It was like a John Hughes movie, but less interesting

Driving my car back to college my sophomore year. All of my earthly possessions packed into a Honda Accord hatchback.

This map is inaccurate, since we took the 10 through the south. Drove all the way across Texas to visit a friend in Houston. Got a speeding ticket in Hudspeth County.

Spent a couple of extra days in New Orleans, which was hot and humid and fun, and felt a little dangerous. The bars were open all night and didn't card. Then we decided to drive straight from NO to New Hampshire in 24 hours. I started losing my mind at dawn in the Shenandoah Valley because it went on forever.

Pennsylvania was a green blur. Upstate New York, the same with some rolling hills.

Pulling onto campus during the golden hour was the sweetest driving moment of my life.

The journey took a week. A road trip is a very American way to travel, and driving across the country feels like a very American ritual. I took no photographs, which is mystifying in retrospect.

I'm not sure it was the smartest decision though, since after all that, about 6 weeks after arrival, some guy drove into me in the student parking lot, totalling the car.