24 Hours

In the summer of 1974,
while I hitch-hiked to Florida,
a 30ish woman from Detroit,
on a solo camping trip
to the Smokies,
picked me up along I-75
in Cincinnati.

After a couple hundred miles,
she invited me to
camp the night with her at
Norris Dam State Park.

She carried a
Kodak XL 55 Super 8
movie camera that
we aimed in
typical touristy ways:
trails, rocks, trees, our camp,
each other.

Later, around the fire,
I filmed an interview with her:
She was a secretary,
still with her parents,
desiring to be
self-reliant and daring.
This road trip was a big first step.

The next morning,
we drove back to
the interstate and parted.
She ran the camera as
I waved goodbye
and that was it.

No addresses exchanged.
No phone numbers given.
No last names mentioned.

I sometimes think
of that time.
She would now be in her mid-70s.

Does the film still exist?
Did she ever look at it again?
Did she gain her independence?
Did she lead a happy life?
Is she still living?
What was her name?

I wonder if she remembers me?

-Greg Clary