1~Successful Escape

I am a domestic terrorist.

So they would label me, and anyone else that calls for Justice Upon their tyranny. That is exactly what I’d been doing and hitting the wall. More like the beach. One’s Voice only vibrates so far. Trying to warn my country of the oncoming dangers was like standing at the edge of the ocean and screaming at the fish of the nets trying to capture them. Only a few even heard me, and most of those that did either didn’t believe me, didn’t think it’d happen to them, were pro-fisherman, or didn’t know what else to do but follow their crowd, anyways. This was incredibly frustrating and disheartening. Like Paul Revere without a horse, I could do little as a massively malignant enemy approached to bring ruination upon US.

However, I heard others also screaming for Justice, Equality, and World Peace. Some also along my shore, and some voices coming from Over the Ocean. Wanting both to find allies in this battle, and to escape my past…

“My story begins now!”

I began this waiting in the lobby of the Charles de Gualle airport, in Paris. In the rush to get my dog, Ryger, off the plane as he screamed, likely for his full bladder I forgot my hat! And this isn’t just any hat. It is my 射撃星の帽子！ The Hat of Shooting Stars!

I was given that hat years ago after I climbed Hunter Mountain in New York, to go on a date with a gal (didn’t work out…) The guy who gave me this hat had bought it from a festival called Bella Terra; where once upon a time I had met a gal I wanted to marry (hereby referred to as Lady Orange) who would later betray me (thus, the attempted date atop Hunter Mountain…) To me, this hat represented My Search for New Love! It’s also a cool cowboy style hat made in Australia! I was fascinated with Australia when I was a child! So I really like this hat. They don’t seem to have a very good system in place for getting something that someone forgot on the plane… Sitting in the airport, I Hoped I hadn’t just lost the Awesome 射撃星の帽子!!! I certainly didn’t mind waiting for it, what with a steady rain and not knowing where I would go yet anyways, so… In no rush to leave the shelter of the airport, I began this book.

‘Authoritarianism is a mental disease that rots the mind, decays society, and declines culture. Time and time again throughout history, tyrants have assumed power and shown us that authority is corruptible and humans are falliable. As a corrupt authority commits wrongs, their authoritarian followers take on that same corruption, as they actively support the action/behavior. In this way, authoritarianism triggers cultural decline, which brings decay upon a society and ruin upon a nation.’

Ryger and I finally stepped outside, just for him to pee, as we continued to wait for my Chapeau. After watering a tree, we took a couple steps and I found a candy on the ground. Usually, I try to eat healthy, but I also love to try new things and also like sweets. I am interested in trying any vegetarian food I’ve never had before, especially foreign food, including candy. So I was excited when I found the… Bonbon! I suddenly remembered the word for candy in French is Bonbon, which felt very significant because I know about ten words in French and Bonbon is one of them. And so I had my first Francias moment de joie…

‘Je mange le bonbon!’

…followed by a moment of despair. They did not find my hat. I had told them immediately and waited ’til they were kicking us out, but alas, my Legendary 射撃星の帽子 must have been taken by someone else. I wanted to give that hat to my future children, after wearing it on many amazing adventures. Darn…

A bit bummed, but the amazing adventure still looming ahead of us, hatted or not, Ryger and I left from the airport as it closed, a light drizzle in the air. We walked several miles, out of the airport, through shady industrial areas, to stone residential houses, until we found an alleyway to sleep in. We had passed two churches, both with gates that were closed. I found a broken umbrella in one of the nearby trash bins with a Unicorn on it that said “Paris;” a special find. I hadn’t fixed it yet, though, when we’d laid down to rest, so didn’t have it ready when we woke to rain not a couple hours later. Being exposed in the alleyway, we got up got our things together and kept going. A rough start to our adventure, for sure.

In the early hours of the morning, we came to a mcdontlds, which I loathe, but to my chagrin, it seemed to be the only place around with wifi and that we could sit down outside of with a modicum of cover. There was a way cooler local community place nearby, but they weren’t open and the gate was closed \: In the days preparing to leave, I had put some time into the good ol’ couchsurfing website, and had received a reply! So I messaged our couchsurfing host then and confirmed our stay. Before leaving, we met a Beautiful Sister named Ceecee. We chatted and, oh, did I feel an attraction! She had a look at our insta, but didn’t end up following us, so… No Ceecee ),: I guess she doesn’t like Peanut Butter! Shortly up ahead, the river we came upon had a nice park, so we used our extra time to dry our s.bag in the sun and harvest some Chestnuts (which I would later learn are Horse Chestnuts; poisonous to humans! Yikes!)

‘“No Music” is a bad law. Why should I comply with a law that I don’t agree with that is clearly in place just to control the population, impose inequality, and keep the poor man down? I am not morally obligated to adhere to tyranny, whether of majority or despots. My only obligation is to not get caught.’

We arrived at our cs host’s abode late and exhausted. I had enough energy for chatting and making dinner for us; real European Pasta with Olive Oil, Lentils, and a Tomato Sauce I made. Our new friend Sans appreciated our cooking, and invited us to stay for a few days, but I insisted on just the one night. The call of Paris was too strong. So after a slow morning of rest and cleaning clothes and body, Ryger and I bid Sans adieu and headed North to Paris!