Dear Nana And Akeem fans…we will have a new look soon.  Akeem is playing sports and doing well in high school, and it’s time for Nana Anna to make her own way.  I know you were promised many stories, and they will be coming, but I feel my time would be better served with a newsletter, and/or a blog where other Americans like us, the lower, working class, can express some of their views, ideas, and philosophies about life, love, family, American culture…who knows???

Maybe we can debate issues with the old school debate rules…

Like I said, more to come…

I am writing now everyday.  I want to let you all know that absent any ‘family drama’, and personal expense problems, this site would be making money a long time ago.  Which gets me to my point.  I will be charging money to be able to sustain the business.  The ‘Across America’ Tour was very fruitful, and served it’s purpose and expense well.  I met hundreds of people from every state, whether it was at an historic landmark, or at their local McDonald’s.  I heard many stories, opinions, and experiences from many of our fellow Americans, and I have many stories to tell, and many ideas of how to get you all to read them, and make a profit at the same time. 

Nana And Akeem was always about getting famous ‘Across America’.  Being a brand…having a cartoon show; the possibilities were, and still are, endless.  It also was about meeting and talking to people, and finding out about ‘localized’ predujices, views, dreams and hopes of that American that gets up everyday and goes to work, and pays the bills, and takes care of their children and their home.  It was about walking the walk, to get the story.  It was about lonely days on end, but continuing on…to finish. 

But finish I did.  I am writing daily now, and hope to have the re-design going soon, and the stories posted. 

Please remember me – Anna - when you get that advertisement/email to buy a subscription to:

1. Nana Anna & Misty Blue stories
2. My blog/debate platform
3. My newsletter…”Where In America Is Nana Anna”, co-starring ‘Misty Blue’, Nana Anna’s ‘James Bond’ car.  A satirical study of American predudices and hypocrisies.
4. A weekly cartoon satirically critiquing expose on America’s rising incompetence quotient.
5. My weekly serial story; a tantalizing tale of an avenging abuse victim, turned serial killer.  ADULTS ONLY

So look for our site changes soon….you’re going to like them.

Don’t worry…the ‘Nana And Akeem Across America’ photos, travelogues, etc. will be archived.  Still accessible.

I will post soon.

Anna

I was home for a week or so attending to some personal business, but on August 19th, (see previous post entitled New England), our motley crew left for the New England states.  Our goal for that day was to go through New Jersey, New York, and then shoot through Connecticut with the ultimate destination: Braintree Massachusetts.  It was a gorgeous August day with a very bright sun and azure blue skies.  Where there was a cloud, it was fluffy and brilliant white.  We stowed our bags in the trunk and the kids into the back seat, and we were on our way.

A mid-morning stop at Dunkin’ Donuts afforded me a couple good shots of the kids, and after we ate, we were on our way again, heading north with much excitement, and lots of plans for site seeing and where to eat.  The kids had just met that morning and were already in love with each other.  They were getting along swimmingly, and Mary and I were amazed at how very well behaved the three of them were.  Mary and I talked about our pasts, and we each learned a lot about each other we never knew before.  We had been friends for over ten years, and we never really knew too much about each other.  We were always so busy with work and life that our conversations were mostly topical and business related.  Now I was learning so much more about a very fine woman, who I am so glad is in my life. 

Lunch was at McDonald’s, (kids love it), and soon we were in Braintree.  I was so excited to be in the hometown of my hero  John Adams.  Mary pointed out the Dunkin’ Donuts store we would be using for the next week, and taught me how to use the ‘rotary‘, a circular road with numerous exits and entrances off of it and onto it.  There are no lights or lanes, and you have to really pay attention so you’re not in an accident.  It’s very similar to the ‘circle’ in downtown Easton, Pennsylvania’s center square, but with more tributaries. 

We made our way to the Braintree Train Station, and parked Misty Blue.  They have a very weird way to pay for the parking.  There is a large box with slits next to the cooresponding number to your parking space.  It costs $7.  I had to  fold each of the five dollar bills I had into quarters to get them into the slit, and then drop 8 quarters one at a time into it.  It took a little bit, and I thought it was a stupid system.  Even the kids were asking how the people that run the garage know which cars have money in their slits and which don’t.  We crossed the street and went into the train station, Mary fairly sure she knew what to do about getting tickets, etc.  We bought our passes with some help from an attendant, and made our way through the turnstiles and up the steps to the platform we needed to be at.  We were taking the train into Boston to meet Tristyn for dinner.  The kids were never on a train that went underground before, and they were so excited and animated.  They didn’t want to sit down because they had to use the straps like the regulars.  It was a very busy train as it was rush hour (actually it’s rush 4 hours), and the other passengers were a very diverse group.  Mary and I were tired, hot and hungry, but we both enjoyed the kid’s general good mood, adventurous attitude, and well mannered behavior.  It was a treat to see how novel everything was to them, and to just relax into the overall mood, knowing that we were going to have a great trip.

