Notes From The Road

Latest Posts in Notes From The Road

World Views
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NOTES FROM THE ROAD: Krystal and the Deep Blue Sea

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Patricia Vaccarino
January 03, 2026

Krystal is my Uber driver who picks me up in Solana Beach to take me to the airport. She drives a shiny new red Tesla. As I get into the Tesla, I immediately see the entire roof is plastered with hundreds of stickers of Elon Musk. A large heart-shaped pink sticker stuck on her console says: “I love Elon Musk.” No other stickers dot the car’s interior. No political messages or advocacy for special interest groups. The entire car is a shrine to Elon Musk. I  want to know why this woman who works hard for her money loves Elon Musk. 

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Green
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The Wreck of Trees: A Work in Progress

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Patricia Vaccarino
October 06, 2025

I am writing a new work of fiction that takes place on the North Coast of Oregon. "The Mail Lady’s Confession" is a journey into old-growth forest, to a world beyond the edge of the Pacific Ocean, where grief, compassion, and joy are interwoven and hidden in the rings on the trunks of old trees. 

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World Views
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NOTES FROM THE ROAD: On Stewardship

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Patricia Vaccarino
October 08, 2024

I was walking on 1st Avenue, south of the Pike Place Market, when I heard two men talking loudly. They were close enough to make me turn and look. The guys were burly, not in the best of shape, not old, but not young; it’s hard to tell someone’s age. What caught me by surprise was that they were making disparaging remarks about my city.  

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Travel
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NOTES FROM THE ROAD: Listen to This...

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Patricia Vaccarino
January 05, 2024

This past November, I was traveling from Denver, making a connection from Salt Lake City to Portland. While I waited for my flight to Portland, an older man sat next to me and started a conversation. I put down my New Yorker and listened to him. 

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