South Dakota Sunday and Life is Good

I had the hardest time getting out of bed this morning, and I wasn't sure what that was all about. Of course I have had to spend the day analyzing it rather than just say, okay.

I thought maybe it was because it was Mother's Day and in the past it has been one of my least favorite days. I have spent more years not enjoying mother's day than I have spent years enjoying it. Sadly, I have had 32 years of being a Mom, and I have more unhappy memories than happy ones.

Angie Brown and I have shared more years of 'getting through' the day together then relishing in the day. I am sure I have a fantasy about what the day should be like, and that is probably the problem. I have always wanted it to be about me, but it always seems that someone else is a priority or that there is another event that happens on the day. Unfortunately I dread the day more than I look forward to it.

I also wondered if my not wanting to get up and face the day was because I was heading in the homeward direction and I wasn't ready to end the journey. I am not sure what the indicators will be that it's time to go home, but I am not feeling it quite yet. That doesn't mean I don't miss and love everyone, but I am not done spending time loving me either.

Must be that whatever was causing me to question my hesitation to jump into the day, caused me to question lots of other things too.

The first instance was when I met my neighbors at the motel this morning. It was a couple on BMW bikes that were heading to Miles City. During the normal exchange of where are you from and where are you going, I found myself suggesting they take highway 44, see Mount Rushmore and for sure Crazy Horse. They were very nice about listening to me, but then I had to shake by head and ask why I felt compelled to tell people what they should do. I hate that when it happens to me.

Shortly after, I stopped at a gas station and went into use the restroom (leave an audio book) and wandered from one end of the building to another and a man was sitting at a booth saw me looking and never said a word. So then I asked myself which is better - to share unsolicited advice or to not say anything and let people find their own way. I am still not sure I have the answer.

If I could have changed it today I would have wished the couple safe travels and the man in the station would have asked if I was looking for the restroom and pointed me in the right direction. But, it happened as it happened and it could have been just so I could learn that the rules are not cast in stone.

After hearing from the folks in Winner that a lot of their young people move to Sioux Falls after high school, I thought I would go check that city out. I was told that there are no longer jobs in the small towns. Most of the small farms have been taken over by large groups and they have turned farming into hi-tech operations so that there is less need for manual labor. Since there is no industry in the small towns, people move to the larger towns where there are more unskilled jobs available.

The road leading to Sioux Falls took me through several small towns and LOTS of open fields and spaces. Again, I saw so many game birds that I began to feel that I was on a scouting mission for my boys. I saw various species of ducks. Not sure what all of them were, but I could tell they were different from each other. I saw ducks with brownish black heads and white underbellies, ducks with red heads, mallard ducks and ducks with black heads and white bills. I also saw geese - I think they were Canadian.

I kept asking myself why I was even looking and paying attention to them. If I was scouting, why wasn't I looking for yoga studios or spas. I think mostly because I was in such small towns that they didn't have them. But then again, I have been nature girl for the past couple of weeks - much to my chagrin.

Another thing that I was surprised by was the change in the landscape along the road. There were flatlands, and then rolling hill areas, that moved into dense trees and hilly areas and then back to flat or rolling hills. I was prepared to be bored and uninspired by the Dakota states, but that was not the case. I was enjoying the scenery and the drive.

I think I mentioned before how much I like lilac bushes. They evoke fond memories. I remember Mrs. Farrell and Mrs. Thull had bushes in their yards - and if any people were the salt of the earth and good people, it was those women. And I remember my neighbor Deb Edwards in Hopkins who was a very kind and generous soul. Driving between Platte, SD and Parker, SD I thought I was in Lilac heaven. Most homes had at least one or two bushes and most had more. And at several spots along the road they were the hedge between the road and the field. It was such a treat to see them. I am sure that some very stong and wonderful women live along that route.

One of the most impressive sights today was crossing over the Missouri River. It was absolutely scenic and vast. I was not in a place where there were lots boats or development, so maybe that was why it was so peaceful and captivating. I pulled off in a viewing spot and just sat there for awhile. I am not sure what was going on in my head at the time, but I just wanted to sit and soak it all in.

I arrived in Sioux Falls early enough in the afternoon so that I could go to Falls Park. I saw a sign for it, and had no idea what it would be, but what a jewel in the middle of the city. There was this tower that you could go up in that gave you an overview of the falls and the park and lots of pathways that would take you right up to them. And I even has the best of all worlds - Rocks, lilacs, and waterfalls. I took a picture of a couple from Texas and she told me she has some picture of her great grandmother picnicing at the park and had to see of she could find the rock she was sitting ont. The park has beauty as well as history.

I think waterfalls are something else that I feel an affinity towards. The first ones I ever saw were the Tequamenem Falls in the Michigan UP, but I have taken advantage of seeing others when I am in the area. Some of the more impressive ones have been those in Washington I saw with Christopher, ones in Portland along the Columbia River Gorge and the Niagra Falls on the Canadian side. I think the Sioux Falls were the third ones I have seen on this trip. (Mesa and Idaho prior) And I was entranced by them as I have been by all others.

Another plus on getting into town early was that I was able to do a workout in the pool before I went to dinner. This hotel had a spa pool too which made it easy for me to get warm, jump in the regular pool and do leg and arm exercises, get warmed again and do core and butt exercise, get warm again and decide I really needed to have a drink and eat.

Driving down the main road I saw a mall, a TJ Maxx, Chico's, a shoe store, Target, Younkers and Walmart. ( think I could stay here another day; I will decide that in my dreams tonight) Since I have been avoiding food and restuarant "chains' as much as I have been avoiding interstates, I saw two steak places. Unfortunately the first I chose was busy, the bar was packed and it was a 30 minute wait - Mother's Day. (go figure) So I went to the other one, got in right away and was treated like a queen by the staff. One of the bartenders made me a special drink when I was debating between a glass of wine and a beer, she suggested the sirloin, a salad and the vegetable and I was thinking I was on the right track. That was until she brought the fresh loaf of bread with garlic herb butter......it really was a wonderful dinner.

Before I went to dinner, I saw the end of the eastern conference game and the Celtics beat the Cavs. When I got back to the motel after dinner, I was able to join into the Suns and Spurs game. (I think since I actually turn them on and watch them, I have to assume that I like basketball - since part of this trip is figuring out who is Regina and what does Regina like. )

All in all it was a good Mother's day. I didn't feel guilty for not being anywhere, and I talked with all 3 of my kids, and my g-kids. Life was good today.