Great Thread about career, life, and travel

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LonelyPlanet Thorn Tree Discussion

Not a single response

So far, I haven't received a single response. This leads me to question whether the ones leading us actually have any idea of the United States direction, or they just weren't interested in responding to me- my inclination is it's both. The lack of response did motivate me to do something that I should have done a long time ago, call Jeff Bingaman's office (Senator from New Mexico). Within the last 2 years, I've sent his office several e-mails and postal letters. Not once did I receive a response to my questions and or concerns. I might've been able to excuse them for not responding to my e-mails, but via postal mail... I really believe this one to be inexcusable. I've written to other congressmen and have received responses (actually, I've only received a response from one congressperson -Steve Pearce, R, NM-, and that was regarding a bill that I didn't support but he and his district did. Though, all the same, at least he responded). It's quite disappointing that the officials who have been placed into office by people like me, won't spend the time to acknowledge our thoughts or positions.
Personally fed up with this situation, I decided to call his office and let them know of my dissatisfaction. I know, it sounds like I don't have enough to do. Well, this couldn't be further from reality. I just personally believe we need to start holding our Representatives accountable for their actions- or in this case, inaction's. Remember, they are our representatives. If we don't express our thoughts, opinions, likes, and dislikes, they'll just continue on with the status quo.

Not sure what to title this

This could probably go under the catagory of random thought that I converted into a ficticious story and partial poem. I am, however, awaiting response from the people I e-mailed.

I look out into the world. With a distant, yet firm fixation, I wonder. What am I missing? Where have we gone wrong? Or, have we? So many people think things have collapsed into an insufferable pile of waste, yet, many just sit. Seemingly, these distraught and disheartened people are imprisoned by their own concerns. Is this an accurate perception? Is it not? Could it be that the lack of action is because no action is really needed. Or, could it be that the lantern that helps guide their spirit, has faded.

Someone came to me the other day and in a deep melancholy voice repeated these words:
“Who are we? Who, are, we? I once knew who we were, what we stood for, what the name of America meant. But now, I am lost. What are we, what DO we stand for, and what does our future hold? My love for our nation is strong, but my confusion and disillusion has grown stronger.”
I sat for some time. I then sat some more- Not so much to form an answer, but more so to absurd the thought. This person had a point.

The following day I took a walk. Maybe it was ten miles maybe it was 20, I didn’t really keep notice- I just walked. What consumed my thoughts were those words “What are we?”, “What do we currently stand for?”, “What do we currently represent?”. Seemingly simple questions, yet questions I was absent an answer… What is it we currently stand for, what was it we currently represent? At one point in history this question was straightforward but now, overly complex.

These questions wouldn’t leave my head. They were something I had to have answered, so I did a little research, and this was my starter:

Dear…..,

I have some questions that I have not been able to properly answer. For the last couple weeks, I have been trying to answer the following without success. Would you please be so kind as to help? The following three –seemingly- simple questions have proved quite difficult in solving.

1.What is America? (I do not mean “what is America of the past and present” but what is America today?

2. What does America currently stand for?

3. What does America currently represent? (What I mean to say is, what is the current vision of America supposed to represent for people living here and for international people living abroad?

I would greatly appreciate your time in helping me answer these three questions.

Thank you in advance and kindest regards,

Arin Gilbert

I’ve sent this letter to several Senators, a Governor, and the President. When one responds, I’ll post their comments.

A letter from my sister

As I might of mentioned in one of my prior blog entries, or might not hav ementioend... I don't remember, my our sister joined us for a portion of the Southern road trip. The following is a recap, in her own words, of her experience.

This is a little bit of a travel journal for the last week, April 28-May4th. I figured that you might enjoy hearing about the American Heartland - a pretty "normal" kind of place where people still wave at each other when they pass on the road. Where the church is the center of the community and the Pastor knows each of his members by their first name having attended each of their christenings, marriages, visited them while they were sick and gave last rites. Where the billboard just outside of town reads: My Way is the Highway -- God.

Arin and Kevyn, who have been touring the Southern part of the country for a month, picked me up in Atlanta, Georgia. We drove to my friend Beth's wedding in Alabama (a fellow female pilot at AA who married a great guy- pilot for United). It was all very Southern/Antebellum and beautiful. Two and a half days of events starting with a dinner at a historic southern mansion dating from the Civil War era. There were great antiques and paintings on the wall of people whose eyes seemed to follow you around the room, or maybe that was just the champagne! The Magnolias were in bloom and the Spanish Moss swayed in the soft warm winds blowing through the Tulip and Sycamore trees. The church service was very moving and we sent them off with live butterflies. The next day her dad had a brunch at his house on the lake with plenty of Mimosas served. There is nothing like a mix of Southern relatives and booze. It was like watching a Tennessee Williams play. You got to hear all about loony relatives and the dirt oozing out of the closets. Southerners are peculiarly proud of their crazy relatives and the dramatic episodes in their lives, and only too happy to share them with relative strangers!

