My god, Tonya, I wish I could write like you. Your imaginings and connections with the strangers you see and watch; the scenarios filled with sensual details. Somehow, the depth of humanity comes through your words. This was exquisite. Every word of it. And these are just your notes???
Thank you so much, Sue! I’m happy you enjoyed all these disjointed thoughts. Sometimes I think I write better in short bursts like this, so it’s great to know it worked for you. I will keep writing them!
You will have a place to come back to that is yours alone, and Paul's and Santo's soon, we hope. You have a place in ours and your readers' hearts and spirits. This is great work as is all your work and editorial contributions. Honest, brave, bracing, and very moving. Not everybody cares what's on the wall so much as what isn't. There's so much here, Tonya. So much truth, mourning, and giving. Sometimes I think, do I dare? To you I say, you always will. That's you. C.
Hotel room art is generally awful, as you say. But it's also true that on more than one occasion I've stumbled across a piece of art I desperately wanted, some kind of strange iconic maelstrom of art that had no place whatsoever in a homogeneous beaten-down Motel 6, or where ever I was. I've never actually stolen one, but I've felt the impulse.
You know, when I first read your comment, I thought, "Wow, how come I'm never in those hotel rooms?" But then I looked up in this current room in Lafayette, Louisiana and (would you believe it,) I actually like the art in here. It isn't quite Mark Rothko or Joan Mitchell, but it's really not bad at all. So, thank you very much for the perspective shift!
I COULD say that my takeaway was "Holy jamolies, Tonya's 4Runner had over 398,000 miles on it?!" But no, stunning as that detail is, I loved every observation here, every beautifully captured dreamscape. I relate so much to the kind, melancholy ponderings & kicked-up memories. I too am baffled by vile hotel art. We fared well art-wise in Memphis, St. Louis & - yes - New Orleans. Beautiful piece, Tonya. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Ellen. I always know you'll read with empathy and insight, and I'm so happy you found moments here to relate to. Also, that Toyota was truly an unkillable beast, so I'd be perfectly happy if that was your biggest takeaway. I loved that car.
Hi Steve. First off, let me say that all packet-based technology sucks. I just composed a long response to this on hotel wifi. I clicked "reply" and it went into limbo and eventually disappeared. Then, it took me 15 minutes to get a signal again. All a waste of life. I can't recreate my post, so please excuse me. Short answer, though: it was not really a discussion like that. He had a Tundra. He liked the color of my 4Runner. In truth, there was only one engine option - the 6 - for both Tacomas and 4Runners for many years, so he was kind of wrong, but I just let him rattle on. He was not the first guy who wanted to buy that car out from under me. After I heard his first comments - "Nice Lunar Rock you got there" - I warily turned around and peeked out from behind the pump, which was playing some shitty music, by the way. When I saw that he was not a serial killer, we had some Toyota fanboy repartee and then each went on our merry way. So there is no correct engine. The correct answer, though, is "any engine made by Toyota."
As I recall, the big point was that the engines changed in 2005 and that was a good thing. Then, recently, they changed the engines again, and maybe that's also good? I admit, I started to zone out. Myself, I'd recommend checking Consumer Reports, then either buying a hybrid from Toyota (plug-in hybrid if you have a garage,) or possibly a Subaru, but that's just my two cents. We still have a big gas guzzler for now, but I have my plans.
A number of thoughts on this, but first let me say I got some great male joy out of the section with the guys at the gas pump. I need to sit with the other sections for a bit. I'm a Southern native, having grown up in Alabama and Georgia plus a few years near the Virginia coast. It's basically impossible for a Southerner to explain the culture to an outsider in direct language, but you really touched on something elemental in the section about the imaginary girl in the stilted house. The bayou culture is quite different from the Dixie culture I grew up in but the common theme is a vague darkness, mystery and the possibility of violence. Southerners don't talk about it, and I don't mean to overstate it (I had a very happy and healthy childhood), but the food, music, manner of speaking and religion are all a natural response. The way I've come to imagine the source of this mystery is ghosts. The ghosts are the dead Indians, settlers and slaves, the sharecroppers and poor white people who suffered in life and injustice in death. The dark mystery is in the air and water and the ground. The only things the darkness doesn't touch are the animals, the plants and trees and the sky, which is why the South has so much natural beauty. p.s. I really enjoyed the other readers comments, and thank you Tonya for this thoughtful and personal story. I hope you and Paul and Santo have a wonderful road trip.
I really like the insights in this comment, Jeffrey. I think you’re really onto something with the darkness, the mystery and the threat of violence. And the ghosts. You can really see it in the mardi gras festivities right now. It makes the place both magical and overwhelming.
My god, Tonya, I wish I could write like you. Your imaginings and connections with the strangers you see and watch; the scenarios filled with sensual details. Somehow, the depth of humanity comes through your words. This was exquisite. Every word of it. And these are just your notes???
Thank you so much, Sue! I’m happy you enjoyed all these disjointed thoughts. Sometimes I think I write better in short bursts like this, so it’s great to know it worked for you. I will keep writing them!
Please do. Sometimes there's more impact in shorter, more sussinct pieces.
this is so so good, love the speculation that the robed figures got lost on the way to the river to be baptized! fabulous!!!!
