This tiny community church isn’t situated within the most economically prosperous corner of town, with protective bars on its windows, etc. That said, I find myself fascinated with the thought of what a Sunday or other weekday service must be like here– for even if it’s the greatest sermon in the world, we know that given that this is not big, fancy and glassy church, the cover of this book alone would keep many from being interested in attending. And some of the greatest pearls emerge from the crustiest of shells…

Thank You Jermaine and (son) David, for stopping me on the side of the road today, and ensuring I had enough water by going in and getting some for me!

Tuan Le invited me into his restaurant, Basil and Lime, for my first-ever bowl of Vietnamese pho soup. I absolutely loved it, and if I were to live in the Research Triangle, I would definitely return again and again. That said, as I already have a penchant for foods from afar, I look forward to eating Vietnamese many more times throughout my remaining years…

Delicious Vietnamese Pho soup! Thanks, Tuan!!

At the end of Thursday night’s walk, almost all the way back to the home of hosts Steve & Phil, I spotted a man with a large backpack and a dog, half a block ahead of me.
Homeless youths can be found everywhere USA– they often carry large backpacks, and many times pit bulls and/or other dogs as well. Sadly, the dingy, dirty homeless young adults that we often see roaming the streets carry the pain of drug addiction in their eyes as well as their footsteps. The man in front of me exhibited none of this pain, however, and I was extra-curious about his story, so I caught up to him for a friendly evening chat.
His name is Cory, and Cory’s long beard and welcoming smile remind me of my friend and former host, filmmaker Daniel McCord. Cory is in his 30′s and has been living “on the road” since he was 18. He doesn’t drink, and his appearance and energetic visage make his words very easy to believe. He has friends in many parts of the country, many of whom invite him in when he’s in town, and he often works as well. Nonetheless, he’s chosen to not permanently settle anywhere. When on the road, he avoids places that have a high concentration of homeless, as he knows that the intra-homeless world can be a very dangerously Darwinian one.
He’d recently arrived from the Carolina coast, and was looking to hitchhike or “catch” a train to Asheville.
Cory’s life appeared to be one of awesome adventures– a life that I’m sure would be fascinating to accompany for a few weeks. Hmmm… maybe someday I join such a person for a few weeks to simply get a glimpse of what living such a life is like..?
I wish him well on his path…