This semesters intern is designing an animation program for the art department.
Great. Now even the interns did more exciting work than Marlee. Tell Gary I dont think Ill be able to get to this anytime soon.
No prob. Gretchen heaved herself upright once more and started to leave. She stopped halfway out the door and swung around to face Marlee again. I almost forgotGary really liked your idea to use the rappers for the Reading Is Fundamental promo.
Great. Of course, it would have been greater if Gary had managed to tell her this himself, but shed learned to be grateful for small favors.
Gretchen was almost out the door again when Marlee stopped her. Gary knows about my vacation, right? Remind him Ill be away the next two weeks.
Ill remind him. Knowing Gary, he wont even notice youre gone. Gretchen waved over her shoulder, then was gone, her feet slapping on the tile floor in rhythm with her popping gum.
Marlee sank into her chair and stared at the P.I.O. sheets. So much for the artistic, interesting and important work she always bragged about whenever her friends asked why she continued to work for a peanuts-for-pay nonprofit when she could be plying her trade for real dough at one of the big ad firms around town.
Not that she hadnt asked herself from time to time if she was really making the best use of her talents. Sure, working for programs like Reading Is Fundamental and the March of Dimes was rewarding and important, but was she selling herself short by not being more ambitious?
Ambition sounded like so much hard work. Shed always been one to go with the flow and see where life took her next. Only lately she felt as if the flow had stopped and she wasnt going much of anywhere.
She shoved the P.I.O. busywork aside and opened a new file on her computer. Writing new blog entries always helped her to sort out her thoughts.
Road trip!
Dont those words immediately make you think of fun and adventure? Whether its a Spring Break caravan to the Florida beaches or a summer safari across the country, hitting the road with friends for a few days away from the grind is a sure cure for a case of the dulls.
Yours truly is about to set off on a cross-country odyssey of my own. Ill be traveling from D.C. to San Diego to attend by best gal pal Susans wedding.
Before you start alerting state police to be on the lookout for me, rest assured that I will not be driving myself on this trip. (See previous entry for the whole sad story of my recently departed drivers license.) No, I have the privilege of a chauffeur for this vacation, the wedding best man. More on him later.
Right now Im musing about the value of road trips in general and this one in particular. Im thinking this will be the perfect time to take a closer look at where Im headedliterally and figuratively.
Dont worry, though, I dont intend to get too serious. Im not forgetting this is a vacation, too. And vacations are for fun. For cutting loose and doing things we might not do in the confines of our ordinary lives. How else to explain the penchant for Las Vegas conventioneers to sing karaoke or overly pale beachgoers to throw their backs out doing the limbo?
So expect a few surprises from yours truly in the coming weeks. Though I dont know exactly how yet, I intend to find my own way to cut loose.
MARLEE was well into her regular Wednesday-night movie marathon when the phone rang. She was tempted to ignore it, since tonights theme was road-trip movies and she hated to break away from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to talk to what was probably a phone salesperson anyway.
But guilt and the worry that it might be a friend in need drove her to hit the pause button and reach over and pluck the phone from its cradle. Hello?
Is this Marlee Jones?
That depends on whos calling. Who is this?
This is Craig Brinkman.
Oh, hi, Craig. She smiled and tucked her feet up under her, settling in for a longer conversation. Nice to talk to you. How are you doing?
Im actually pretty busy right
now. I just called to get directions to your place.
Sure. Or if you want to meet for a drink or something I can bring you a map.
I dont really have time for that. Just give me your address.
She frowned. Craig wasnt any chattier on the phone than he was via e-mail. Sure. Im really easy to find. She rattled off her address and the names of the cross streets.
Great. Ill pick you up at eight on Saturday morning.
Almost too late, she realized he was about to hang up. Wait, wait, she called. Dont hang up yet.
What is it? He came back on the line.
Is there anything I should bring? Anything you need me to do?
No, I already have everything planned out. And I have reservations for hotels along the way.
You do? Not that she wasnt aware some people traveled this way; she just never saw the point.
Yes. That way we dont have to waste any time searching for a place to stay each night.
What if something happens and we dont make it to the place where you have reservations?
What could happen?
I dont knowbad weather, construction detours. Or we could get lost. She didnt mention that she always got lost at least once on a trip of any length.