It was 9:00am on Monday morning when I opened my eyes in Florida and remembered that my flight home, which departs from Atlanta's International Airport, took off at 3:45pm. I then realized that Summer and I had to be at the Airport by 2:30pm - and that we had a nine hour drive ahead of us to get from Orlando to Atlanta, with only a five hour window. And considering that we did not leave the house and hit the road until 1:00pm - I certainly was not going to make my flight.

On the way from Orlando to Atlanta, I tried desperately to reschedule my flight, only to be met with cell phone dead zones, battles between United and Delta, both of whom were somehow involved in my direct return flight home - and extortion by the airlines who wanted anywhere from $250 to $750 to change my ticket. Hearing the prices the airlines wanted to charge me, I started looking for other ways of getting home, including Amtrak and Greyhound, again with no success. So facing an overnight stay at the Airport and having to pay an additional few hundred dollars to get home, Summer came up with an idea that was so perfect - I instantly knew it was the only way I wanted to get home...

...she suggested I rent a car and drive home - cross country.

When we got to the Airport at 8:45pm, it was still possible for me to run to United and/or Delta and book a ticket on the 9:45pm flight to La Guardia Airport, the last one of the evening - but instead - I went right to Hertz and rented a white Crown Victoria to drive back home.

Once I sat in the car and put the key in the ignition, my adrenaline instantly began pumping. I only drove cross country one other time in December of 2000 when I drove from New York to Florida. Now, I got to drive the opposite way - and completely by accident. When I booked this trip, I had expected to take a plane home after Summer and I drove to Atlanta, and now - I got to drive from Orlando to Atlanta, sleep a few hours at Summer's house - and then continue my journey from Atlanta to Brooklyn.

It was 4:00am when I left Summer's house and began my 829-mile trek to Brooklyn. As I drove through the darkness, I was in absolute Heaven. For a long time, I have been wanting to drive cross country again, but never thought I would have the time to do it, only to do it completely by accident.

Besides the fact that driving hundreds of miles across the United States of America is a great way to clear your mind, it is like driving through a living postcard of Americana. From the snow-covered rolling hills of Tennessee, to the majestic Appalachian Mountains that traced my journey on each side of my vehicle - to the Delaware Memorial Bridge that carves a lovely panoramic path over the Delaware Water Gap - only by traveling across this great Nation of ours can you truly appreciate it for what it is.

My drive across our Nation took me from Atlanta to New York through Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Philadelphia and New Jersey. As I drove, I only stopped a few times to use the restroom and fill my gas tank, and then got back on the road to head home - and see America.

Besides the beauty of the country and the relaxation of driving alone and clearing my mind, one of the best things about driving cross country is seeing the different radio stations that each state in America has to offer. As I made my way through the South, I noticed that the majority of radio stations were Country Music, Classic Country Music, Religious and Choir Music. But as I made it closer to home, all I could find was 80s Music, Hip-Hop and Top 40. Having graduated college with a degree in Radio Broadcasting and having studied radio demographics in different states - I was amazed to see that the lessons I learned about who listens to what was completely accurate.

It was when I made it to New Jersey that I realized my cross country trek was over, because the next state I would enter would be my own. But although my adventure across America ended far too quickly, I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to fulfill my desire to once again trace a path across this beautiful country. I am also thankful to Summer for inadvertently placing in my head the idea of blowing off the evil, extortionist airlines, and instead opting to scratch yet another item off of my life's "to-do list."

I knew this was going to be a good year...