Heading West_from Cliffside_spring 1974

We stayed up much too late, watching old movies. But who could sleep tonite? We were leaving in the morning for a hitchhiking trip, and we were had butterflies and impatient minds. Later, after sleeping a bit, I was deep in a dream, when my dad woke me.

He shook me......"Get up, hey wake up".
I murmered "I was still dreaming".

He asked "was it worth it?"

A bowl of Wheaties for me, and my friend. Into the car on a chilly morning. My old man dropped us off at the George Washington bridge interchange, and we ran to a westbound entrance ramp on the other side of Lemoine Avenue. It was a clear, April morning, and we were headed west.

We had done Fort Lauderdale from Philly a year earlier, spring break on only $15 dollars each. My same friend proved to be a tremendous spirit on that trip. This year, we waited for the second semester to end, and we aimed for the other side. Our goal wasthe big pond hugging California.

Smiling and thumbs out over our shoulders, we were hustling to be the first one to grab a ride on this trip. In a matter of seconds, in a sea of cars roaring from the bridge, the first car stopped for us. It was two kids our age, headed to class at Montclair State.