All last night and today we’ve been unraveling. Both of us, even out of the car for hours, feel the road beneath us. Feeling cities, mountains, towns, forests and all the miles of flat deserts and prairies. Sun beating hot and bright though the windows for ten or more hours each day. The tedium, the repetitive highway sound and wrist motions and ever so slight body adjustments until I ask, “Do you want drive?” “You’ve only been driving for 12 minutes.”
Luckily, the trip was not without a day and a half stop in South Dakota. We arrived at Debbie and Brad’s house, Terry’s sister and brother-in-law, Saturday afternoon. Also, Terry’s youngest brother was visiting from Idaho. We just happened to arrive on class reunion day. All four of them graduated from high school in Presho SD. The three siblings and I attended dinners with classmates. Terry only had one classmate attending from his class of nineteen. But in a small town you know everyone anyway. Even those who graduated in 1948.
Sunday, I woke at 4:00 AM. I decided to sit in the dark so as not to wake the others. Soon lightening pulsed and faint spate of thunder panicked their little dog, Sammie. Just before we arrived yesterday she peed the carpet over a similar event.
“Please be brave, Sammie.” She had a pathetic look on her face. But she was brave with me by her side.
Only 650 miles remained. We rolled into town at 5:38. The trees, garage, loo-with-the-view looked so familiar. It felt like home. I’d been waiting for the full moon and the craziness that full moons brings to the loons. But the sky shone a blood red and a smoky haze.
The first thing I was going to do when I arrived was buy a solo canoe and take off by myself. It wasn’t the first thing, but Terry joined me at the end of the day to shop at Piragis Northwoods Company. Both of us had fun. It’s a big adventure, so I rented one for Friday. Above is a picture of the solo canoe and below the paddle, both of which I covet.
Mountain Peace 