USA or Bust Book (12x12 inches)

My name is Jim Zook. This is one man's journey across The United States to re-discover America through photography and interviews. The journey began on April 29, 2009 -- President Obama's much-touted 100th day in office. It came to an end on June 26 after having visited twenty-two states and spending fifty-nine days on the road. The focus has been largely on the weak economy, but all topics of discussion were welcome, especially social and political. With the 2010 census coming due, this has been my effort to put a face and voice to the pending litany of dry statistics. I greatly wanted to document the times in which we live. The full interviews, writings, and photographs will be included in my book: USA or Bust.

Before the Drive

I've know Jim for over thirty years. I first met him when he was coming off a stint as a cowboy on his family's ranch. He is a vexillologist (flag expert), historian, raconteur, and Boy Scout leader. His home is Reno, Nevada with his wife and son. I interviewed him in his office in Santa Cruz, California where he is Chief Curator for the Zaricor Flag Collection.

Tiyasha is a Youth Intervention Worker with the Restorative Justice Program in San Jose, California. She works hard to keep youthful offenders from sinking further into the criminal justice system. In the last six months she's seen a rise in more violent crimes among her teenage clients.

Geoff and Laura have been my good neighbors and friends since I moved to Boulder Creek nine years ago. Geoff is a veteran of the Vietnam era, a skilled craftsman, and my financial advisor. Laura is an artist and renaissance woman. Together they make the best people to live next door to. Married practically since high school, their finances are riding out the current downturn fairly well.

Wednesday, April 29

I started my USA or Bust drive across The United States. I first stopped in San Jose, CA in the morning to have breakfast with my daughter, Julia, who just turned eighteen. I interviewed her about the teenage job market. Then I drove eastward to Stockton and talked with my very opinionated friends Will and Agnes.

Thursday, April 30

Left Stockton early and cut south down Interstate 5. Good weather. At my first rest stop I met "Miner" Mike (my book cover model). A Vietnam veteran, he had a cozy set-up: chair, book, coffee, and backpack -- he was a man in no hurry. He had a sign reading: Vet. Traveling. Anything helps. God bless. He was kind enough to talk with me about his life and travels -- travels that I added to by giving him a ride all the way down to Burbank in the Los Angeles area.

I poked my way through misnomered rush-hour traffic to meet up with Kevin (someone I've know since high school and still consider a good friend). He was finishing up work at Rio Hondo College in Whittier (my old hometown). We talked about his job, education, and financial security. I took some photos then, but I will be talking with him (and his girlfriend Amanda) more this coming Sunday.

My final stop for the night came at Tim and Rochelle's (my brother and sister-in-law). We got caught up on life. I will carve out some time to talk with them and my three nephews this weekend.

Couch surfing is one way to economize and I intend to use it.

Friday, May 1

May Day. Workers of the world unite!

I began the morning by taking care of incidentals (like a good worker): Coffee, processing the photographs I'd taken so far, transcribing some notes, transferring my old-school-cassette-tape recordings to digital files on my laptop, updating this website, and planning out my next move. This time, that move is compiling a short list of L.A. TV and radio news outlets to drum up some publicity. I will contact them later in the day for possible Monday time slots.

I've been re-reading Studs Terkel's fine book of interviews about The Great Depression: Hard Times. It astounds me as to the parallels to America's current situation. Everything old is new again. We have a sad grasp of the lessons to be learned from history. Greed is good indeed.

Angel runs his own home cleaning business along with his wife and cousin, Lucia and Hector.

"I think business is down about thirty-five percent for me. Usually we make about 400 (dollars per person), but last week we made about 320, 300. My first customer, the one I started with, she cut it off for once a month. They have their own business. Her husband does some service for cleaners. They had to lay me off. They tried hard for at least six months, then they said they can't afford it. I said, no problem. But you still have to pay taxes." (laughs)

Saturday, May 2

My nieces Carrie-Anne and Heather (with J Paul) gave me their take on the economy and how it's affected them and people they know. It was my send-off party in the City of Orange.

