Road Trip!

I’m behind on my blogging, to say the least. There’s much more to say about India — many journal entries penned on bumpy bus rides, many more pictures to post. All in good time, I promise.

Tonight I’m in Fort Collins, Colorado at my Uncle Gary & Aunt Jenny’s — on my way to Seattle. We got back from India Monday morning, and I spent the week trying to get my windshield wipers fixed. Critical, since it was STILL raining in Dallas. That was interesting. Anyway, I finally succeeded, and said good bye to Dallas yesterday about 10:30 a.m.

The last two days have been breathtaking and peaceful. I spend last night in Dalhart, Texas (home town of my good friend, Tim V), at a great little Budget Inn — run by an Indian couple, oddly enough, who wanted to hear all about my trip there.

I love driving cross-country, and it couldn’t be more beautiful. Texas countryside that would normally be dry and brown this time of year was so lush and green, it was unreal. And it’s not just Texas. All the way up through NM and Colorado, everything is so incredibly alive and beautiful, it makes me cry.

OK — so all the flooding was a little disconcerting. Both sides of the freeway at one point in Wichita Falls were flanked with water. The Holiday Inn parking lot was a lake, and I saw a sign advertising “Riverfront Property for Sale,” that was submerged. For Sale — Cheap!

I’m so happy right now. Road trips are the best, and doing it alone is even better, I think. Hours and hours of time — just me, the road, whatever music I’m playing or song I might be singing to myself, and America the Beautiful. OK, the Himalyas were nice, but for a road trip I’d choose my native land any day.