Thelma and Louise's Most Excellent Adventure. Part 8. Conclusions

So what are my overall reflections of my Thelma and Louise Adventure?

• It was awesome
• We challenged fear and insecurity
• We tried new things
• We grew our confidence in our own capabilities.
• We are stronger together
• Laughing truly can cure just about anything.
• No matter what, a mother's love is stronger than anything known to man.
• Pico Blvd is possessed.
• Suitcases are heavy
• People are funny, and unique, and wonderful, and entertaining, and beautiful.
• Our stereotypes were challenged
• Everyone in L.A. and surrounding areas and everywhere we went, were kind and helpful
• Even a person having a bad, crabby day, can be turned around with enough positive energy, politeness, and smiles.  We made that a goal.  Anyone having a bad attitude was a personal challenge to be overcome.  We poured on the love until they felt it.  It works.
• There are a lot of police in a lot of different forms.  Glad to have them.
• Sometimes, sad and lost and confused people find each other.  I've noticed that oftentimes, those on the fringe of society are more supportive and accepting of one another than the "normal" people are.  They also allow others to be themselves with far less judgement.  I can let my "freak flag fly" in their presence...be more of who I am...expand my self expression in their presence with a feeling of greater safety than anywhere else.
• Thelma is a goddess.  I can never thank her enough for what she gave me on my journey.  It is a memory I will treasure always.  Because of her, I have awesome photos of my son and I together.
• My son is a grown man.  Some developed strengths surprised me.  Some advanced deficits concerned me.  I love him more than anyone I know, and can be in his presence less than anyone I know.  It is a bittersweet pull and push that is what it is.  I rejoice.  I grieve.  I'm glad to be away.  I'm broken-hearted to be away.  I want to get away...I want to hold him to me tight and never let go.  I think he feels the same.
• Travel is phenomenal. 
• Travel is utterly exhausting and overwhelming.
• People with tattoos aren't freaks and they aren't scary.  They're people.  With moms.  And hopes and dreams and fears and challenges.  Just like the rest of us.
• Curse words spoken loudly in public won't make you die of embarrassment
• Alcohol is a dangerous drug.  The war on drugs is nothing compared to the overuse, abuse, and closeted problems associated with alcohol use.  We saw it everywhere.
• It's good to stretch your boundaries
• Watts is an amazing place
• Venice is a bewildering place
• There's not much funnier than a box of dicks
• Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Malibu (and I'm sure many other places) are further from reality than Venice beach boardwalk.  Note to self...don't ever strive for the "lifestyles of the rich and famous".  Straying too far from reality was exemplified in all of these locations.  The middle is not a bad place to find balance.
• The beaches of California are not predominately populated by buxom twenty-somethings in bikinis.  We didn't see very many of those at all.  Just regular people.  Families.  People of all styles, shapes, sizes and ages, enjoying themselves.
• The ocean is magnificent.  It "restoreth my soul".  To heck with still waters.
• L.A. is complex, interesting, exciting and overwhelming.  I can understand why my son feels at home there.  It fills his need for diversity, excitement, novelty and he knows also there are places to be found in the chaos where peace and beauty are present.  There's a beautiful park in the heart of his neighborhood. The beach brings peace.  He took us on a hike into a beautiful wild place.  We took our Hollywood hike above the hustle and bustle.  There are quiet places of beauty mixed with the noise.
• Most people, when given the chance and treated with respect and love, are kind and good at heart.
• It is possible to have too much of a good thing.  Know when to quit.  Listen to your body and your spirit and pull in when needed and flow out when able...follow the rhythm and balance of the tides.
• There are many spiritual metaphors to be found while traveling.  Not knowing where your going, going on faith, trusting, being on the wrong end of the right road, feeling lost, finding your way, uncertainty, unfamiliarity, new challenges to overcome, twists in the road/path, beauty, ugliness, fear, hope, laughter and tears...it's all part of the grande journey.

I also, mostly, love LG (La Grande, Oregon).  It's a good home base and a good fit...for me.  I'm glad there are different energies, environments and places for people to find and feel a sense of belonging.  And I'm glad they let us visit.

And...here's the real Thelma and Louise

 

Ya know what?  If somebody was smart, they would pay Thelma and I to travel to their city and give our opinions about the sights.  They would be HONEST opinions, because that's the only kind we have, but wouldn't we make great travel journalists?  Especially if we take our grown kids and add their perspectives.  So...who wants to be first to fund us?