illinois suburb.  I have known them for over 20 years and honestly, I was surprised with what they were about to do.  I began by asking them how this got started.

PAULA: “Don’t jump into anything,” our friend and advisor Joel, told us. “Take some time; think about what you want to do next. Take a second honeymoon.” In the time it took me to think “Paris”, where we had spent our 25 ^th anniversary, Joel said the four fateful words, “Take a Road trip”.

LAWRENCE: As soon as Joel said it I thought, that’s exactly what we’ll do... a road trip. No plans, no time table, no reservations, just Paula and me on the road getting a real chance to see America. That was in late September.

PAULA: I laughed, never thinking the idea would survive the day. After close to 30 years of working at a global company, I was “retiring”. Graduating, I called it, moving onto new career opportunities. “I won’t jump into anything right away”, I told Joel, ”But right after the first of the year, I’ll start looking.”

Jason: So, how did it go from a suggestion to being a reality?

LAWRENCE: Not without resistance. (Laughs). By mid October, I thought I had made some headway in convincing Paula. We tentatively planned to start the road trip right after the beginning of 2007, traveling from Boston to Florida and back over 60 days. Paula was half hearted about it, humoring me, but at least she pretended to get with the program.

PAULA: Humoring you?!? I thought you were kidding. We were supposed to get in the car and just drive for 60 days….. I felt we needed a plan, to map things out. I knew that a triple-A trip guide was in my future.

LAWRENCE: I kept reminding her that it would be fun like when we first got married and used to drive back and forth to Boston from Jersey.

PAULA: Yeah, but that was 28 years ago. I started telling people about the road trip and got one of two responses. Either folks would say, “Wow, what a great idea. You have to visit XYZ. I am so envious. It’ll be wonderful.” Or folks would look askance and blurt out, “Ah… “Are you nuts? Riding in the car with your husband for 60 days, no reservations, and no game plan? Either you’re very crazy, very brave or both.”

LAWRENCE: I told her to ‘trust me’, that we’d see the real America, parts of the country we’ve only flown over on the way to meetings.

Early December, 2006, I phoned Paula and Lawrence the first week in December to see how things were going.

JASON: So, what’s happened over the past few months?

LAWRENCE: After Thanksgiving we had our first conversation about “traveling light”. I told Paula I was taking one suitcase. I figured if I needed anything I would buy it on the road.

PAULA: He always travels light. He went to China for almost two weeks with a mid size suitcase and his computer bag!

LAWRENCE: Honey, you have to admit your 4 huge suitcases and a big brief case was a bit excessive.

PAULA: (Laughs) I admit nothing. Anyway…..by then I had gotten the AAA travel books, printed out a potential route from their site, and had gotten some Fodor and Frommer books.

LAWRENCE: The road trip was becoming less and less spontaneous. We really didn’t need the books. But if she was more comfortable…..

PAULA: Yeah, you didn’t want an uncomfortable Paula in an enclosed car for over 60 days! (Laughs)

Late December, 2006, I caught up with Courtney, Lawrence and Paula's daughter, by phone at her home in Beijing, China.

Jason: Were you surprised that your parents are doing this?

Courtney: Yeah, definitely. But, at the same time I’m impressed that they are actually going to do something so different. I never thought that my mother would actually do it.

I believe that everything you do should have a larger meaning that relates to your life’s story, so instead of just driving and visiting different cities and friends, I suggested that they keep a blog. I thought it would be cool if they interviewed people as they went from place to place and then posted the interviews on their site.

They seemed to love the idea. My Dad is going to build the site and my mom is actually excited now about the trip.

Jason: So it was you that gave them the idea for WhatWeHeard.

Courtney: Yes, I guess so. I suggested it and, from what I hear, they have taken the idea and run with it. I do, however, expect to get proceeds from the subsequent made-for-tv movie and book deals! (Laughs)

I checked in on Paula and Lawrence on February 2nd

Jason: So, now you are days away from starting the road trip. I talked to Courtney a few weeks back and she told me she was the creative thrust behind a travel blog project you’re working on, “What We Heard”.

PAULA: Yes, it was her idea. I have to admit it was the turning point for me. Keeping the blog will definitely will make the trip more interesting! I’m excited. But, I took Oprah’s advice and got sheets and towels for the trip. You never know what you’ll find in some hotels…….

LAWRENCE: The site is almost done. Stay tuned!!!!!

Jason: Best of luck with the blog and safe travels.  I WILL be checking in...

PAULA: and LAWRENCE : Thanks, Jason.

PAULA: Don’t forget the site is WhatWeHeard.com...... Pass the word!

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Jason Charles is an aspiring writer currently working in an educational publishing company in Philadelphia.
He, too, loves to travel and looks forward to the time he can take his own road trip.