Prairie Home w/Companion

Every day, every road opens up the pages of history that I studied long ago, and some more recently. It was a great series of days and adventures that I did not expect after the game in Minnesota. Today was a random ramble through some unknown areas.

We started driving after the game and made good progress until we decided we needed sleep. Mankato the first night, and an hour forty minutes east of Rapid City South Dakota a half an hour out of Chamberlain the second night. We headed off the road at some small unknown town that had an RV park, but we found it closed. We ended up sleeping in the back of a closed business by a gas station.

It is funny how when you close your curtains and put down the blinds you almost feel invisible to the outside world. We have heat, music, bathrooms, cozy couch, food and a comfy bed. Mostly we have each other. What else do we really need?

We left our 'hideaway' and drove all day until dusk. As the sun was starting to set we came near to a rest area on the edge of the Missouri River. The sign on the side of the road pointed to the rest area and said "Original Work by N.C. Wyeth.

We had to stop. In Maine, we went to the Farnsworth Gallery in Rockland and saw an exhibit commemorating the 100 year anniversary of Andrew Wyeth. The exhibit also went into the life of his Father, N.C. Wyeth who was a famous artist and book illustrator. I bought some children's books illustrated by him for our grandchildren. The exhibit area of the Rest Area was closed but outside the building looking over the prairie and facing the sunset was this beautiful sculpture. The Travel Dakota website tells about her. I have great pics of this on my camera but will use Bob's pics here.

Her name is Dignity. The Dignity sculpture is a stunning combination of art and history. Located on a bluff between exits 263 and 265 on Interstate 90 near Chamberlain, the stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people.

“Dignity represents the courage, perseverance, and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota,” Lamphere said. “My hope is that the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future.”
Representing the rich Native American culture of South Dakota, the 50-foot Native woman gracefully wears a dress patterned after a two-hide Native dress of the 1850s. She holds outstretched a quilt featuring 128 stainless steel blue diamond shapes designed to flutter in the wind. During the day, her star quilt – a representation of respect, honor, and admiration in Native American culture – glitters in the sun with color-changing pieces that move with the wind. At night, LED lights causes the diamond shapes to glow in the night sky, casting a peaceful presence easily visible from the Interstate."


Dusk had fallen and we saw her in the last light of the day, but because of the winter season, the LED lights were turned off. Ha Ha...our story for this late in the yeaer excursion, however. We have not run into a crowd anywhere (except the games) and we have had the ability to stay as long as we want and enjoy ourselves without lines or interference. Bliss in my book!

   

Westward Ho!

On Sunday, November 12, We got in our RV at Bear Pond Farm, hugged the guys good-bye from Farm Fest III and headed westward. You can see our first stop at the Football Hall of Fame in the last blog, but I wanted to catch you all up on the doings of the Admiral.  It is now Monday, November 20th and the final Rams game is over.

We left Minneapolis after the game, stayed in Mankato, MN for the night and headed out again this morning. We are still in 'Search for America.'
Thank you, Paul Simon!

We went through Pennsylvania and Delaware seemingly quickly. They were both states we had been in during our exploits from around the farm. As we stopped in Ohio we made a conscious shout out to Jake McQuaide and James Laurenitis who went to The Ohio State University.

We also ran into some Rams Fans at a Panera there that had been Rams fans since kids since Kurt Warner was from their town. People like to have famous players from where they live.  While in Ohio Canton was on our bucket list...Check!


Another special event happened. As we were going through Indiana, we noticed we were going right through South Bend. Papa Hekker, was an avid Notre Dame fan. Ken, Barbara's husband, would use lego men and video a halftime show out of lego band members, it included action and music and was always amazing. He did this for special Notre Dame games just to bless Papa. We would laugh and have fun. They were great!

We HAD to make it to Notre Dame. It was quickly approaching dark as we arrived in South Bend. College campuses are unusually unwieldy to drive a motorhome through. Lost in the maze of the campus, we kept making wrong turns until we finally saw the sign for the entrance to the football stadium. Bob and the Admiral jumped ship with me sitting in the middle of a permit only zone and ran around taking pictures.



