670 miles: The 48 hours of Indiana, The 3 hours of Illinois

(Music Selected - "All I Want" - Toad the Wet Sprocket)

Disclaimer: The entry you are about to read is true, the names are not changed to protect the innocent, much less those who remain guilty as charged for some unknown reason.

For starters, having to travel through 6 states in 2 days is actually a pretty nice little record. MD, PA, WV, OH, IN, and IL

To My Former St. Paul Classmates,

I've been in touch with our first grade teacher, Mrs. Robinson, for some time now and I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go see her. I didn't realize how close she lived to Indianapolis. So on Wednesday, October 30th, we made plans to hang out as I saw that she only lived but 90 miles outside of where I was heading that weekend: Indianapolis, Indiana. We departed October 31st.

I wanted to give you guys an update on how she's doing because I went in person across the border in Illinois to go see her. Everything just came together.

On November 1st, I was in Indianapolis to take family to a Taylor Swift concert, and taking care of a mission of getting past all the Taylor Swift fans and so on... It was nice to be in Grand Wagoneer rental and hearing nothing but quiet and some time to think about what I am going to say to my old first grade teacher. I think we were just going to regale the past and look forward to what we are doing for the future.

As I went to the Vermilion Beer Company, a Potter-fest was going on, and they asked if I was a Harry Potter fan.

The answer is no, I am not at all a Harry Potter fan.

--

As I arrived, we gave each other a big hug and we were so happy to see each other. We sat there and just regaled former memories and had a lot of laughs about past students and what she's been up to and same goes for what I've been up to.

Well for starters, we all grew up of course. She knows I've been struggling with a few things in my life but that's all right, everyone will struggle or fail at something. But another thing is this: Failures that mount up, there will always be the one success that arguably makes you successful.

But we talked about her past students and what everyone's been up to... She's not on facebook too much.

We talked about my class and who's she's heard from and hasn't heard from. We had a lot of laughs.

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This was my very first trip to the Land of Lincoln and I'll tell you, Danville, IL, despite the abandonment had tremendous community and a lot of people know Mrs. Robinson.

We went to dinner at the Deluxe Diner where she got in contact with my mom. Yeah, you know my mom, she'll talk your ear off, for as many of you know her.

--

So I created this entry because Mrs. Robinson has something to say to everyone:

Dear former students,

It was such fun and a nice surprise to reminisce with Joshua in Danville, Illinois. He filled me in on your adult lives. Forgive me if I think of you as first graders still. 😂 

Thank you for the privilege of being your teacher 31 years ago. Each one of you brought unique, interesting and bright insights to our classroom family. May God continue to bless your lives.

--

You see, Mrs. Robinson touched all of our lives in some way, shape or fashion. She had something great to say to everyone.

--

Anyway, we said our goodbyes and I'll tell you, probably one of the best 3 hours and biggest lifesaver I've ever encountered as 2024 has been an extremely tough year for me. I kind of also have to thank my niece for even getting the Taylor Swift tickets or this would not have been possible.

--

Simply put, this is the greatest 670 miles I've ever driven.

On your corner and in your corner of Altavue, Waveland, and Old Frederick

(Songs of the day: "No Son of Mine" - Genesis and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" - Daft Punk)

Disclaimer: The story you're about to read is real, the names are not changed to protect anyone innocent, or those are still guilty as charged...

Hello,

Going into church on Sunday, I was looking forward to another service at St. Paul since I decided to go back for a little bit to test the waters myself to see how things were going. Well I'm happy to say that having my best friend Christina there and my old pre-school/pre-kindergarten teacher there, makes it all the more better.

It was time to get my Pre-S/Pre-K caught up on all the latest happenings with me. Christina sadly wasn't going to be there because her husband was working and child was sick. That was ok, I still had a chance to talk with members and just kind of take it easy.

One didn't even recognize me until after the service was over with until I explained who I was and that's when he picked it up.

--

Sitting there just talking with my Pre-S/Pre-K teacher, when I mentioned one person was on her fourth marriage, someone turned around and said: "I couldn't help but listening to your conversation."

Yeah... Daft Punk's beginning of the brazen bells started, the place went dark, and the whole place went silent. Ok, so, it was none other than my fourth grade teacher who I still haven't forgiven for travesties of the past like throwing out my math test, not understanding what autism was, and what her problem was with me. Yeah, I get the past is the past, but the throwing out of my math test? I know how to do maths. Yeah, still sticks to this day.

I said Hello, remember me?

She started to guess... Well, she guess my dad's name... but... she still wasn't catching on... I didn't even recognize her without her glasses, but it was the hat driving me nuts to look at... This isn't Russia, lady! 1996-1997 was the worst year of my damn life.

I finally told her... and she said: What are you doing here?

I said: Decided to take in a service with my best friend's mother.

Well, she decided to jump into a conversation... REALLY!? Come on...

I decided to be friendly, talk, take in the service, and just mind my own business... but that said: Joshua, after the service, you better just run because you know damn well she's going to want to talk. JUST RUN. Instead she brings up an embarrassing story about me... I'm like: Yeah... I loved to read!

--

So, the service was over, I grabbed my Capitals hoodie and floored it out, shook the Pastor's hand... and then waited until I saw my 3rd grade teacher because I did want to tell her about going to see Mrs. Robinson. I made it out and I saw her and said: Boy have I got something to show you! Guess who I got to go visit!

She said: Who and how!?

I said: There she is.

She couldn't believe it! Yep! How she wondered...

I explained everything from the 6:00pm to 3:30am ride to Indianapolis that got me so hyped and excited to taking my wife's family to the Taylor Swift concert. She could not believe her ears. Then came meeting the new principal because... hey, it's a new principal. We struck up a nice conversation and then she said: "We'd love for former students to come and chat with our current students!"

