Hey y'all! I'm blogging from the road again. Sam and I loaded the boys into the car and we are heading to Idaho. Blackfoot, in particular. Why, you ask? (You asked, right?)
Because years and years ago, I was just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her... And then asking him to quit his job in the city and move with her to the tiny town of Blackfoot, Idaho so she could be a reporter in a tiny news station.
And the rest is history. And by "history" I mean I spent a year chasing news where there was no news, and Sam spent a year entertaining himself by collecting corn husks to weave into baskets and sell on street corners for money.
And we needed the extra money, because I signed my contract with the NBC affiliate for 16,000 dollars a year. That is not an exaggeration.
After a year we went a little crazy. I asked the hard questions, only to realize I was holding my microphone up to a tree. And Sam replaced the corn husks with his own bellybutton hair, weaving beautiful hairy baskets.
We began stockpiling weapons and raging against THE MAN, only THE MAN turned out to be the homeless guy who hung out at the WalMart.
Eventually I realized I hated television news, and Sam hated basket-making, so we moved to London, and we haven't been back to Blackfoot since.
Until today. We are taking the boys to see our old apartment (we lived on Wagon Wheel Drive). We will visit the two Arctic Circles (yes, there were two!) and eat at that one place we can't remember the name of.
For years, we considered Blackfoot a four letter word, not spoken of in social circles. It was nothing against Blackfoot. It was only because neither of us were getting what we wanted out of life. But today, twelve years later, we realize there were good memories too. Not only that, but the first book I ever wrote was about a 17 year old girl who was a reporter for her school. In Blackfoot. And she has to deal with an impending alien invasion, set to wipe out her town.
Some people have Georgia on their minds. Some people leave their hearts in San Francisco. I left my brain in Blackfoot.
So, what's everyone else up to this weekend?
P.s. I typed this on my iPad. Sorry for any typos.
"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith
LOL!! THAT IS AWESOME! I'm sort of Jealous. Hahaha. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteLeigh
I'll take lots of pictures!
ReplyDeleteMy mom's family is from Blackfoot. I'm so offended! (Ok, JK, it really is as awesome as you stated.) Still, I have fond memories of summers there at my grandma's house, which had a boxcar children style abandoned train car in the yard. At least there was that.
ReplyDeleteMelissa-- I have fond memories too! I swear. That's why we're going. Fondly fond memories.
ReplyDeleteHaha, oh Blackfoot! My own MC ran away at 16 from Ucon, ID, not too far away. Guess who was born in Rexburg? Hey, me!
ReplyDeleteAww MAN! I'm only 2 hours from Blackfoot. Which you probably realized, and is why you set your trip on a day I couldn't possibly stalk you there. Stupid strep.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next time....
Eat an Arctic Circle burger for me! And have fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm stuck in SLC for the weekend. And isn't that strange? ...That i'm envious of your trip to BLACKFOOT, while i'm stuck HERE??
there's something wrong with that! (or me!!)
Okay, I haven't been following you for long but I'm going to assume you moved somewhere fter London and aren't driving from there to Blackfoot, Idaho? :-)
ReplyDeleteEither way, have a wonderful time.
Keary- apparently idaho is a good setting for stories about teens who are prone to getting in trouble!
ReplyDeleteRobin- sorry about your strep! I thought of you when we passed the turnoff to Twin Falls at the Pocatello mark.
Dorian- there is nothing wrong with you. There is something very enviable about Blackfoot. That's why we sold our left pinkies to get out.
Sarah- haha! That would be quite the weekend jaunt. No, now we live in Salt Lake City.
What a great story. I'm glad you're taking your kids to see it and share the memories with you. Especially now that you're able to smile about it. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteI loved Echo! And, I loved how you made a little town like Blackfoot more interesting. I hope you find everything you're looking for in Blackfoot!
ReplyDeleteDonna-we are definitely able to smile about it now!
ReplyDeleteJenny- Awww. I'm so happy there's someone out there who loved ECHO as much as I did. :)
My favorite typo is definitely in your blog title. Idao. I like the sound of it. Makes it sound less... hickish? And you know you can dog on Idaho with me. Grew up frequenting the Sprouse Reitz in Blackfoot. Still remember the year they got a McDonald's. We were out of our minds excited. And I'm just wondering if Sam would have liked it better if he'd helped my uncle fill potato cellars. I think it's awesome you took the boys to your old hood. Hope you have safe travels!
ReplyDeleteCath- was your uncle hiring? What a missed potato opportunity!
ReplyDeleteDUDE! I'm going to Blackfoot this weekend just to say I stood where Echo was inspired by. Ok not really my in-laws live there. But seriously I love that book!!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie- Another Echo fan! Thank you. That makes two. :) Have fun in Blackfoot. It really is a great little town!
ReplyDeleteWay late on this post, but commenting anyways.
ReplyDeleteI left my heart in San Francisco because my salary was even less than yours and the boy I loved said he wouldn't go with me. I've been in Utah ever since. I don't know where I was going with this...
In San Francisco we have a lot of people who interview trees as well. I guess that's more Berkeley. But unlike Idaho, they then hug them. Again, not sure where this was going...
Sometimes I think I'm turning into one of those old ladies who tells stories with no purpose.
Oh well some of them make bank on those stories. ;)
Hm, that sounds like a memorable road trip! Well, it wouldn't be the cup of tea of some people, but that's because they're not you. There's an investment in Idaho for you guys (or is it Idao? lol), and it would be a waste to not drive through there and check things out.
ReplyDeleteHaha! You've truly left your heart in Blackfoot! Well, as they say, "home is where the heart is," even if it's not your real home. You have something to return to. Are you going back there?
ReplyDelete