Got everything I need and will soon be out the door. I’m sick of hearing myself talk about this trip and just want to hit the road. Tonight, I’ll report about the journey to Clarksburg and give my first food critique – my friend Susan is cooking lunch.

Like with every tragedy, I feel a bit silly and guilty talking about my plans for the future. What happened in Boston is so horrific and my thoughts will be with the people there. Yesterday, this all felt very familiar. In February 1993 I was planning a road trip to move to Georgia for a while. The day before I left was the first World Trade Center bombing, when bin Laden exploded vans in the basement parking garages. I couldn’t believe it, especially that it happened here in the USA. Of course, I thought it would never happen again. That was just over 20 years ago.