He Chose His Words From Mouths of Babes, Got Lost in the World

I knew it was there. I had planned on going. However, when I went over to the library just now on my lunch break I couldn't help myself. I had to get a peak. To some people it may be just a long sheet of paper, but it changed my life long before I ever saw it in person. Seeing it there, the first half rolled out and encased in glass, I was immediately overcome with emotion. I was by myself and had to tell someone, so I turned to the security guard sitting there and exclaimed "This is by far the coolest thing ever!" He gave me a knowing smile and nodded. I'm sure he's heard similar sentiments before and probably will hear them many more times again. You see, I just got as close to greatness as I will ever get. I just read directly from Kerouac's On the Road scroll.

I was only there on my lunch break. I could have easily spent the rest of the afternoon dazed in wonderment at its marvel. There was Ti-Jean's manuscript, unabridged, unaltered and "un-aliased." His own handwritten notes and proofreading marks resided in the margin. I read as long as I could with the time I had. I think I am going to go back once a week until I have finished it all. I've read On the Road many times throughout my life. I even took an upper-level college course in it (and made an A+). However, this was the original. Straight from Jack's fingertips. LSD (and other Kerouac fans out there), if the exhibition comes anywhere near you, trust me, you have to go. You won't regret it.