New Beginnings

Hello friends!

There is a beautiful type of symmetry when it comes to life sometimes. Just as I begin this new creative project {the blog!} I am also living in an entirely new place for the summer.

I am a Nebraska girl–born, and bred. But this summer I have packed up my large amount of clothes meager belongings in order to head out further west. A land where there are more heads of cattle than people, the headware of choice is a cowboy hat, and it is not uncommon to come in contact with a bear…or rattlesnake…or mountain lion. Eek!

Warrior Man, and I headed out early in the morning very promptly intent on making the trip as fast as possible. After driving five miles, we decided it was time to stop for a snack, and time to refresh our fuel tanks so we stopped at Casey’s. After about thirty miles we needed to stop at Wal-Mart. And then we got back on the road intent on making good time! But the closer we got to the Wyoming line the more we felt the need to stop. We stopped to take pictures. We took a detour to see a gorgeous lake. And we stopped at a greasy little restaurant for lunch (where the proprietor sat and smoked a cigar whilst taking our money). Cough, cough. Gak.

The closer we got to Wyoming the more I was amazed, and thrilled that every single aspect that I attributed to this part of the country held true. Huge horse ranches spanned the rolling hills, cowboys rode through the open range with their handkerchiefs tied around their necks, and we even saw a bunch of tumbleweed blow across the highway. I felt as if I was travelling back into a completely different genre. Stepping foot into a Bonanza episode.

So often in adult life, things are not as brightly-colored, and magical as you remember them as a kid. But Wyoming did not disappoint in the grandiose nature that I would have attributed it with. If John Wayne would have strolled out of a run down building that we passed, I would not have been surprised.

On the way we saw assorted wildlife. I am intent, this summer, on seeing a bear. Black bears are plentiful in Wyoming, and are very dangerous. I have learned since I arrived here that if faced with a bear, the primary lines of defense are bear spray, and little fire crackers that supposedly scare them. After absorbing that knowledge, I think I would rather carry a gun. It feels more secure.

I did not see a bear on the trip–alas, and alack–but I did see myriad antelope.

And we made it to a little town in Wyoming where the dirt is red, the bear tracks are common, and the mountains are still covered in snow.

What are your favorite summer memories? Was there ever a time in your life that you, too, just picked up, and went somewhere new for a few months? I would love to hear about it!