BONUS: Five Things I've Learned About America
...and a Prelude to an FAQ
Greetings, friends! It's the last Friday in August, and it feels like I’m skirting the far edge of summer as well as the south shore of the Great Lakes, as I set out into my third fully nomadic year.
If you'd told me, as I drove along the Gunflint Trail in August of '22—dipping into and out of the Boundary Waters on the Canadian border, counting flares of scarlet and flashes of gold in the still-full trees along the trails and crowded up against the rutted road—that two years later I'd be hightailing it from campground to campground and swing state to swing state, stopping for stretches to head into town, stop off at dives, wander through street fairs on foot, belly up to greasy-spoon counters, eavesdrop on the local news you won’t get on TV, talk with people about what's going on in their lives and their towns, ask their thoughts about the nation and the world, and share a few of those stories with readers—both here and in the San Francisco Chronicle—I wouldn't have believed you.
But it's the truth, and I'm dumb lucky I get to do it, and more than anything else, I'm honored and grateful you're with me for the ride. I want to thank you for your readership, your time, and your support of what I’m doing here at Going Solo at the End the World; I also want to shout out my thanks to the folks who have offered invaluable insight and information as I suss out sources and subjects for the series of profiles I’m writing for the Chronicle. You can read the first installment of that series right here if you haven't done so yet; the next profile will be out in a couple of weeks, and there are more around the corner after that.
Once the election's over, I'll give you a peek behind the scenes on this leg of the journey, but for now suffice to say I don't think I knew, when I lied about my age to get a gig at the Minnesota Daily back when the phone book was considered a reporter's best friend, that I would one day find myself in a futuristic world where meetings took place in virtual space and even then, all those years later, I would still be just the kind of dingbat to pipe up in an editorial meeting that I spent a productive weekend at a motorcycle rally riding around on the back of some dude's Harley in a crush of 150 other bikes and, when the editors looked alarmed, would attempt to clarify by telling them I won a shotgun, and, when one editor said Hang on, I need a minute and both editors did proceed to laugh and laugh while l tried to explain that I didn't keep it, and I met some great sources, and the bikers were all very nice, but as usual I’d eventually give up on trying to explain because the truth is you can't take me anywhere.
This week’s Going Solo essay—The Tramp Scamp FAQ 2: FAFO—will skid into your inboxes (likely from a truck stop) sometime in the 24 hours, and I hope you enjoy. For now, I’ll leave you with something I’m excited and honored to share.
Check it out, share your thoughts, and head on over to Five Things I’ve Learned About America for a series of conversations you do not want to miss.
And with that, I've gotta hitch up and head east. Peace.
Five Things I’ve Learned about America presents live, personal conversations with leading thinkers, organizers, and advocates for our democracy. In tandem, we’re soliciting and sharing written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences are equally inspiring and instructive.
Nomad Marya Hornbacher shares Five Things She's Learned about America.
View the next in our new series of messages, ideas, and inspiration – shared directly from Americans we admire.
Five Things I’ve Learned began with the aim of learning directly from people we long admired. Find out what they think most important to share, we believed, and we’d learn and be inspired by their example.
This summer, we’re doing something more: soliciting and sharing written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences give shape to the issues that continue to shape America and November’s upcoming national election.
Today, Marya Hornbacher shares Five Things She’s Learned About America.
Five Things I’ve Learned About America
“I’m Marya Hornbacher. I’m a writer, vagrant, and bestselling author who has gone rogue. I’m also a full-time nomad.”
There is no single, composite America.
“Every place I visit has its own mythology of America, and no two of those myths are the same.”
Americans share more than our history and geography would suggest.
“I have a lot more in common with other Americans than I ever would have thought.”
Everyone's America is uniquely and urgently personal.
“America has taught me that It isn’t actually outside of me. It’s not somewhere else. It’s right here. Right now. I’m it.”
We must each confront for ourselves the grief of our shared history.
“The country built on stolen land by peoples whose labors and lives were also stolen will never recover, I don’t think, from its grief. And it probably shouldn’t try.”
We can’t afford despair.
“There’s only so much time, and in that time all of us have our task.”
MORE ABOUT MARYA
Marya is an award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author. She currently writes for the San Francisco Chronicle, reporting from swing states during the runup to the election. Shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, she’s has spent a prolific quarter century writing and teaching across genres. Now, she’s tossed all that experience into a truck and a camper to focus more on questions than answers.
Don’t miss Going Solo at the End of the World – Marya’s great, ongoing, firsthand report direct from the road, which provides regular written and video updates from her solo travels across America.
MORE ABOUT FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT AMERICA
Five Things I’ve Learned about America presents live, personal conversations with leading thinkers, organizers, and advocates for our democracy. In tandem, we’re soliciting and sharing written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences are equally inspiring and instructive.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the kind and enthusiastic response we’ve received to this new series. If you’ve just recently discovered us, please check out recent reflections about America from people we admire including including Tony Alcaraz, Yvette Benavides, Francisco Guajardo, Tina Hedin, Megan Matson, Jeannine Ouellette, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Greg Sandow, Brooke Warner, Oliver Wasow, and Jamie Whalen.
And check out our free conversation series presented in partnership with Resolute Square, featuring 90-minute sessions with Americans we admire including Alan Light, Jennifer Mercieca, Beto O'Rourke, Trygve Olson, and Stuart Stevens.
This is beyond good. I am working to catch up with you Marya as your writing explodes with relentless courage — arresting postponement to inspire a revolution.
I've been following you on my phone and dam if my eyes don't cross every time I try to work that F**King thing.
The story of the guy who had no trouble traveling — infuriated me.
How you held your chill I don't know.
Many thanks, I'm new here and happy to learn from you.
“There’s only so much time, and in that time all of us have our task.”
Thank you!
Great piece in the chron! Your writing is stunningly beautiful. Thank you for your vagabond ways!