Twelve on the Road~ July 4, 2010

I arrived at Jamie's on July 4th. I drove through Scott's Bluff to Chimney Rock stopping to read the signs of the Oregon Trail and the Mormon's struggle west. I stopped at the Wyoming sign "Forever West," then headed to my girl's place.

Birds and Bluffs of Wyoming

Wyoming is flat. Really flat! This surprised me. It didn't feel like the 4th of July. I thought of Frederick Douglas' speech so many years ago and Sojourner Truth. I can't say I felt like they did because I have never known the horrors they lived, but I thought of people celebrating and wondered if they thought about what they were celebrating. Holidays don't hold much importance for me. I love Halloween, just because it's fun, and I love carving pumpkins, the smell of the air, the crunching leaves when I'm out running and doling out candy, even though I abhor children eating it. But other holidays seem to have lost their true meaning and it seems many are very commercial. My sister always loved Christmas, the saddest aspect of that is that is the time of year she left us.

I arrived at my girl's house as she and her new guy were playing with Bean in the yard. It was a good feeling watching that. So normal, so "American Dream" like, house, swing set, fenced yard. Very much like the fifties, and Cheyenne is kind of a throw back place. One of those introspective moments that make you chuckle. Then I caught her guy's eye and he introduced himself to me, the greatest introduction I think I've ever experienced. "Hi I'm Steve, the flavor of the week." I laughed that he realized that he could possibly be the 'flavor of the week.'

I hugged Bean. The joy in that is just indescribable. What a joyful experience. I'm always amazed to see her. Watch her grow and discover the world thinking that she was that little being I saw come into the world. That seemed like yesterday.