ohh ohh ohh Montana

I wish I could describe for you all my drive from Crystal Lake, Illinois to Marion, Montana exactly the way in which I saw it. I will try to convey with the best of my ability to do so. I started on Tuesday morning at 10:30 am. I left mom's house and headed for Rockford on the 90. As I entered Wisconsin, the sun was shining heavy on my left arm, and the trees were a sight. The changing of leaves was evident and the rolling hills were a blessing to pass over. I stopped right outside of Minnesota for a bathroom break, and picked up a couple of acorns.
TANGENT:
I have this thing about wanting to remember certain moments in my life...so I usually will find something small but memorable to take with me on my journey. WhenI saw all of the acorns lying on the ground, I wanted to find one that was still intact. I wanted this to remind me of the new journey I am on. I do not know if you plant an acorn, a tree will really grow, but I am going to try it. Today, before the ground gets too hard, I am going to plant an acorn right behind the hotel and we shall see years from now, if anything grows. I guess that's the romantic, the one in love with creation, the process, all things new, possiblity. So, one acorn is going in the ground, one will go in my box of memory type deals (ask if you ever want to see it) and a couple are being sent off to friends that I think could use a little acorn loving in their lives right now.
So, I enter Minnesota. And my drive is phenomenol. Now you HAVE to understand or know that I am CREATION pathway...or in layman's terms I adore nature and feel closest to God when I am in it.
Everyone said, oh it's just a bunch of hills and flat land, but man oh man did I have a blast watching feilds and feilds of hay roulades. The colors were intense, the feeling very peaceful and as I chatted on the phone, I kept exclaiming man I wish I had a camera. I do still wish that I had brought with me any camera to capture what I was talking about, but I think this trip, these sights were for my eyes only. To drink in the awesomeness of the world, of our nation, of nature, of God.
I pulled in to John and Becky's around 8:30 and boy was I ready to just chill and talk. They are a lovely couple whom I had the pleasure meeting through my step mom Beth. John is her brother so I guess they would be known as my step uncle and aunt if we went that way, but we don't so, they're just great people. They did this thing that I thought was very cool when they got married, they didn't hyphenate their names or take one of the others last names, they created a new one...that means something like grace in German. I loved the idea and that is the kind of people they are...interesting, intelligent, fun and loving. Becky offered me a Huckleberry and Honey Malt Beverage from Lang Creek when I sat down and we told stories and laughed with Brita and Jence their two youngest kids until John got home around 11.
That next morning, John took me on a tour of Fargo/Moorhead. I know it sounds boring, but it was so cool. He showed me so many cool things. First, his church, which is a Lutheran church that is seriously right on with so much of their theology in my opinion that was great. They have these two gorgeous stained glass windows in their community center that are totally based on the trinity and their churches beliefs and their response as a community to the love of the trinity. Not only was it incredible to look at, but so awesome to hear John explain the meaning and significance behind it. We then went to look upon the 8 foot statue of "Marge the Wood Chipper" from the movie Fargo. It's in Fargo's local theater that has been totally revamped into a 30's style theater and they show local musical artists/independent films and local shows there. VERY RAD! Next we went to see this Viking ship in the local musuem that was built by a teacher who got really passionate about his heritage and decided to build this boat. He and his group then decided to sail it to Norway. Listening to John tell me stories about his town, Montana church and God made me very glad to know such a phenomenol man who's passion spills everywhere. I left felling full of life and ready for my next leg.
On through North Dakota. The heads of all of the sunflowers were droopy. They had died and were no longer aching to face the sun. But, it didn't matter. Although it was an entirelly different scene, it was magnificant! I loved this one picture the best...two feilds met at an old abandoned little white house. Dark greens, and deep deep yellows, old brushed ancient white.
I took my time on Wednesday stopping where I liked, eating, taking in everything I could. One stop brought me to The Enchanted Highway! The basis of it is about these huge Metal Structures that have been created to show different ideas. The first one I saw was geese flying. As you drive up to the main structure, the drive in lined with smaller geese, life size posted on top of metal poles at different heights. All are around eye sight level and positioned to look as though you are flying with them up the drive. I decided to not go see any of the others, because I liked this one best. So I went on my way to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I stopped here and saw the expanse of the Bad lands North. The way in which the earth sinks into itself here is something I would like to paint one day. It reveals colors under ground that look like those sand things we used to make as kids, where you pour one color of sand in and then you can pour another on top and it creates a visual slendor. I don't know...but I really liked what I saw.
On to Montana...Eastern Montana was one thing only for me as I drove there aroudn 7:30 at night. A Sunset to die for! There is a reason this land is called Big Sky Country. You look around you and all you can see is sky...now think about that at Sunset time. There was a perfect rainbow in the sky...all colors stretched from one end all the way back to meet itself. Night fell and I became surronded by deer, foxes and jack rabbits. They were all along my drive on Highway 2 and I am so glad to report, they all stayed nice and safe on the side of the road!
This is getting really long and although I want to keep writing, I will try to keep this next part short.
I slept that night in a Motel for the first time in my entire life. I am not trying to be snotty here, but Kate will testify to my lack of knowledge of motels and off the roads sleeping houses. I was happy to have a bed and a phone. I brought my bat inside with me and it slept next to me all night! In the morning, my breath could be seen coming from my lungs it was so cold. I left early and headed for Western Montana!
The best part was yet to come...as you head West on Highway 2 you begin to see in the distance these purple peaks...and then you come round a bend and there they are. The beauty of the mountains is breath taking. From West to East for as far as the eye can see....Mountain tops! I was in heaven...and as I drove into Glacier, I started to sing. Ohhhh ohh Montana give this child a home...give her a love with her good family and a man of her own...give her a fire in the night, and a fire in here eyes, give her a wild wind for a brother and the wide wide Montana skies!! (thank you John Denver for a song in my heart...that I know so well!)