Begin Near the End

I’m celebrating the completion of the novel with a trip to New England where I’ll trace part of Jake Doe’s travels from the book. I began my trip with a flight from Atlanta to Boston on Friday. As I walked to my gate in Concourse C, TBoogie was blasting Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal on a stand-mount speaker, filling the entire concourse with upbeat music. He was playing it for the enjoyment of all travelers, but it felt like my own personal walkout song to kick off my trip. On the flight, the attendant thanked me for being a two-million miler and then asked how I got stuck in the back of the plane. I don’t miss my road-warrior days.

It was a gorgeous day in Boston when I landed. Best day of the spring, according to my taxi driver. They always enjoy saying that to tourists, don’t they? But I’d been watching the weather, and this time he was not exaggerating. I’d really lucked out on the weather.

Jake Doe Burning Bright: The Thomas Cass statue in the Public Garden, Boston.

I stayed at the Hilton just off the Public Garden.

I knew I’d chosen the right spot when a lobby performer was singing Billy Joel’s Scenes from an Italian Restaurant as I walked in.

I was two for two with my welcome music on the day.

I did the walk of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn a couple of times—once in the evening when I got there and once the next morning at sunrise. Down Marlborough Street, right on Berkeley Street, crossover Commonwealth Avenue, left on Boylston Street, into the Public Garden and under the Thomas Cass statue, out to the intersection of Boylston and Charles, and finally the flight along the Common down Boylston to Tremont to Beach Street.

The history and beauty of Boston is unmatched anwhere else in our country.

I had so much fun exploring the area. I’d been to Boston maybe six or seven times in my life, but I was always in a hurry and under one stress or another. It’s different when you have the time and space to fully immerse yourself in a place. And Jake Doe and friends walked right through the heart of some amazing history during “Operation Tea Party.” I took a lot of photos and videos which I’ll post to social media if you’d like to see more through mine and Jake’s eyes. 

I did, however, also spy some homeless people sleeping in doorways, and one sad-looking man holding a sign that read Homeless Veteran, Please Help as he sat on a marble flower box on a pristine street of high-end shops and million-dollar residences. I gave him twenty dollars, and he gave me permission to take his photograph. 

From Boston I drove up through the Berkshires to Albany. Just like Jake in the book, I stocked up for my trip at the Trader Joe’s. But—as far as I know—I wasn’t scanned and recognized by any hidden cameras in the shopping center parking lot. I plan to visit Jake’s RV campground this morning, the spot where he stayed after his productive stop at Rico’s electronics shops. I don’t expect to find a remote glade of trees at the top of a winding nature trail.

But if I do, I’ll sit down and meditate in the forest and report back anything interesting.