Travelogues
About ten years ago, I received a travelogue from a friend in Texas. He had taken a vacation journey in Mexico and documented his adventure along the way. It was a thick envelope, stuffed full of photocopied pages from a steno pad where he’d recorded his thoughts. He also included two pages of photo collages (see representative sample image above). The story was fascinating to me, the subject and setting so remote. And it helped that it was all printed on the backs of repurposed paper, which leant itself to an authentic mad scientist vibe.
Everything kind of felt like a quest back then. Maybe it was self-absorption, or maybe we were having more adventures. I once documented my daily commute in pictures and narrative. As time passed and responsibilities set it, the snapshots slowed and the adventures stopped. Driving to work became decidedly lass interesting.
A few weeks ago, we discussed his Mexican adventure travelogue in light of an upcoming trip he was making with his family for Thanksgiving. Travel for us had become about the destination, about keeping all the kids in line and out of traffic. He wondered if it would be possible to document a family journey like we had when we were a bit younger.
I say yes. Strongly yes. Every day should be an adventure. Any argument to the contrary, citing the hectic nature of work and kids and life, is an invisible barrier. I’m going to try to do a better job at enjoying the journey. Even if it is just a drive to work.
