I-55

Well, friends, I have now toured almost the entire length of I-55, from Chicago to Mississippi. It was a long drive, but as always, I enjoyed going forward. (Although thanks to my dad’s extra ipod, I especially enjoyed going forward with good music this go-around…kept me going on those long stretches of highway.) I stopped in St. Louis after about 5 hours of driving to visit my cousin Paul and his lovely wife Maia…they got married while I was in Vanuatu, so it was actually the first time I had ever met her. They had a cute house in a St. Louis suburb and sent me off with leftovers. Amazing. I also received an email from my friend Tabitha (from PLVC) with directions to her house in Mississippi, a last minute request for some place to stay – I love staying with friends as I move on my way. Consulting the atlas, I drove and drove and drove until I reached Leland, Mississippi. My first time in the state, I was very grateful for Tabitha’s hospitality. I camped out on her pull-out couch and in the morning, headed back to I-55. I noticed that the landscape had changed a bit – the highway was surrounded by trees covered in creeping vines and a few more hills that Michigan. A few roadside stands sold produce, and dollar stores seemed to populate the land. If it wasn’t for Wal-Mart and a mysterious restaurant called “Huddle House,” (I haven’t explored yet), I would say that this area of the county reminds me more of Port Vila, Vanuatu than the Midwest. As I was driving away from Tabitha’s house, I had a curious encounter with a bug. I later learned that this was a cicada that alighted on the edge of my window. It was an interesting sort of creature, and rode along with me for a while, but eventually I wanted to close my window. Thinking the bug was on the outside, I pushed the ‘up’ button. All of a sudden I heard this ear-piercing bug screech, a high pitched buzzing. Loudest noise I’ve ever heard out of a bug. I quickly roll down the window to relieve it of its misery, thinking it would fly away. Instead, this giant bug fell directly INTO my car. Generally, I’m not squeamish about bugs, but this thing was about the size of my thumb and fell almost directly onto my lap. I pulled over as soon as I could to search for the bug and eject it from my vehicle. So the bug disappeared. Where could a giant bug like that hide in such a small space?

About three hours later, I stopped for gas. I pulled out the log book where I keep track of gas mileage on the inside of the door and immediately heard this incredible buzzing noise. There it was, a cicada in the pocket inside my door, still alive. I couldn’t reach my hand in there, and it wasn’t able to orient itself to do anything other than continue screeching. Eventually, I used two folded pieces of paper as a pair of bug chopsticks to lift this screeching, flapping creature out of the pocket and breathed a sigh of relief as it finally flew away to freedom.

Interesting places I passed on my way:

Normal, IN
Herculeneum, Arkansas

Sunflower County, Mississippi

Dry Creek Water Park

Cities in Mississippi: Holland, Vicksburg, Cleveland