Day 32 Kerouaction: On the Rules of the Road

The above passage from On The Road is the subject of Day 32 in The Beat Handbook: 100 Days of Kerouactions. It's titled, "On the Rules of the Road."

A lot can be gleaned from this short passage.

When you are "on the road," keep these suggestions in mind:

1) Keep moving. Don't dawdle for long in one place. Remember that it's the journey that matters, not the destination. As Jack advises, Go go go! But don't forget to smell the roses all along the way. Alan Watts teaches about this in this great clip from the South Park creators.

2) Save some money for later in the trip, despite the temptation to blow it all in order to "make" someone as Jack (Sal) did. Hide a $20 bill somewhere in your purse or wallet and try to forget it's there. You'll remember it when things get desperate.

3) If you're going to spend time trying to "make" someone, avoid the sullen types. Better to go without. In this case, do as Jack said, not as Jack did. Stick with the "mad ones . . . ."

Jack had the uncanny ability to pack a lot into very few words, yet he was prolific. That's a reason why Tana Wojczuk, in her excellent essay, concludes by saying she is a student of Jack Kerouac whether she likes it or not because "all roads lead to him."