I visited the web-site Nancy Snider sent to me, and I answered those questions:
Have you seen a Kansas sunset? Have you seen an Arizona rain? I answer 'yes' to both. The sunset blazing as it sets in Nevada? Aha - and how; today it was just that, and I've lived in Nevada for 8 years now.
Have you drifted down a bayou down Louisiana way? Yes, I have. Have you seen the fog in San Francisco Bay - many times. Have you heard the bird calling in the Carolinas? You betcha - both in North and South!
Have you heard the call of the Niagara Falls? More than once - and splashed with its cold mist; amazed at its power! What about that Massachusetts shore? More than once; dining on huge deep-fried clams; walking around Boston, and noticing Plymouth Rock didn't seem to be all that big.
I saw New York - more than once; amazed at the beauty of the many who co-exist in this place where Lady Liberty stands guard.
I've seen the Mississippi more than once; crossed her many times. I was born in Michigan; from the upper peninsula to the lower, I've toured every county - loved seeing Lake Huron; Ontario, Michigan - Erie, and Superior.
Going through the Rockies; driving 2630 miles from Ohio to Seattle in 3 days - I could not believe my eyes as I passed through the Dakotas; into Montana - Wyoming, then the desert of Spokane. I was relocating to marry a new husband; short of cash, and had to drive 'straight through' - 3 hours of sleep (average) each night (at a rest-stop). The good part of it all, with all the overwhelming beauty of nature along the way, it wasn't that tough to stay awake....
I drove there 3 days after Mt. St. Helens 'erupted' - I dealt with high gas prices; long distances between stops for food and gas, and had to wear a mask over my face to keep out the ash that piled like snow-drifts on the side of the roads as I neared Yakima.
I hear my heart sing - it doesn't cry out; it simply knows why I love my country so much.
Thank you to John Mitchum who reads this beautiful text; to Nancy Snider for sending me the link. It was a wonderful 4th of July - 2008
Before you 'read on', read these words spoken by John F. Kennedy, Jr. - I love them still.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms, and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors.
Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Today after losing another dear friend, Jean Kreutz, I made a memory page for those we've recently lost. If you've lost a loved one, we know your pain as well. On this blog, there's spiritual music designed to comfort you; do visit it if you feel a need to find solace. http://thoseweremember.blogspot.com
Death Valley is a place we only visit in the winter - about 300 miles from us because there are no 'straight routes', from our home.
I love playing with photos - I didn't stand on my head or hang off the wall to get this one; just flipped it when I down-loaded it. Somehow I like this 'angle' better than the real shot.Anyway, I don't like putting my feet on the sand in Death Valley when
it's hot; hard to find a time when it's not, but winter is the best of
course!
Death Valley has this hemisphere's lowest elevation - highest temperatures (134 degrees) don't exceed ours by much, since we set a record 2 years ago, at 130 degrees.One wonders how any pioneer crossed this vast valley. You drive
along route #190; you climb through the Argus Mountain Range - you climb 5,000
feet, and then Death Valley National Park welcomes you. There are Kangaroo
rats that eat the seeds from the Mesquite trees. In fact, I uploaded a
picture of the Mesquite tree that's outside our window - they form pods and have
very sharp and pointed 'spikes' that make you gather those pods carefully (I
have a few drying right now). The indians would grind the pods into a
powder-like substance to make their bread with.
We don't make this trip that often now - we live in the desert; we get quite enough 'heat', and very similar land-scape, and we prefer the Colorado River lapping 5 minutes from our home. We love having breakfast at the Marina; we wander the shores - the birds dart through the scrub pines, and sing beautifully every day.
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