Nebraska

While driving on a country road near the Pine Ridge National Recreation Area in May 2017, a small thunderstorm passed through the area. It was there and gone within ten minutes.

​

My vehicle slowly came to a halt without me taking my foot off the gas. Oh no…I forgot…this part of Nebraska is made of sand. The entire road turned into a mucky, clay-like substance and my vehicle stuck to it.

​

I rocked my car back and forth and was able to get myself going again, but for the rest of the nearly 10 miles traveled, I had the pedal all the way down to the floor as I plowed through the sloppy mess.

​

***

​

“Here, you look like you could use some biscuits. We made way too many.”

​

I had myself a “mother” while camping at Chadron State Park in northwest Nebraska in the summer of 2017.

​

“I’m a natural mother. You are here all by yourself,” the woman said.

​

I cannot complain, as she willingly gave me food every day I camped there.

​

One night at sunset, she yelled over at me, “Did you just graduate from college?” I laughed and said, “No…that was six years ago.” I guess I still looked young for my age. She came over to discuss how old I was.

​

On the last night, she gave me a large peanut butter dessert bar and her email address.

​

***

​

In mid-October of 2016, I found myself in a bar in Valentine, Nebraska, watching the Chicago Cubs in the World Series.

​

“We're not talking about you…we’re talkin’ about your piece of shit girlfriend,” shouted a sister to her brother. I did not know who the people were, but I started laughing.

​

I took out a random pen from my coat to sign my name on the check when the server’s eyes got big…

​

“Oh…you are with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension…what are you doing here?”

​

“I’m not…I just have the pen!”

​

I do not think she believed me.

​

The next two days I hiked 6 hours per day in the Nebraska Sandhills and enjoyed the misty mornings and afternoon sunshine.