We got off at Downtown Crossings and walked a little into the Financial district where we met Tristyn.  We continued walking as we were only a few steps from ‘The Freedom Trail’.  Mary and  Tristyn pointed out many points of interest as we decided to go to the ‘Market’, aka, Faneuil Hall Marketplace.    The famous ‘Cheers’ is there, and many other shops and eateries.  We slowly wended our way toward ‘the Market’, Renee and Austin taking many pictures of points of interest along the way.  Boston is cool to walk in, as there are not a lot of cars to bother you, and when you’re on or near ‘The Freedom Trail’, there is no traffic at all. 

Next installment…Faneuil Hall

In August,  I was still on the Across America Tour, and  had many states to go to finish my goal, but was on track to finish around the last week of the month.  On August 5th, I went to check into my next hotel, and was reverse discriminated against in the Des Moines, Iowa Hampton Inn West.  I didn’t realize it was happening until I was a mile down the road heading back the way I’d come.  When it hit me, I became so enraged that I wanted to leave Iowa with what had just happened, as my only memory of the state. 

This incident, along with some personal issues I was experiencing at the time, and also the general drudgery the mission had become, evoked a lot of anger that fortunately for me, turned into drive and resolve to go home, and finish the tour later.  I had already driven 250 miles that day from my stay in Nebraska, but somehow I managed to drive the next 25 hours straight to get home.

It turns out that I got home to Pen Argyl, PA on Aug. 6th, about noon EST.  I had left Des Moines, IA about 5PM CST on Aug. 5th.  All told I drove approx. 30 hours straight for 1350 miles.  I was dog tired, emotionally drained, but still stayed up until later that evening.  I won’t go into the issues, but suffice it to say that marriage is a full time job, and one of the most difficult.  SHOUT OUT FOR PRAYER:  If everyone would pray for the marriages that have struggles, I know it would help.  It’s hard enough to find someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, and to not fight hard to stay together is pretty lazy.

One thing I should mention is that I hit beautiful Pennsylvania via Interstate 80 for one of the most awesome  sunrises I ever saw.  It’s different colored rays struggled to break through the thick fog and mountain mists snaking through the hills and shrouding the valleys.

I guess I can’t just start writing like I’ve been posting for the past 2  months, but I won’t.  These months have been filled with turmoil, drama and also joy & hope.  Once I get writing steady again, I will tell that story, but for right now, I will tell you of the trip to New England that my webmistress Mary, her two children Evynne and Austin, and my granddaughter Renee and I took in August.

On August 19, (yes, you’ve probably realized that there is some time between my last post and that date…more to come later), the above mentioned motley troupe started their adventure north to the New England states, with Mary’s oldest’s apartment which will serve as our base camp for the week, as our first destination.  Tristyn lives in Braintree, Massachusetts in a basement apartment with all the amenities.  I am very excited to see the hometown of my hero John Adams, and to go whale watching too.

I don’t know why I would stop right there and not post…but I did.

I will post this now, and anyone watching will be caught up soon.  More of New England later….

On my way to Minneapolis, I had occasion to stop and ask directions to a gas station in St. Joseph, Minnesota.  I love the Minnesota accent.  The people in Minnesota are very pretty people.  I went to the Holiday gas station, got a sandwich, some pineapple, coffee, gas and a car wash.  The people there were very nice too.  I decided to make my way up to Hudson, Wisconsin before I went to the Radisson Plaza in Minneapolis.  There are many lakes on the way through Minnesota, “The Land Of A Thousand Lakes”, and about 20 minutes into the state of Wisconsin, was one of the prettiest.  Crisp, clean and blue.  I stopped at a gas station and bought a state lottery ticket.

