The Great Drive
Adin Guadian
When I was in seventh or sixth grade and around the age of either thirteen or fourteen, my parents had decided that it would be a great idea to visit my older brother, Devyn, in Ventura Beach, California. I do not recall the reason as to why we drove there, but I think that just added to the fun of it because I do not recall any holiday time that this might have taken place in, so it might have been during school, so I got additional relax time in California of all places. Anyway, the story really begins with me waking up at either three o’clock in the morning or one o’clock in the morning, and being the youngest in a Mexican house hold my father decided to use the money cautious way of going from Roswell, New Mexico, to Ventura Beach, California, which would be driving a full fifteen hours. Although these trips were long and tiring, I always enjoyed them for some reason, I hated Roswell so much when I first moved here and thus never wanted to be here. Anytime that I could leave, I would be so happy and that would be it. On top of that, I always loved listening to music along the way because it would fuel my creative energy and allow me to fantasize about becoming famous and rich, or getting my college diploma at age fourteen and finally moving out of the hell hole known as Roswell New Mexico. On the drive I knew one thing and that is that I would start my quote on quote playlist with a song from Lana Del Rey, Melanie Martinez, or Selena Gomez because their songs and voice could easily put me to sleep through the uncomfortable position I was in, in my chair. Then in those four or so hours of sleep, my dreams would be such a vivid euphoria, when I would wake up I would know that the music would be off and I would be in the middle of nowhere, curious about each town we would go through and how they lived, what their names would be, and what their culture would be like. This curiosity would also be amplified by the fact that I would listen to whatever was popular at the time and day dream with these strangers while making my way to my destination, never to speak to them, or get to know them. After a long fifteen hours, the crowded car full of Mexicans finally made it to their destination and checked into a wonderful hotel that was right on the ocean side. My father, the control freak of the family, would have already orchestrated our every next move. First, we would check in, settle down, call my brother and then go out to eat. Every trip would have the similar rinse and repeat type of route. We would also go and try new food, do new things, or go to classic favorites of ours and just relax in the hotel room, but when all of these things were said and done, I would never trade my memories for anything in the world because I got to do and see so many things, then if I was in Roswell New Mexico.
Adin Guadian is very aware of how the world can feel so big and small, so every time he travels, he wonders if he'll meet someone from a place he has visited.