Sunday, May 3

I met with George. He is married to Gayle, a sister of my oldest friend. His is the great American success story. The son of Honduran immigrants, he has worked hard to get where he is with his insurance business. His world view is built on being honest, open, and hopeful. His family is riding out the rough economy fairly well. It hasn't been without its bumps, but as George said, "I feel blessed."

As I said before, I've know Kev since high school. He lives in Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Amanda. Kev's worked for a California community college for... well, forever. Amanda teaches art. The current downturn hasn't hit them directly. There have been layoffs, but they've been working for the school system long enough to escape any dire consequences -- for now.

Monday, May 4

I drove from Orange County, CA to Las Vegas, NV. I settled into a Motel 6 and updated my on-line journal. I will take a break, then venture out tonight to see what I will see.

Tuesday, May 5

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Viva Mexico! Viva Las Vegas!

Early this morning I contacted several radio and TV stations in Las Vegas about my trip. I'm only here until tomorrow morning, so I hope at least one of them gets back to me. I also went for a long walk along The Strip. It's a Mixmaster blend of glitz and glamor contrasted with the hard-to-hardly working. I interviewed a homeless couple, Sean and Janet, and treated them to breakfast. They had had a place to stay until recently and were waiting for money from a family member. Then I interviewed the security officer, Willie Campbell, who patrolled the property. There used to be four who patrolled the area during the week; that's been cut to two.

Waiting on a call back from The Salvation Army about an interview.

Wednesday, May 6

Morning. Still waiting on the Las Vegas Salvation Army. I've pestered the PR guy enough, so I have a sense it won't happen. Going out for a walk and breakfast before it gets too hot. I leave for Arizona later today. Flagstaff, here I come. And I'm keeping it GREEN -- no air conditioning in the car. I'll probably skip Phoenix; the last time I was there it was 115 degrees in the shade. Too hot. I'm heading further down to Tucson, then eastward towards Dallas, Texas. Glad it's not August.

Drove to Williams, AZ (Gateway to The Grand Canyon on Route 66). Another stay at a Motel 6. I will hit them up for a post-sponsorship along with Garmin (my GPS mapper) and Guinness -- the driver's beer of choice (just not while driving). Also Sony owes me: I'm using their top-of-the-line A900 DSLR and tape recorder. Who else? Oh yeah, Hyundai. What a trooper. Talked with several people. Maybe the economy will hold its own. I have to admit that those people willing to talk with me on this leg seemed to be doing okay, but just okay.

Thursday, May 7

Stopped in Arizona to see the Big Ass Crater (no really, that's what they call it). It wasn't too far off my route. It was big. I'm not sure about the ass part. Anyway, then it was back on the road. Flat and dry with ridges and mountains in the far distance. I tried to imagine The Sahara Desert. It's as big as the entire United States and all desert. Ouch. Anyway, there are a lot of fundamentalist stations to pick from on the radio. Never a dull moment.

Friday, May 8

Cut southeast from Amarillo, Texas along Route 287. The speed varied from 70 MPH to half that for the small towns that dotted its path. In Claude I spoke with a woman in her antique shop. She was sweet and polite and our politics differed, but I enjoyed her input. She would not let me record or photograph her, despite her willingness to talk about her concerns for our nation. I had the feeling that she was praying for me when I left. I continued on to the outskirts of Dallas to a little berg called Carrollton, where I spent the night at Bill and Elizabeth's -- my next targets for photos and conversation.

Saturday & Sunday, May 9 & 10

Miscellaneous shots of recent places. I've been cavorting with my friends in and around Dallas. Saw the Nasher Sculpture Museum downtown. Across the street King Tut was on display. It was crowded enough in the early afternoon to cut off ticket sales. Maybe the economy is looking up. When we returned to our car, a healthy-looking guy hit us up with the line, "I'm not a bum."