Lexington, Kentucky

The students made us Fried Chicken in this old style southern type house. Robin got really into talking to the kids about religious upbringings and exorcisms. There were girl’s spread out all over the dark wood floors at the bottom of the huge mirrored old staircases. I can’t get used to how much space is everywhere in middle America, especially on these sprawling college campuses. In SF I am so tightly squeezed into this seven by seven mile world of buildings and city everywhere. At the huge colleges I have the urge to run across the wide lawns.

In Kentucky I wanted to go walk on the racetrack and smoke a joint near the stables. Our hotel was overlooking a horse race track, piles of hay, and a farm house castle. Kentucky was so sexy, and I was so tired. I decided it was somewhere I would have to revisit. This tour is only America in small flashes, not even lingering long enough to be picture flashes. It is just this small window of time to see what you need, because when you are not in the van, or at a venue, you are trying to sneak in a little writing and quiet time.

Mornings are the best time. If you can wake up in time for them. You can scribble some notes in the continental breakfast hotel dining area. There is a huge TV that usually has the news on, the constant image of the boy who shot his classmates. War. War. War.