We Know Time

"We know time." This mantra is repeated often throughout Kerouac's On The Road and to me, conjures up the image of one sweat-soaked Dean Moriarty, a protagonist who pops in and out of the narrator's life throughout his travels on the roads of America. He also symbolizes a futile resistance against death, always aware that his "time" is limited and that even sleeping would allow for his demise to be one step closer.

Cassady and Kerouac/Moriarty and Paradise

For a few weeks now, I've felt my time slipping through my fingers, and at times, have even felt as if though I've been floating, watching the mad circus of life march past me in a frenzy, like a mad Dean Moriarty furiously whipping past in an old Cadillac as I stand on the side of the road, paralyzed by just the thought of joining the dance of life and death. Lately, I've resorted to my senses - touching, smelling - to take stock of my surroundings, and hopefully once again feel life's pulse, rather than getting lost in the rush of it all. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, so I decided it'd be a good idea to write about what has been happening since I last posted. Hopefully, this will make things slow down and properly put into order what I've recently only seen as a frightful chaos; then maybe I won't know time so dreadfully personally.

Since I last posted, my internship at Family Travel Forum ended and I continued the exhaustive task of job searching. I had been applying to a mix of places for some time, but only recently did I learn of and apply to a public relations company known as Quinn & Co. The job, a travel and public relations intern, didn't pan out unfortunately, and so I was forced to keep looking for other options. The same week, however, I had tentatively handed in my resume to Hostelling International, the same building housing the Family Travel Forum office. While I possibly have an interview for the front desk position, I'm excited nonetheless; I'll no longer have to worry about money, I can study languages for the possibility of grad school, and I can spend any extra cash on violin lessons, something I've wanted to do for some time now.

Though I wouldn't consider it a job, I was also accepted as a historical writer for Examiner.com. In all the mess of job searching, interviewing, New York's miserable weather, and finishing up at FTF, however, I've only completed one article. Yet, with the possibility of the hostel job, I hope I can tackle all of these things and more.

While I've barely accomplished much in the past month, the future has several things in store: In early March, I have a coffee date (tentative) with Andrew Mersmann, Editor-in-Chief of Passport Magazine. I'm excited not only to meet the head of such a well-known and amazing publication, but also the author of 500 Places Where You Can Make A Difference, which I only discovered in the last week thanks to my FTF editor, Kyle McCarthy. While I would love to work at Passport and there's always a small chance that Mr. Mersmann may take interest in me at his publication, I'm happy just to meet someone of his standing and genius. Just as my editor has been so helpful and considerate since I arrived at FTF (She bought me a dapper winter coat!), I hope Mr. Mersmann can at least point me in some direction and allow me to tap his mind for advice and his experiences.

Besides work and job hunting, I've been itching to get out of the city and do a little traveling. After writing up a release on Greyhound's $5 fares from New York to Philadelphia, I decided to take them up on their supposed offer and jump on the bus to see my long lost dear friend, the Mazazula. Unfortunately, Greyhound wouldn't give up its promised goodies, but where one door closed, a better one opened. Tomorrow, I'll be shipping out on the ever-comfortable two-decker Megabus for a short two-hour jaunt west to Philly. I can hardly wait to see Gino's, let alone Colleen and those other crazy cats of brotherly and sisterly love, among them my own sister.

Then, speaking of family, I'll be catching a flight down to Jacksonville, Florida from JFK, while my mother boards in Pittsburgh. From March 4th to the 7th, we'll be enjoying the perks of my final press trip in connection with Family Travel Forum (Unless, of course, they want to give me any more!). Bike tours, lounging on the beach, excellent food: A good way to take a break before possibly beginning a long but beneficial haul at the hostel.

Go, go, go. Another of Dean's frenzied phrases, and something I believe fits my lifestyle as well. Yet, I'm glad I could stop and write down these thoughts, just to simply observe everything I have accomplished and jolt my senses back into reality. I think once the warmer months hit New York, I'll also be ready to hit the pavement again and get more accomplished. I'm nervous, anxious, excited, confused, determined, hesitant and ready all at once, but at least I can actually feel these things.