In Thinking Back

I would like to share some thoughts in looking back at our trip. This was our first trip out west and the first extensive driving trip. We both immensely enjoyed the experience.

We have seen and experienced a great deal taking this trip. It is very apparent that we have traveled a very thin line through fifteen states and saw an insignificant percentage of the people. A trip like this, therefore, is solely for the satisfaction of seeing new sights and meeting new people. Although a satisfying adventure, it is also discouraging to realize how little of the U.S, and the world, one can hope to see in an entire lifetime. I think of how various presidential candidates have gotten a great deal of satisfaction out of meeting so many people. This trip gave us a small glimpse of that and also a realization of how many others they weren’t exposed to. It made me wonder if they realized that they’re probably seeing the same people at each of the many stops. Casts aspersions on thinking that you know what the country’s thinking.

This trip was during a political campaign season. We saw quite a few political ads. The overwhelmingly common thread in all of the states was the negative ad. Some time ago a policy was instituted attaching a statement of approval at the end of an ad. I had high hopes that the “I approve…” statement would pressure the candidates into describing what they hoped to accomplish. Apparently there is no shame.

We saw gasoline prices ranging from $1.95 to $2.79. I couldn’t see a pattern. Didn’t seem to be related to small or large towns or close to or far from an interstate. We missed out on the low one but did get a tank full of the high one.

This trip reminded me that this country is strong because of the freedom it provides and the diversity of the people. The freedom to drive across state lines unchallenged, to move wherever we like, to attempt to find opportunities of our liking, etc. We have a more diverse population than anyplace else on Earth. Think of the possible extremes: a self-sufficient farmer in Wyoming, a homeless person in a large city, etc. Providing governance for all us requires compromise and an end to the “scorched earth” policy on every issue that we’ve seen predominate over the past many years.

Of all of the wonderful sites I’ve seen, I never tire of the thrill of cresting a hill and seeing a massive basin unfold before my eyes. Sometimes containing a teeming city, sometimes an expanse of desert or prairie.

As much as I love the sight of all of the wonders I’ve seen, I would still like to live at the seashore and visit the others.