Greetings from Roanoke, Virginia!
English - July 12
From Roanoke, VirginiaEating dinner
Greetings from the Roanoke, Virginia…this is your Route K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
Well weren’t we just a spoiled little group of caravanistas in Roanoke! The Church of the Brethren groups received us with much food and absolutely delightful conversation. We talked about Cuba and listened to Luis talk about Cuba. Then we were distributed to four different amazing homes around the city. A big shout-out to Catherine Detweiler, Cecily Wood, Mary Bishop & Dan Crawford and Mark and Jonna Detweiler for opening up your beautiful homes to us, and to Mary Bishop for basically setting up a breakfast cafeteria on her porch.
From Roanoke, VirginiaOur host speaks
Unfortunately our bus has lately begun braying and balking and kicking up a general fuss about a quickly deteriorating transmission. In fact it threw such a fit yesterday morning in Shepherdstown that we thought we were going to have to stay there to get it fixed. We sent Luis to take the bus so he would make the event. About ten minutes later we got the bus approved by a mechanic (‘It’ll probably keep moving in a generally forward direction, you know, maybe…’). We hopped in, and after six hours at a maximum speed of 50 mph we made it to the event. We arrived both on time and before Luis! (He took two buses and spent 2 hours in Washington writing postcards. He says he’s still trying to figure out how the hell we got there before him.)
From Roanoke, Virginia
Caravanista and driver Tom speaking
We’ve named our bus Forward – or in Spanish, Pa’lante. Our driver Dan is an artist. He says that driving is the opposite of making art. Driving is mechanics, fuel, staying awake. It’s being locked onto one road, looking at oil levels, it’s staying within the boundaries. It’s different than painting ideas on a wall. But it’s something Dan loves all the same. Everyday he gets up and gives the bus a pat-down. He says “It’s alright sweetheart, I’m listening.” Luis likes to say Dan’s making love to the bus when he drives. But Dan calls it “a dance between the driver and the diesel fuel. It’s a melding of flesh in and steel. The revolution’s in the motor.”
Onwards, Pa’lante.
From Roanoke, Virginia
Alex and her wonderful host Catherine
In revolutionary love, we the people of God…. Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir, Nancy and Luis.
[Spanish translation coming.]
From Roanoke, Virginia
Most of the Roanoke gang!
