After weepy goodbyes, Lyzz ran down the street waving at the RV as we drove away from the Palamar Hotel. I was hanging out the window and I yelled “Give Steve a hug for me!” An hour later I got a text from him saying I got your hug from Lyzz. So I sent a text to Joseph “Will you give Stephen a hug for me? He’s sad.” And hour later, “I got your hug from Joseph. Thank you” I texted the remaining crew members to give Stephen hugs from me. Then I got one from Jonathan that afternoon.
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katie
Okay, so we have a whole sub-culture over the walkies. When we’re driving is the most hilarious, because we are bored and silly. Production uses them the most on Channel 1, Camera uses Channel 2 once in while the cast gets really feisty and will hop on for one call.
This morning –Micah called out the word of the day, “Togetherness.” Now-this wasn’t some kind of AM inspirational go team moment – it meant, while driving in DC today, a Monday morning, to be exact, we need to keep all 4 cars as close as possible so we don’t lose each other; so we can find parking and help the Penkse (my truck) parallel park. Aka “Togetherness.”
There were several funny moments on ten minute the drive to our first location. One, Lyzz got left behind.
“Lyzz! Togetherness!” over the radio…
When I hedged someone off from merging into our lane
“I Togethernessed his ass!” over the radio…
Our local let someone in and then kicked them out.
“Back-togetherness.” over the radio…
Maybe you had to be there to get these radio jokes. Maybe not. I do know, that you definitely had to be on this trip to understand that there is a real togetherness amongst us.
With 2 days left, I’m thinking back on the journey and the personal highlights I shared with the everyone. There are the obvious moments– in the prayer circle on the NM reservation. Mr B’s dinner in New Orleans, the caravanning on the freeway, handing over a subway sandwich from the Penske to Camera vehicle at 75 miles an hour on the freeway. That was AWESOME!! But there was one morning in Nashville where I felt the real togetherness I’m going to miss.
3 of the 5 vehicles were pulled around front. I was casually doing my craft service routine, filling the coolers with ice, mix up the soda and juice in the coolers. Does everyone have fruit, chocolate, salty chips? Which car is Lyzz driving, no bananas in there. Where’s MY coffee?… People were steadily coming down to the front with their breakfast in hand. Jonathan loading the gold mini, Adissa, packing our luggage in the back, cast members sitting smoking their cigarettes, drinking coffee and laughing in Arabic, Steven shows Joseph the new Iphone he got up at 6am to go buy. Lyzz’s voice over the walkie and I hear Guy say to someone very cheery “Good Morning.”
Holy shit…this is like a family. A familiar morning routine, and together preparing to take on the day. Underneath the obligations of the my job, I felt an understated fondness for everyone. That is the togetherness I’m going to miss. That is the priceless experience cast and crew talk about. That is the hope. That is the point of the show – this feeling of Togetherness changes people and can change nations, one little road trip at a time.
Good word for the day. Good word for a lifetime.
-Katie
Now, I don’t have kids, but I feel like the stay at home soccer mom supporting the adventures of the cast and crew from the sidelines. I’m in charge of craft service (aka the snacks) This can be challenging, but I learned quickly what tickles the palates of our cast and crew and it’s a joy to provide that to them. Here’s a few highlights– favorites and absolute dislikes:
Guy – Sea Salt and Vinegar chips
Jonathan – Iced tea (doesn’t drink coffee)
Cecilia – Iced Starbucks Coffee Drinks
Loren – Raisins
Jerome – Diet Coke. And Diet Coke. And Diet Coke or die.
Adissa – Messy f’ing Sunflower seeds and small water bottles.
Lyzz – DOES NOT LIKE BANANAS
Micah – Vanilla Powerbars, no nuts
Leon – All non-Hershey chocolate
Allison – 5 hour energy shots and m&m’s
Noessa – Diet Coke
Lyndsey – Cheese
Steve – Anything candy
Lama – …honestly I don’t know her favorite, but the rest of us appreciate her staying away from gassy foods.
Sara – Nothing that’s actually on the menu
Basheer – Protein – fruit, veggies, hummus.
Joseph – everything plus eating what the rest have left behind.
As for me, I like orange juice, green apples, butterfinger bites and luna bars. Plus I keep mini stock pile in the Penske of everyone’s favorites. Because, okay, you know those random childhood memories, that involve food somehow? Like grandma’s cinnamon toast after the doctor’s office or sloppy joes at sleep away camp? Simple gestures that end up having a long standing impact. That’s what I hope the trail mix and Diet Coke provides to my On The Road in America Family –a delightful little joy amidst this incredible journey.
-Katie