Thanks, Tabby!!
This dispatch is making me want to rent a car and drive south! Love your observations and photographs, Tonya.
Thanks so much, Nina! If you're getting the urge, I highly recommend giving in.
You will have a place to come back to that is yours alone, and Paul's and Santo's soon, we hope. You have a place in ours and your readers' hearts and spirits. This is great work as is all your work and editorial contributions. Honest, brave, bracing, and very moving. Not everybody cares what's on the wall so much as what isn't. There's so much here, Tonya. So much truth, mourning, and giving. Sometimes I think, do I dare? To you I say, you always will. That's you. C.
What a beautiful, extraordinary comment, Connie. I'm so grateful to have you as a reader. You always see straight through to the heart of things. xoxo
xoxox connie
Brief observation:
Hotel room art is generally awful, as you say. But it's also true that on more than one occasion I've stumbled across a piece of art I desperately wanted, some kind of strange iconic maelstrom of art that had no place whatsoever in a homogeneous beaten-down Motel 6, or where ever I was. I've never actually stolen one, but I've felt the impulse.
You know, when I first read your comment, I thought, "Wow, how come I'm never in those hotel rooms?" But then I looked up in this current room in Lafayette, Louisiana and (would you believe it,) I actually like the art in here. It isn't quite Mark Rothko or Joan Mitchell, but it's really not bad at all. So, thank you very much for the perspective shift!
I COULD say that my takeaway was "Holy jamolies, Tonya's 4Runner had over 398,000 miles on it?!" But no, stunning as that detail is, I loved every observation here, every beautifully captured dreamscape. I relate so much to the kind, melancholy ponderings & kicked-up memories. I too am baffled by vile hotel art. We fared well art-wise in Memphis, St. Louis & - yes - New Orleans. Beautiful piece, Tonya. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Ellen. I always know you'll read with empathy and insight, and I'm so happy you found moments here to relate to. Also, that Toyota was truly an unkillable beast, so I'd be perfectly happy if that was your biggest takeaway. I loved that car.
Love this comment. Spot on, Ellen. C.
Thanks so much, Connie! Lovely to hear.
Ok, so I gotta know…. What IS the correct Toyota engine to have?
Hi Steve. First off, let me say that all packet-based technology sucks. I just composed a long response to this on hotel wifi. I clicked "reply" and it went into limbo and eventually disappeared. Then, it took me 15 minutes to get a signal again. All a waste of life. I can't recreate my post, so please excuse me. Short answer, though: it was not really a discussion like that. He had a Tundra. He liked the color of my 4Runner. In truth, there was only one engine option - the 6 - for both Tacomas and 4Runners for many years, so he was kind of wrong, but I just let him rattle on. He was not the first guy who wanted to buy that car out from under me. After I heard his first comments - "Nice Lunar Rock you got there" - I warily turned around and peeked out from behind the pump, which was playing some shitty music, by the way. When I saw that he was not a serial killer, we had some Toyota fanboy repartee and then each went on our merry way. So there is no correct engine. The correct answer, though, is "any engine made by Toyota."
Ok fair enough! And thank you for the reply. That answer will save me a ton of time on the fan sites as I settle into my next choice! Appreciate!
As I recall, the big point was that the engines changed in 2005 and that was a good thing. Then, recently, they changed the engines again, and maybe that's also good? I admit, I started to zone out. Myself, I'd recommend checking Consumer Reports, then either buying a hybrid from Toyota (plug-in hybrid if you have a garage,) or possibly a Subaru, but that's just my two cents. We still have a big gas guzzler for now, but I have my plans.
You can ask me, as well. I am full of opinions on cars.
Gorgeous...enjoy the trip.
Thank you for the warm and wonderful piece of Southern travel.
Thanks so much, Sebastian!
A number of thoughts on this, but first let me say I got some great male joy out of the section with the guys at the gas pump. I need to sit with the other sections for a bit. I'm a Southern native, having grown up in Alabama and Georgia plus a few years near the Virginia coast. It's basically impossible for a Southerner to explain the culture to an outsider in direct language, but you really touched on something elemental in the section about the imaginary girl in the stilted house. The bayou culture is quite different from the Dixie culture I grew up in but the common theme is a vague darkness, mystery and the possibility of violence. Southerners don't talk about it, and I don't mean to overstate it (I had a very happy and healthy childhood), but the food, music, manner of speaking and religion are all a natural response. The way I've come to imagine the source of this mystery is ghosts. The ghosts are the dead Indians, settlers and slaves, the sharecroppers and poor white people who suffered in life and injustice in death. The dark mystery is in the air and water and the ground. The only things the darkness doesn't touch are the animals, the plants and trees and the sky, which is why the South has so much natural beauty. p.s. I really enjoyed the other readers comments, and thank you Tonya for this thoughtful and personal story. I hope you and Paul and Santo have a wonderful road trip.
I really like the insights in this comment, Jeffrey. I think you’re really onto something with the darkness, the mystery and the threat of violence. And the ghosts. You can really see it in the mardi gras festivities right now. It makes the place both magical and overwhelming.