“Go where things grow, grow where barrens reign, go where sights climb and emptiness reigns.” – Old Sean
Recap Reprieve
Three weeks ago, I was frantically finishing up my last few days of work in Saudi Arabia, after which I spent an extended layover in Doha, Qatar. When that adventure concluded, I was granted a reprieve with friends in Dallas.
But now I’m due for yet another extended journey. In truth, I question if there’s any resting blood left in my veins. I’ve trained most of myself to wander and it feels equal parts compulsion and desire.
My next trip saw me traveling once again, this time out East to visit my younger brother and his girlfriend in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ages ago, I worked a job in Atlanta for a school through a staffing service. There’s a certain level of poetry that brought me back to that segment of the world, especially since the city has done remarkably well since then.
Time Caps
It’s a little hard for the average American to notice, but the United States has been growing explosively for some time. Many cities I considered lackluster a decade or so ago are now thriving regions with robust infrastructure projects. That’s not to say everything across the nation is improving, but to my eyes, large urban centers have grown drastically.
One of the interesting things about leaving and returning to the United States in intervals is the apparent drastic changes I’ve missed. While many people live through these changes, they sometimes catch me off guards. Cities undergoing rapid growth is one such example, but there are other examples as well.
I recall returning to the US in 2020 and suddenly finding every gas station aggressively stocked with White Claw beverages. It was a strange seltzer craze everyone else simply took for granted. The shift from Obama-era politics to Trump-era was stark and somewhat jarring to my returning eyes. Tik Tok and its various models creeping into other apps like Youtube Shorts and Instagram Reels absolutely side-swiped me. The sudden vanishment of large gum displays in supermarkets befuddled me, as did the hyper-elaborate LEGO models boasting $400 dollar price tags. Even on this visit, I’m astounded by the strange mental diagnosis acceleration, with thousands professing they have a form of undiagnosed ADD, ADHD, Autism, Bipolarism or other semi-umbrella termed diagnoses.
Change is, after all, a perfectly natural part of life. But since I don’t get to feel the gradually process of minor, localized changes ramping up, they jar me somewhat.
This is a long-winded way of noting that the world is indeed still shifting.
Atlanta Aloha
I finally landed in Atlanta, where my brother, his girlfriend and their tiny, wiggly dog all picked me up from the airport. We zoomed home on Atlanta’s highway system, watching stark bolts of lightning sunder the sky overhead.
Upon arriving to my brother’s apartment, I was treated to a lovely home. There are shelves filled with books and board games. The chairs are profoundly comfortable and prone to nestling. Dinner was a home-cooked meal and there were plenty of decorations professing shared loves of Pokémon, anime, manga, old school video games, high-concept animation projects and plushies.
Somewhat humorously, my brother inherited far more nesting instincts than I possess. While the majority of my life is strongly dedicated towards being transient, my brother builds his home with personal comfort at the forefront of his mind.
It’s an interesting splitting of inclinations, but it makes him entertaining to visit.
Ongoing Itinerary
Over the next few days, my brother and his girlfriend would bring me to a series of excellent restaurants and eateries. Among them, we visited the Cheesecake Factory
Other stops included gaming shops, shopping centers and more
We also scored a large number of Asian snacks, my favorite being strips of sugar cane which I showed my brother how to eat with a fair amount of gusto.
My evenings were spent taking long, meandering walks outside, enjoying the serenity of sidewalks entirely removed from highways. Blessed by my esoteric blood type, mosquitos, as is often the case, didn’t bother biting me.
I’m not sure what causes the little buggers to leave me alone in favor of others. My sister, for example, is a prime target for the demented blood-suckers. But for myself, a long walk around a lake and past stagnant streams only resulted in nicely stretched legs.
Following these walks, I would showcase one of the movies I brought along with me. Over the next few days, we enjoyed some of my personal favorite Ghibli films; Porco Rosso, The Cat Returns, Kiki’s Delivery Service and several introduction episodes to other anime.
Go Gardens
At my insistence, my brother, his girlfriend and I eventually made it to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This site had been on my bucket list for a while. I have a weakness for dedicated garden spaces. Anyone who follows my private Instagram will know that a solid chunk of the photos which appear are dedicated to the flowers and knolls found in these spaces.
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens were a special treat. Aside from being home to a forest skywalk and delightful, winding trails, the Gardens had a themed display. Many of the flowers and sculptures within were dedicated to Alice in Wonderland. There was an imperious queen holding a pink, flowering flamingo-putter aiming to hit a hedgehog ball under an arched playing-card guard of white-and-red petals. A walkway hosted rows of singing flowers leading to a fountain where a rabbit lounged in an upturned umbrella. Elsewhere, a massive chess set held more card-guards prowling the squares.
All of this was further augmented by the normal years displays. Bullfrogs croaked noisily while resting on dew-touched lilies. The indoor gardens were stuffed with vibrant flowers and orchids of every imaginable hue. Shards of pink, translucent materials made domes and tiny glass displays held poison dart frogs and other miniature beasties.
Overall, Atlanta proved to be a compelling visit. Sadly, however, my time shared with my brother was sharply limited. The following day, I gathered my things and had my brother drop me off downtown. I had yet another trip due, this time zooming further East towards Raleigh to see more of my extended family.
So until then,
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean
Written May 22th, 2024
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Ten years ago, I abandoned my military surplus store backpack for a Farpoint 40 Osprey Travel Pack. I’ve never replaced my bag since. Two years ago, I bought two more Osprey Backpacks for my younger siblings on their first tour outside the country. I have nothing but praise for Osprey Products.
