It’s been fifteen years since I last drove through Kentucky, and I was reminded of the vast wheat fields. Kentucky is famous for its bourbon, but many might know it as the setting for J.D. Salinger’s novel, *The Catcher in the Rye*.

The landscape of these sprawling wheat fields, which served as the backdrop for the novel, feels a bit more modern after fifteen years. Yet, the countryside is still the countryside. Once you turn off the freeway, the noise disappears completely, leaving only the sound of cicadas to fill the air.

I’ve grown tired of Los Angeles, with its suffocating exhaust fumes, and I find myself driving through the American countryside to calm my mind. The people I meet here are a bit conservative, but unfailingly kind, which suits me perfectly.

With Two Cameras Slung Over My Shoulder

Checking out of the motel at 9 AM and driving along Route 127 until dusk, I encountered a surprising number of cars for such a rural area. In the bustling sections, long lines of vehicles were parked, and crowds of people milled about.

An elderly woman arranging vintage dishes, a mother selling her child’s outgrown clothes, and a gentleman polishing a hunting rifle. With two cameras slung over my shoulder, I browsed each booth.

In rural areas like Kentucky, where there are few Japanese visitors, I often feel eyes on me. However, with my two large cameras, people seem to guess my profession. In fact, I was asked multiple times, “What Japanese magazine are you with?”

It was while I was examining a souvenir pillowcase from 1963, embroidered with “Panama” and “Seattle,” that a woman suddenly approached me.

(to be continued)