How cool is this - Laurie made up a word: Munkah.

Very cool. She was carrying a TV to her car when I asked her, my dog in one hand, marker in the other. I had asked these two very shy men working on their car if they'd be interested, but they didn't feel up to the task. I saw Laurie coming out of the apartment and asked. She graciously put her TV down, asking "Just one word?"

Yes, just one word.

And what a cool word it is. Munkah. Now what would munkah mean? It could mean anything. Like - left arm. Or sunny day. Or hey there's a cool show at the bar tonight.

Very nice.

The lovely Lisa L Moore wrote "possibility" on my chest today. Yes, my chest is usually off limits, but she's a dear one and I just loved the idea. She told me that it's from one of Emily Dickinson's poems which she was thinking about today (I Dwell in Possibility). How amazing! How lovely. And Lisa did not know that Emily Dickinson is one of my favourite poets of all time. I love her work. And now, I have a word inspired by one of her poems on my chest. Now isn't that something?

Notice the Polaroid camera's shadow against my T-shirt. Very cool. It's the new old polaroid camera after I lost the other one.

Here's the poem:

I dwell in Possibility--
A fairer House than Prose--
More numerous of Windows--
Superior--for Doors -

Of Chambers as the Cedars--
Impregnable of Eye--
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky--

Of Visitors--the fairest--
For Occupation--This--
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise--

Morgan - you rock! The word of the day is patience... (I love the ellipses). I loved Morgan's though process. We were both in line at the post office. He said, "A word. Hmm, I'm in line at the post office. What shall I put down?" Thank you - I can always use more patience in my life. I like how the photo came out, too.

On a closing note - welcome to my world. I took the photo and then lost the camera. Duh. I think I left it on the stoop. Or maybe on top of my car before driving away. Luckily I have another polaroid camera here at home. But it was a sad moment to realize I had left the very cool yellow polaroid camera after I took the photo. Universe, if you should find it fit to find my camera, I'm here! In the meantime, I've got old missy 1985 polaroid to carry me along.

Rock on Austin.

Oklahoma what are you doing to me?!!! So, after the rejection fiasco on the 25th (Day 10), from which I was rescued by the very kind and compelling Jim, I decided to give Oklahoma another try. This time, instead of asking travelers, I'd ask the folks working at the rest stops.

Dude - two rest stops, gas stations and six people (SIX!!) later, Whitney finally saved my behind. She wrote "Hi." on my hand. Whitney, I sense that you are naturally shy, and that you were just humoring me and I appreciate it. Feeling shocked, slighly dejected, too, I went up to Whitney at the Snak Shak counter. She had nowhere else to go but to the fryers. I said, "Would you like to write on my arm. You can write anything. Even hi. Or bye." So, yes, Whitney - faced with this stranger in your fried cheese midst, you took a risk and wrote "Hi." on my hand. I just want to say, thank you. That's the first hand word I've gotten, and it's great to look down and see it and remember that somewhere in Oklahoma, someone was willing to give this a shot.

But, before I'm done with this story - I have to tell you that the first woman I approached seemed mortified. Not by the fact of writing on my hand, but that I was doing it with a Sharpie. Here's the transcript.

"Hi. I'm a writer. I'm doing this writing project where I'm asking people to write one word on me. I'm writing one word each day for 100 days. Would you like to write a word."
"mmm."
"On my arms. I'm having folks write on my arms, legs or my neck."
"No."
"Really?"
"Yeah- no."
"Why?"
"Just something about it."
And then - she noticed the pen.

"And with THAT pen! That's terrible."
"Why? I'm okay with it."
"Yeah - no. I won't do it. I won't write on you."
"Okay. Thanks."

And I stumbled off, muttering to myself.

As an honor to Whitney and her bravery, I captured the sign in the background: Phillips 66 on I-35 in Oklahoma. Where the price of gas is not as outrageous as it is in Illinois. And where my arm, looking like a chicken drumstick flailing in the rain, reaches out to say: "Hi."

Notice anything funny about the photo? Well, I'll just go ahead and tell you. I cheated. I forgot to take a photo yesterday. So I had to take two photos today. One of yesterday's word (Believe), and one of today's apparent phrase.

That's the other thing. Beverline was very into writing on my arm. She wrote an entire phrase. Hey how are you?

I'm fine. And you?

Ha

That's the hotel elevator in the background. It's that great 70s wood panelling effect.

So the whole reason I'm on a road trip at all is to get to my brother's engagement party in Normal, Illinois. That just tickles me - Normal. Normal, Illinois. I don't why I find that so funny! But anyway...

Naturally, this being a very important day for my brother, I asked him if he'd like to honor me with a word.


He wrote `Believe' on my upper arm. First of all, this photo is hysterical. I feel like Jim Dean or something, with my sleeve rolled up. Then, I start getting this feeling of biker chic - like I have a tat on my upper arm or something.

Believe me. It's been fun.

Here I am at a rest stop in Oklahoma - off of route I-44. It's the rest stop with "the largest McDonald's in the world". Or so they say. It's this huge glass monstrosity overlooking the highway. The great thing was - they had chai at the cafe attached to the McDonald's. Anyway - so I have my chai, and I'm sitting outside. I got my FIRST REJECTIONS today. Yes. The very first. And not just one, but three. I first went up to one guy and he listened to me very politely (got to hand it to Midwesterners on the polite tip), and then very firmly said, "No, thank you." I was shocked. Then, I went up to this other guy, a big bear of a guy and I asked him if he'd be interested in writing on my arm for a writing project. He responded with a clear, "No." At this point, I realized I was no longer in Austin, Texas. I was in...Oklahoma. So, I decided to try approaching a woman. But, as I called to this woman, she gently clutched her purse and walked briskly away. Sigh.

So, Jim, sweet Jim was standing by the door waiting for his friend/wife/partner? and I went up to him. He seemed kind of concerned with the seriousness of the project. He said, "It's got to be a word of some significance." "Sure." I responded. So, after I explained the project to his friend/wife/partner - no need to get someone riled up - he very pointedly wrote the word`Remember' on my arm.

Well, Jim, I will most certainly remember your kindness.

Walking away, I surmised that they were probably from Texas. Maybe even California. Who knows - maybe they were from Oklahoma. That would be a relief.