A Solo Day at Gettysburg

During the summertime, I’m not occupied with the grind of lesson planning, grading, teaching, committee meetings, and the emails, the emails, the emails!  This means more time to get in my own head, which means more time to get angry at these singlist micro aggressions I witness, well, everywhere.

I find my best outlet is writing; thus far, I’ve written a letter to the NY Times editor regarding a patronizing piece on the therapy culture’s contribution to childlessness, an unsent letter to someone who detracted to one of my pieces, and, most recently, a request to NextDoor to replace a pop-up that read “Let us know your spouse or partner’s email” with “let us know your contact person’s name.”  Hey, an activist must always aim to educate.

I decided to take a day off from all that, in addition to the various research and teaching projects that are comprising my summer (not to mention my application for full professor).  I’m more than a bit tepid about driving in my region and I love public transportation, but I looked up that Gettysburg, PA is only a little above an hour’s drive from me.  I woke up at 6:30 and decide to just do it.

Once I exited the soulless, viewless I-270 and got onto Route 15, I was met by some nice views of barns and silos.  Sadly, some of that land is being adorned with identical houses, a pronatalist’s wet dream.  But it was nice to see some rural landscapes; even if I wouldn’t want to live in them, they’re fun to look at.

I got to the Visitors Center; I had planned to do this trip on a weekday during the early part of the summer, before school was out and families began to pack the place.  That hope was dashed when I immediately saw a bunch of elementary school-aged children on a field trip.  And the parking lot was packed with plates from Kentucky to Michigan to California.  Most of the guests appeared to be older, likely retired couples.  Hey, you’ve earned it; live it up!

I bypassed the Visitors Center and went straight to the National Cemetery and Battlefield to take some pictures.  The highlight was the spot where Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.  My first thought: What would he think of what’s happening in the US right now?  I even directed an older gentleman, a Vietnam veteran from Kansas, to the spot on my way back.  He, in turn, informed me about a bus tour of the battlefield.  Maybe next time.

On the way back, I stopped at Cacotin Mountain Orchard.  The sign said “Apple Cider Donuts,” and I just love me some of those.  I’ve been working with a dietitian, so thanks to her voice in my head, I picked up some apples as well.  Good, but my pet peeve: they didn’t sell them individually.  Five minimum.  Singlist? Hell yes!  But, hey, I’ll eat them just the same.

I earned my nap when I got home.  All in all, I’ll aim to take one day trip each week during the summer.  After all, I’m a solo who’s “off” during the summer, and I can do that!