“Travel”

Edna St. Vincent Millay

The railroad track is miles away,

And the day is loud with voices speaking,

Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day

But I hear its whistle shrieking.

All night there isn’t a train goes by,

Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming,

But I see its cinders red on the sky,

And hear its engine steaming.

My heart is warm with the friends I make,

And better friends I’ll not be knowing,

Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take,

No matter where it’s going.

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I confess, I did not study or acquaint myself with the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay before I discovered this poem, but I find these words she penned over 100 years ago resonate so intensely to me now.

As far as friends go, I have met many whom I would call ‘friend’ throughout my life, and I think of them all as very dear. Yet I have been very negligent of my friends if I were to be quite honest. Doubtless, I have taken far too many of them for granted. By my nature I am a lone wolf, so even though I hold my friends dear, I fear that I hold my personal freedoms even dearer. Like the poem, where there is a distant train whistle, I behave like a pet dog who hears the clink of keys, and I am easily distracted and therefore seduced to move on. ‘Riding the rails’ keeps my friends beyond the whistle call, both literally and symbolically. This is the curse and the blessing of having a wanderer’s soul.

I am not alone in this either. America is populated with wandering souls much like me, travelers feeling the need to always be on the move… American vocabulary is teeming with phrases that reflect our American wanderlust; phrases like ‘westward ho’, ‘upwardly mobile’, ‘on the rise’, ‘going places’, ‘roadtrip’, ‘reaching out’, ‘all aboard’. This country was populated by peoples with a marked pioneer spirit and I think much of that spirit flows through us still to this day.

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Perhaps the real victim of the American phenomenon of ‘wanderlust’ are friendships we leave behind. Please listen to the bluesy sound of the fantastic American icon Louis Armstrong as he and Sidney Bechet lament this very American concept.

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Trains may be symbolic of moving on to the next destination. But the freight trains I hopped in my youth may also be symbolic for their precious cargo stowed in lieu of passengers who were left behind. Every friend and acquaintance I have encountered throughout my life’s journey have imparted precious gifts upon me that I carry with me to new destinations. These gifts may be ideas, warnings, beliefs, idiosyncrasies, concepts, and talents bestowed upon me via these wonderful acquaintances I have encountered.

In the spirit of the annual rite of ‘spring cleaning’, this post is intended to introduce you to the gifts of some neglected pals I have encountered. By shining a spotlight on their talents, I hope to introduce you to some of the people I left behind. Perhaps you will be a better steward of the friends and their gifts than I have been.

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My blog buddy here on this site is Mr. Neville Jacob. We go back over 44 years as mates. I have a powerful admiration for his many talents. Among those talents I envy are his photography skills, and therefore many of the photos I have posted here on this blog are his that I have laid squatters rights to.

In addition to the many photos, videos, and sound recordings he has posted here on the blog, Neville also has a short story book you can order on Amazon titled ‘High Times and Crimes in Throbbing Morton’ which I thoroughly enjoined. Here is the Amazon link to introduce you to his writing. Neville also has recorded videos and podcasts which you can sample on his YouTube channel by doing a search on that app for his byline @RaveKnave.

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Another old friend I have that has a very interesting blog that showcases his video and photography talents is Alan Duxbury. I met Alan at the same YMCA Camp where I met Neville, though not at the same time. Alan worked on many types of televised programs from the dramas and live shows at the BBC’s Pebble Mill studios to OB’s and documentaries. Alan would fall into the category of very interesting friends I have encountered that I completely lost track of over the years…. somewhat highlighting the lofty heights of my towering negligence. Since Alan and I both have a love for travel, nature, and the arts, it is amazing that we have not reconnected more. For a link to Alan’s blog, click here.

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In my University days I took one poetry writing class under the tutelage of Professor Rita Dove.   I don’t really write much poetry anymore, but Ms. Dove remains a real inspiration for me to this very day.  I continue to follow her writing and other projects, although she is among my many friends and acquaintances that I have completely failed to reconnect with.  Her poetry has a very unique voice reaching deep into the Americal soul.  You can read about her on the website by clicking this link.

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I can’t fail to mention our ‘TheAmericanBeagle’ guest blog writer, L Rambit. She is also multi-talented and I recommend checking her writing skills out. Her novel ‘Dark Water’ can be downloaded at this link: In addition L Rambit’s GoodReads blog can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17990387.L_Rambit/blog.

L. Rambit has scolded me several times for not following up on her writing, perhaps by promoting her here I might find some redemption. Her experiences derive from a completely different experience of the great American dream, as her community has millennial LGBTQ associations.

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Amy Denet Deal is another long ‘neglected friend of mine’. I must confess, I have not seen her since I was 13 years old. But I have remained an avid fan of her artistry and drive. Amy, as a L.A. Fashion designer moved from that glamourous world to settle on the Navajo lands in New Mexico where she has transitioned into a local businesswoman. You can see a short article about her works and dreams at this link. or you can visit her website here on this link. Amy represents another unique American voice, that of the Native Americans that live across this great country. Neville and I are hoping to engage much more with the Native American communities as we plan our next cross country journey. Be sure to hold us to that, we both feel it should be an important aspect of our next travels.

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The shortness of this small list of talented friends is another sure sign that I am ever the negligent friend. There are countless other friends out there, each with amazing considerable talents and ambitions that I have failed to mention. If you happen to be one of those neglected friends, feel free to properly scold me. I deserve it. I acknowledge that you all have important stories to tell. Perhaps Neville and I will visit some of you dear friends as we cross the country again. If so I hope to tell more of your stories, showcase more of your talents in the pages of this blog. Until then…journey safe…

Cheers, nca