The salt in the air, the chill of the lake effect snow, the prominence of the mountains, all played a role in boosting my curiosity about Salt Lake City, Utah. This area is stunning. Staying at a Truck Stop at the base of a mountain reminded me every morning of how small I am compared to the grandure of God's magnificent creation, Earth.
Exploring the geographic variances from state to state and seeing only the surface of these marvels at 70 miles an hour down the interstate still hold my fascination. I want to STOP!! I want to go explore Arches National Park and see the rock outcrops carved by a Mighty Hand, before all the minor (in comparison) historical events comprising the settlement of the United States. I want to explore eras of history that cannot even be fathomed except through a child's imagination at Dinosaur National Park.I want to know the rock composition of the mountains in Colorado, compared to that in Utah and New Mexico. What makes them different? What makes them similar? How did people traverse these imposing barricades and create historic towns that are now huge metropolis centers? I don't know if the gold rush and the promise of the almighty dollar could have made me uproot my family and move to these isoloated parts unkown.
I want to pause and research how Salt Lake City was founded and settled in 1847 by Brigham Young and how it became the International Headquarters of Mormonism.
Then, as we travelled from Salt Lake City to San Antonio with our hydraulic cylinders on board, I drove for the first official time yesterday. Eight hours through New Mexico and into the bordering area of Texas.
I still found my imagination and curiosity yelling Stop! Stop in Roswell and find all the Aliens that adorn fences, billboards, lamp posts, and businesses; stay a night and learn about the UFO sightings, eplore the thought that crossed my mind -"If there isn't something to the UFO sightings, why is there a millitary fort?"; explore the UFO research institute -why in Roswell?? In a nutshell, as I drove through New Mexico, I can see why an alien space ship would land there -no habitation of land for miles and miles, barren and unchanging for centuries. But, every 20 miles or so, the land would be vaguely titled things like "Last Dollar Ranch."
As Toby Keith sings, "God Bless Texas, I sing "I hate (driving through) Texas." Perhaps it's because the only scenery I observed was scrub brush and mesquite trees, inoperable oil rigs, and bales of cotton that were as big as a railroad box cars for endless miles along Texas Highway 137. By the time we reached the Interstate, I was physically overloaded on Texan miles and my stomach was in knots. Not because of hills, but because of overwhelmingly flat miles that seemed to take an eternity to drive. I would look at the GPS and swear that two hours ago, the mileage was reflecting the same 232 miles to go.
But, when we arrived in San Antonio, my curiosity begin to get the best of my imagination again. And that small voice said STOP! I want to see the Alamo, the River Walk, go shopping and get a feel for the southwestern decor and jewelry and lifestyle. In this huge city, I want to learn about why there is such a blend of cultures between Spanish, Mexican, and American that has been present for centuries, it seems to run deeper than history books reveal about fought wars. I want to taste authentic Tex-Mex and listen to the music that blends with a flare.
See what truck driving does,
it makes me want to retire. Lol. Now I want to buy an RV and go back to all these places that I barely saw while flying down the Interstate in the dark. Snippets of burried treasures glamorized in my very colorful imagination.
All this traveling has me pondering other things, too. Many things like WHAT AM I DOING???!!!
So many times, especially when I'm exhausted, I want to throw myself on the bed shake my fists and cry saying this is the most stupid thing I could have ever done. I get bored, I have never been so exhausted, I have no routine! I, I, I, . . . . I'm "better than this." I miss socializing, I miss 8-5 Monday through Friday, I miss swimming, I miss tanning, I miss pedicures, I miss bills.
But then comes the raw truth. I am focusing on the essence of humanity, the simplicity of being, the joy of fellowship with my Creator, the complication of loving my husband -wink. There could be nothing better.
So, lesson I hope you draw from these past 1,422 miles of my travels. . . LOVE with all your heart, and everything you do, do it for the Lord. Focus on the importance of simplifying and realizing that blessings do not necessarily cost a fortune, and that mystery lies all around you.
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Links you might enjoy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio
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Pictures
Truck Stop across from the Great Salt Lake in Tooele County Utah
Another view of the snow covered Great Salt Lake on 1-80 headed East into Salt Lake City
I-80 headed east into Salt Lake City
Road outside of Albequerque, NM . . . my truck should never see this much air again! The on ramp to the highway was higher than a plane taking off!
"Wanna play softball?" -Alien on a fence around a baseball field in Roswell, NM
Roswell, NM lamp post near downtown area -"I'll be watching!"
