Chapter 53 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. In my final chapter, I complete that last day of my odyssey, returning home with my mom and brother, but already facing at least one change and the challenge to address it.

Chapter 52 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I spend my final couple days in Europe amidst the warm hospitality of the Clay family in Oxford. Finally on the plane flight back to Detroit in the States, I have one last chance to overthink everything, and I ponder who I might be becoming. I have an epiphany on an old persona, “Clubius”, that I am now finally ready and able to give up. And like the committed actor, I consider a new one, “The Coopster”, identified by big Aussie Jen in Rome several weeks back, that I will now try to inhabit as best I can for myself, for my family, and for the rest of my community back home in the States. Contains adult language.

Chapter 51 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Still staying with the Clay’s, their daughter Kate invites me to join her and her two best friends seeing the new movie “Godspell”, and I get a glimpse of the world and worldview of three young women, though just two years my junior, with a very different take on our path forward. Contains adult language.