American Ramble

Stanley's selection is an appropriately titled detailed recounting of a month-long walk from Washington D.C. to New York City. The author had recently completed a second round of cancer treatments and is clearly grateful to be alive. His hyper-awareness, interest in strangers, ability to join in, and listening skills provide ample material for a book about a walk. He throws in some American history from the settlers and Indians, the American Revolution, the Civil War, to the World Trade Center. He travels through various "countries", both urban and rural. I learned things about Washington, Jefferson and Madison, the Conestoga wagon, Mason and Dixon, Lincoln, Buchanan, and the influential Senator Stevens. He speaks of a time when people and horses were the way to get around, until the train came around in the 1800's, and that there are still areas where things move much slower. Neil once again points out that humans may be the only creature that gets to experience awe or wow.