After the wedding I joined my brothers on their "road trip" and we camped in the Vanagen camper for three days, on a gorgeous lake in Tennessee and in a Walmart shopping center (safe place to stop, rest, use the bathroom and buy junkfood). We took in the scenery, caught up with each other's lives and listened to Kevyn play his steel string guitar, really a treat. We also visited with some other pilot/skydiver friends of mine, Val Thal and Jim Bob who live in Moscow, Tennessee. They have done a great job creating a perfect living/playing space with aviation truly at the heart of it. They have about 110 acres with a lovely green grass 4000' landing strip and five acre lake as the center piece. There are two big hangars with a Twin Beech, C-195 and couple of friend's airplanes in residence as well. They converted half of one of the hangars into a very cool living area with plenty of windows to view the inside of the hangars and landing strip. Jim Bob is an expert sheet metal worker and was busy restoring a second Twin Beech. Once a year they have a big bash and skydivers come in from all over. They just adopted Val's two nieces (8 and 10), beautiful girls, who's mom is a meth addict. Thankfully, they seem very well adjusted and are very lucky to have Val and Jim as their new parents. Val found a young gal who is trying to work her way into an airline career to be her nanny, for a little while. It looks like she'll be joining the Guard soon and hopes to fly C130s.

We ended up the last night on Beale Street in Memphis where we went to half a dozen jazz and blues clubs, including BB King's - the original! We even rode the trolley to a funky bar on Main St. that looked like it hadn't been upgraded (or even cleaned) since the 50's. But I think Elvis played there. Arin, danced the Lindy with a couple gals there. There was good music to be had everywhere - I got my fill of the blues!

I hitched a ride home after the late night in Memphis, in the back of a FEDEX freighter - just me and 300,000 lbs of freight, through a spectacular lightening storm! It was really interesting and awesome to see the size of the FEDEX operation in Memphis (their central headquarters). They launch 150 flights per night to destinations all over the world. We got all loaded up and closed up around 2:30am and then the blue lights came on (this means that a lightning storm is too close for anyone to be on the ramp. We sat on the ground for over an hour while a hellacious lightening and rain storm dumped overhead - it was quite the show. We hit a few peripheral cells on the way out when we finally launched with continued displays of lightening, strong turbulence and lots of St Elmo's Fire (this is "mini" lightening that continually sparks across the windshield). Once the show was over, about 4:00am, I went in the back and curled up on all four of the jumpseats just forward of all the containers, waking only when the wheels touched down in LA.

I think I got a good taste of what the “Heartland” has to offer!

Two quotes I quite enjoyed

While driving the streets of Georgia and Tennessee, two church signs cought my brother and my eye.

"A smile is the best facelift."

"My way is the highway" - GOD

There's gotta be an easier way

It's truly amazing at how difficult it is to access the internet. I know, the US is huge! And, installing Internet cafes wouldn't be cost effective... But come on! You'd think that at the least, major metropolitan cities would have one or two internet cafes. But, if you did, you'd think wrong. On this trip, we have located some places -Starbucks- that consistently offer Internet access, but you must have your own computer and they charge (about $2 - $4 an hour).

I'm currently writing you from the Clinton Presidential Center and Library. The building is gorgeous. It is located right beside the Arkansas river. A rustic railroad bridge adds distinct beauty to an already well manicured landscape. As one enters the lobby you're greeted, almost swarmed, by some of the most pleasant staff (most are volunteers) I've yet encountered on this trip. Walking the second floor of the library, you are previed to an exceptional overlook of the Arkansas river. The architects have truly outdone themselves with this building.

***There are four people to the left of me who are complaining about the library. They're apparently on some type of tour... one person just chimed up and said "This place, along with all library's are a waste of space". Another just said "The gas prices really aren't that bad. I live in Arlington, Texas, and gas prices really aren't that bad." And then another "it's an obligation for people in the service industry to be friendly. They must, must be friendly. I've never been in a place that little old ladies aren't friendly... You shouldn't be doing that kinda job, unless you're doin it right. Your job is to keep a smile on your face"****

We left Alabama several days ago. I think I mentioned we were meeting a sister of mine, to attend a friend of hers wedding in Eufaula. Anyway, the wedding we very enjoyable. And, the area of Eufaula, Alabama, very quaint (old Southern Plantation homes). We then drove back through Georgia, brought the Bride and Groom to the airport (they are now in Cabo) and then drove to Tennessee. Spent a bit of time in Memphis, and, as I mentioned above, are currently in Little Rock Arkansas, at the Clinton Center.


****The people are now complaining about their tour, and all the other people who are part of the group... Blah, blah, blah!***

I can't handle this complaining any longer. I'll write more at some other time.