A Moment to Reflect

Earlier this month, my husband and I enjoyed a rare camping trip with our adult children and their families. We met up in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Even my grand-cats Yakumo and Tenma came along. We did all the silly tourist stuff like the Cosmos Mystery Area, Wall Drug, and Storybook Island.

I was born in Sioux Falls, so I had already experienced most of the amazing scenery and national treasures contained in western South Dakota. One of my favorite moments was leaving the crowded main street of Keystone and taking the self-guided walking tour.

Revisiting Mount Rushmore was particularly inspiring. My husband and I enjoy historical biographies, and had read books recently that covered all four presidents carved on the mountain. The program before the lighting of the monument was thoughtful, and included honoring all veterans in the audience.

Our visit to Crazy Horse began with a film on the history of the continuing project. Without seeing the film, the rest of our visit wouldn't have had the same meaning.

We tackled too much in too few days, rushing through some experiences that deserved more time. We all agreed that the Black Hills deserves a return trip.

Even with all the touristy bustling about, I still had moments to catch my breath and reflect. This is an amazing country we inherited from our predecessors. I'm inspired to learn more about the great men and women of the American past.

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