I said goodbye to New England for this journey, and am officially making my way south. This week, that meant New Jersey, but it’ll continue for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia before the end of the month: warmer temps to come, and I am wildly grateful.
I started the week off in Rhode Island, where I spent time in a neighborhood where Taylor Swift resides in the summer. (Naturally, I had to visit.)
It was then off to Connecticut, where I explored some beautiful, quaint towns and talked with small business owners about the challenges in their changing local economies.
I had breakfast at a diner with some of the most friendly patrons, including a woman who sat down right next to me, and struck up a conversation about what I was reading. From there, she gave me some ideas of what to see in the area and opened up about her own personal challenges with chronic illness.
I am always so humbled by people like her, who are so willing to open up their lives and communities up to me, a stranger. Their generosity truly astounds me.
My tour around Connecticut continued, including a stop at Yale to live out my Gilmore Girls dreams. I will never stop being smitten with how cute New England is.
This is a library (A LIBRARY!) in a small town in central Connecticut. (See, so cute!!)
I treated myself to some great wine (and perfect, salty fries) in a town called Marlborough. It reminded me of how scared I once was to eat solo — or heck, even travel solo — and how far I’ve come.
I stopped off for a night cap and met two women, Julie (left) and Michelle, who were so friendly and wildly interesting. Michelle sidled right up to me, saying “we need to sit next to that girl, she looks lonely.” And then, while she put herself on the list for karaoke, I had some long, intense conversations with Julie about politics and current affairs.
Sometimes on the road, I feel the universe tosses people at me that I’m destined to meet. (I know how new age this sounds.) (But, this was one of those times.)
They even invited me to dinner the next night, where we dined with both of their moms and their friend Dawn! Julie’s mom is a former English teacher who retired in 2003, and had some fascinating insights about the state of the education system. (I can’t wait to share.)
I studied at the UConn Law Library, which was truly stunning.
I wound through Massachusetts on my way to my next state (New Jersey, hey!), and stopped in a visitor’s center with two truly lovely women who shared so much about the area and its challenges. (More on this to come too!)
Planted in New Jersey, and staying with one of my best friends from high school, I worked in her favorite coffee shop and had the BEST MUFFIN I’VE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
Seriously. If you ever find yourself in Northern New Jersey, stop by Jola Coffee and order some incredible coffee and an even more incredible muffin. I went there THREE times during my visit.
We explored breweries and had some great time at home — a much needed respite before the final stretch of this year.
And then, last night, she invited me to go to a women’s meditation circle in a neighboring town. The experience was powerful in so many ways (I’m still trying to find the words!), but suffice it to say — the card I drew was very telling.
Onward.