I said: Well, I'll put on a chicken.

--

Notwithstanding the obvious, yes, I don't have a lot of forgiveness for people who slighted me EVEN in the slightest. Could I bring myself to forgive? I don't think so. Closing in on the end of Advent, I am still not even the slightest or remotely encouraged to forgive and forget. 26 years later? You still haven't learned.

The Crime of the Century, State of New Jersey, and the Beach

"I'm not telling lies! YOU ARE TELLING LIES!" - Bruno Richard Hauptmann

Those words came from Bruno Richard Hauptmann during his crime of the century trial in 1935 New Jersey. As he was accused of the killing of the Lindbergh baby (Charles Lindbergh Jr.).

Whenever I arrive in New Jersey via either the Delaware Memorial Bridge or the Lewes-Cape May Ferry, that's immediately the first thing I think of: "The Crime of the Century." This case was a monstrosity from the beginning to end

1. This was definitely not a one-man operation. They even said there were 2 pairs of footprints.

2. The ladder did NOT have Hauptmann's fingerprints on it.

3. Charles Lindbergh's associates interfered with the investigation.

4. A lot of evidence was contaminated.

5. Hauptmann was given very poor counsel (he was given a man from the tabloid, "The Daily Mirror") and really wasn't allowed to mount much of a defense. From what I understand from some lawyers I know, this was outright illegal. 

6. During the interview process and in jail, he was beaten and savagely treated by police officers. Why not let him explain himself? He did his best I am sure... but...? Why do something like that?

7. He couldn't have written those letters. He was somewhat illiterate.

8. I believe the jury was tampered with bribes and heavy-handed tactics to get them to vote guilty.

9. Governor Hoffman tried everything to get the case reopened but David Wilentz said it was a politically unpopular move because everyone would turn against him in the next election. Hoffman knew he was not guilty but right then and there, he should've said to Wilentz and Schwarzkopf: "You're both fired. Now beat it."

10. The country was in the midst of the Great Depression at the time. People saw $25,000 ($608,000 today) as a ton of money. Police were coercing so-called "witnesses" because there was a hell of a lot of money at stake.

Hoffman himself urged members of the state government to go visit him. They should've.

--

When I drive on U.S. Route 40 or take the 109/GSP after the ferry to the beach, it's always the first thing that comes to mind because it was such a harrowing trial that ended in Hauptmann's execution. 10 years I've been coming here. 10 years. If you could the first time, then it would be 11, but I still make it 10.

He said through an interpreter: "I am absolutely innocent of the crimes for which I was burdened with." He was very fervent in his Lutheran beliefs. Yeah, he did have some run-ins in Germany but that was when Germany was still reeling from WWI. People resorted to crime and theft to get what they wanted.

To this day, I still believe that it was never a one-person job and that Hauptmann was set up and framed. He was executed mostly because of the growing Anti-German sentiment due to the impending World War that was coming due to Adolf Hitler's rise to power. I also believe that it was a 2 person job and the fact that this fingerprints were NOT on the ladder. It was proven by Erastus Mead Hudson, the silver nitrate process, and Schwarzkopf refused to let it be known that they weren't on the ladder.

--

Ocean City sits 114 miles from Flemington, New Jersey where the Crime of the Century trial was held. The reason why I think about it is how New Jersey heavy-handedly put this man through so much hell despite the lack of evidence and inefficient counsel that Hauptmann received.

Honestly New Jersey? Why did you lie to America? You did the man wrong.

--

We arrived at the beach and it was time to unload. 50 minutes later? Unloading done. What next? Well, you do whatever it is you do on vacation. Read, take naps, write, go to the beach, go on walks...

For me: It's the walks and time to spend on my own just having conversations with myself knowing that things are abnormal right now and I don't have answers.

The walks along the boardwalk and on the Island are times where I can have a nice conversation and thoughtworthy time with myself. I think about how life is going and what's next.

A lot can be said about the power of positive thinking and you know the what could of been.

I have questions and personally, there's no answer to everything in the universe. God knows all.

--

When I look at the Hauptmann case, I say: Ok. Well... It is still a huge mystery. But all the evidence is there that he didn't do it.

One of my closest friends is from New Jersey. I have no problems with the state except what they did to this man and the fact they still don't have self-service gas (Come on, get with the program!)

--

Now many are you are probably saying: Well Joshua is just rambling again. No... this is creativity speaking... The creativity that comes from thoughts... the scribbles in my head that say, "hey why don't you type something up... you haven't done that in a while... thoughts and creativity right?"

I say to my brain, "yep, you're right. So let's talk."

--

Those senses of thought are what I took with me on my walks down or up the streets of Ocean City, New Jersey. Personally, I like having the conversations by myself. Yeah, others may think it's goofy but you're thinking out loud.

I think about what I've accomplished in 2024 that has personally been meaningless. There's no acceptance anymore. There's no nothing. It's just me with my thoughts and words and my laptop and that's about it. There's just zero acceptance.

I can't fix or build things...

I can't fix a car...

I can't draw...

I'm not innovative...

I can't paint... (why I went to Michael's before vacation to look for an easel and paints still bothers me)

I don't even know how to change the oil in my car...

It took until 3rd grade to tie my own shoe...

You just can't argue with people because they think they are always right.

The jokes? Write themselves.

I take these walks to make sure that I get every bit of negativity out but knowing full and well that things were "abnormal"? It wasn't accomplished.

--

Now, I'm back home again... sitting here pondering day to day, what's next, and how to face forward. They say were all in a quest for knowledge... No I'm just on a quest to just keep my head down I guess.

Maybe I should just keep my head down...