Jack Balas, 2021;
LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI (BACKFLIP) (#2063);
India ink & acrylic on paper, 22x30 inches

LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI was not on my reading pile the day I set out on my bike from my Illinois town to the river, two days there and two back, my junior summer in college. Hills, corn fields, little towns I'd never seen. Met two brothers running a gas station across the road from their house, and wound up staying with them that first and last night. The night close to the river a farm lady let me sleep out on a chaise on her front lawn, sloping down to a view of cows. She even brought me a blanket. I made it to Savanna, crossed the long bridge to Iowa dodging the toll booth & then back, even met another kid on a bike from Michigan going cross country. He was amazed my bike was only a one-speed. Life is good.