I made my way into the city of Minneapolis.  There were many old and new buildings beside each other, and the old ones were very beautiful architecturally, especially the churches.  The new buildings were very interesting architecturally, and there were many buildings of modern, sculptchural shapes.  It was hard to find the entrance to the hotel, as Minneapolis is somewhat like New York City, in that you can’t see most of the store/businees fronts until you have already passed them.  I finally spied the Radisson flags blowing from the front of the hotel, and pulled in to check in.  The lobby was huge, and very ornate, with modern designs and art, but the old architectural marble columns and floors.  The only downside to staying here was that you had to pay $6 to park your car, or else you had to valet for even more.  I got everything up to my beautifully appointed room, and settled in.  This was a hotel room with mid-range amenities, but without a refrig or microwave.  The bed and linens were very nice, and getting internet access was effortless.

When I reached the border of North Dakota I didn’t have the energy to follow it up into Fargo, (the next day I had to though), and stopped at the only hotel around…Dakota Magic.  For $85 it was a pretty nice hotel, albeit a casino.  There seemed to be a lot of prejudice against the indians that run the area…hotel, casino, gas station and store.  I struck up conversations with a number of people, and it was the impression I got.  One guy at the buffet even commented, blah,blah,blah, “I hate to say it”, in addition to his bigotted comments, so I said, “Then don’t”. 

A very nice lady, or so I thought, talked with me for a very long time…I will shout out for prayer for her fraternal twin brother Stephen…he had cancer.  I maybe shouldn’t say, or so I thought, because I really couldn’t get a handle on her…we talked for a very long time, and after I gave her my business card, she asked what nationality Akeem’s name was.  I told her, explained the trip, etc., and it wasn’t too long before she ended the conversation…she had her sister’s 15 year old poodle in the car, and had to go check on it.  It wasn’t that I was looking for racism or anything…it’s just the feeling that I got, after how long we talked.

Anyway…I am steadily heading East, and home…

Wow…that was 2 days ago…I remember it though.  A very small town with only one motel, the Smart Choice Inn…lol.  Yeah, you’re very smart to choose it since it’s the only game in town.  Of course, once again, no signal.  The town’s Main Street had 5 bars, a post office, a couple shops, and was very old and run down.  Next to the motel was Al’s Cafe/gas station, where I decided to eat.  April and Samantha were the waitress and cook.  Just regular food, but a nice conversation with April.  She will be a senior this year, and is looking forward to college, if she can get a scholarship.  Nice enough people, but a depressing, smelly town surrounded by farms.

I was so bored not having the internet, I thought I’d lose my mind, but then I put on the TV, and only two channels apart were two of my favorite movies, “Gone With The Wind” and “True Lies“.  It didn’t matter though, because then my daughter called and we talked for almost two hours, so after I caught the end of “Gone”, I read the Bible for a while and fell asleep.  The next day looked beautiful, and I was happy to be on my way.

Mt. Rushmore is as spendiferous as I imagined.  When I first got to Keystone, (2 miles from the Monument), I at first was dismayed, because the town is the most touristy one I’ve been in so far.  Everything in it is geared toward spending money.  I checked into the Mt. Rushmore Washington Inn, and then went to do some laundry.  After the wash cycle, I put the clothes in the dryer, and went for a ride up the mountain to see the site.  As I rounded a corner and had my first glimpse, I was moved with awe, and pulled over to take a picture.  Every 1/8 mile or so, I repeated the procedure, until you get right in front of the Monument, and there is no stopping, standing or parking allowed.  People were doing it anyway, and I got a couple shots.  In order to get the full effect, you have to pay $10 to park.

I passed the site and continued up the road as that was all anyone could do, and about a 1/2 mile up the road, there is a turnout where you can pull over and take pictures, but only of  Washington’s profile.  I did that, and went back to the laundrymat where I met a woman from Minnesota named Shelly.  We struck up a conversation, and she told me that her and her husband had argued about who would go to do the laundry, (her three boys, ages 8, 10 & 15 were out of clothes), and she WON.  The kids were arguing and fussing so much that they both wanted a break from them to do the laundry.  She said her family had been at the ‘lighting ceremony’ at Mt. Rushmore the night before, and it was pretty cool.  She said that first everyone sings the National Anthem, and then some man reads a five minute poem entitled “Freedom”.  They had gone to other of the touristy things in Keystone, and she especially liked the wax museum, but it did start to freak her out.  She was a really nice lady, and I hope their vacation ended well.

I decided to take a walk around town, and to try to find the Oma’s Cafe…yes, I finally found out where the term for grandma, Oma, is from.  It is German, and as I knew in Monroeville, Alabama, the counterpart was Opa for grandpa.  I went in and ordered the veal medalion with mushroom gravy, red cabbage, and strudel.  I found out I really don’t like German cooking, as this was my second attempt at it, and I thought the veal was way overcooked, the red cabbage was too vinegery, (I specifically asked her if it had vinegar, and she said no), and the strudel was extremely dry, so much so, I didn’t even finish it.  What a waste of money.

After a great night’s sleep on very crisp sheets, and great pillows, I checked out and went back up the mountain to take more pictures, because the sky was so blue, and I knew they would be a lot better than the day before.  They were.   I made my way then to Rapid City, which is 22 miles away.  I had always thought that Mt. Rushmore was visible from somewhere in Rapid City because of the movie “North by Northwest“, but it isn’t.    It is just another semi-large city with a lot of urban sprawl. 

South Dakota and North Dakota are about the same as far as scenery goes.  Rolling hills, farmland, and lots of cattle and horses grazing.  Hundreds of miles of the same thing for three days.  When I finally got to North Dakota, I had re-crossed the Continental Divide six times.  Now I was in the Central time zone, and am only 1 hour behind the time at home.

Don’t know why I keep going with the posts, but I do….will post Minneapolis tomorrow, then it’s onto Des Moines, Iowa, and closer ever to home.

Nebraska…not much different from Kansas, except that there were more towns along the way, though the roads were almost the same.  Long and straight, but smellier.  The roadsides were happier as they were dressed with bright yellow, black eyed Susan’s all along the way.  When I got to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, I was happy, because it was a big town, compared to others along the route I took.  They even had a Walmart, and over 30 blocks of streets. 

I stayed at the Candlelight Inn, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the room was decorated almost like mine at home.  It even had the exact alarm clock we have, and the same color pallet and tastes.  The best part of course, was that I got immediate access to the internet, and was able to catch up on emails and such.

Wednesday morning I was somewhat refreshed, and headed to Keystone, South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore.  The miles into South Dakota changed in scenery with more trees and the Black Hills.  The temps were in the high 50’s & low 60’s, and it rained off and on all day again.

Kansas…pretty at first, but then it wears on you, especially when the rolling hills go away, (remnants of Colorado), and it becomes total farm land.  Nowhere for a hundred miles to even use the restroom, and no rest areas either.  When I finally got to St. Francis, Kansas, I had three choices of motels to stay in.  I rode up and down the 4 block main road and prayed for some direction.  I chose the Dusty Farmer Motel. 

Pulling into the parking area, the macadem lot all broken up, but the sign said they were re-opened, and the motel itself looked like it had been worked on recently.  I went into the office, and there was a nice computer and an at&t thingy blinking, so I knew I could get the internet, as I didn’t do any posts on Sunday.  An Asian woman came out to wait on me, and after I paid, she walked me over to the room.  It was freshly painted and clean, but even that could not make up for the fact that there was no phone, or even a three prong plug outlet, except in the bathroom, and it wasn’t GIF.  It turned out that after 2 hours, I still couln’t access the internet, even though I was connected to the Dusty Farmer.  Of course, the at&t mercury card I have didn’t work either, so another day of no internet.

I went to the grocery store that Angii directed me to, across the highway, (one lane both sides), down Main Street 3 blocks, and up Washington Street 1 block.  The town was a slightly depressed one, but the people were great.  When you drive down the street everyone waves at you.  I soon started to wave as I rode by people too.  I couldn’t even get anything at the store, as they didn’t have a deli, prepackaged salads or anything ‘healthy’ that I could just take and eat.  Of course, there was no refrig or microwave in the room.

There was an older woman by the salad fixin’s, and I asked if she were a local.  She said, while rolling her eyes, that they had just moved back after 5 years, and that she didn’t know if they’d made a good decision.  I asked if there was a pizza place or something, and she said yeah, they had a Pizza Hut, but oh…today’s Monday right?….they’re closed on Monday’s, rolled her eyes again, and chuckled.  Her husband came up and asked what we were talking about.  They directed me to the Dairy King up across from my motel.

At the Dairy King, I ordered 2 new things I’ve never had before…steak fingers and creamed corn nuggets.  The garden salad I got was the best thing….the steak fingers were supposed to be pieces of steak, battered and deep fried, but were only smashed up ‘mystery beef’, mostly filler, but I suppose they had protein of some kind in them.  The creamed corn nuggets were just what they sound like, though the girl who waited on me, couldn’t explain how they did it because, “they come that way…we just fry them”. 

Needless to say, I was very happy to get going in the morning, and went on my way to Nebraska.