It was good to talk about and remember what a remarkable guy Papa Hekker was. He was a real anchor to the family, with his kindness and care of his wife and all his kids. Neither Bob or I knew about 'Touchdown Jesus'. We sent the picture to the kids and Zach commented about it and we laughed but thought that he was just being spiritual! We got schooled by the kids! So cool.


We skirted Illinois traveling around Chicago. On our Rv map, we found a Walmart to stay at but it was in a scary part of town so we decided to go on out of the city area and more out into the country.

We stayed at Rockford, Il. It was quite a cute town and we settled in well. We awakened early and were motivated to move on since the weather was rainy and cold. Not much exploration incentive,

On Wisconsin! Sounds like a fight song.
Wisconsin's motto is "Forward" so we decided to do so and head across its country miles toward the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

We were three days early before the game but had some important things to do. We had acquired a chip in our windshield from a passing truck and it that needed to be fixed. We had propane to find and fill, laundry to do, and cleaning and maintenance like an oil change before we could head out for the last of our trip.

Land of ten thousand lakes is the byline on the license plates of Minnesota. We counted but got nowhere near that number, but there were a lot and since we were there near winter we found a totally different sport to follow, ice fishing! We stopped at Walmart and Cabelas and found huge displays of fishing shelters, augurs to drill the ice, special seats, and heaters, and special dipsticks to clear out the holes from refreezing.

How do they keep the heaters that keep them warm from melting the ice they are sitting on? What kind of fish?

In St. Paul  I met a dear friend in person even though I have known her for over a year. What an incredible lady. Her smile is infectious and her intelligence a delight. She will go far.

We finally got to Minneapolis and began spying things out the day before the game so we could know what we were going to do.

It is quite a pretty city with some interesting architecture and structures to view.  Saturday we had lunch with Johnny at a very interesting restaurant (awful) but we had disagreed on three when we found this one. We still had a fun talk together about family and babies and life. We love this boy. He is on a new adventure, fatherhood. He will be great like his brothers.

USBank Stadium

US Bank stadium is massive and as you approach it takes over the skyline. It is a huge structure of glass and concrete and steel with thousands of steps and corridors and pathways and areas to get lost. I am so grateful for the Guest Services of these huge structures that make it so people with limitations can watch the games, too. You just ask for assistance and they help and direct and stay with you until you leave. They made it possible to enjoy this game. The outcome was tough, but the season is not over even though we are ready to head back west, to Utah for Thanksgiving and family and to Seattle and my huge soaking tub. We have Christmas around the corner and are looking forward to the loves and snuggles of our grandkids and children.

After the game and loving on our son, Johnny we took to the road and headed off into the sunset!

Farm Fest lll

Graduating as Pioneers from New Providence High School in 1972, I had no idea I would meet up this year with 6 guys I went to school with.  Forty-five years later we are still friends. Several of the guys have stayed in contact over the years. They met at various places up and down the east coast as well as a Jazz Fest or two in New Orleans and Farm Fest 1 and 2.

Through social media, I stayed in contact with the guys over the past 15 years. For my 60th birthday, my sons bought me a plane ticket to fly back to Farm Fest II.  I had not been able to attend the earlier ones because of work and life keeping me on the West Coast. It was a great time and there were even some wives and kids that attended. I have reignited the old stories and new ones through email and text. We regained close ties. Last winter  Joy and I met with Dunner in Florida when we were at Pro Bowl. Our family saw Grousser in New Providence when Johnny was in 7th grade.

This past weekend six of us from Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusettes, New Jersey and I, from the beautiful pacific northwest.  We met at our friend Rick's farm in New Jersey.

Dunner

Flack

Grousser

Schneider

Watty

Zeck or Zacky

1. Otto

 Joy and I were already here in NJ after watching the Rams vs Giants football game on 11/5. Rick was able to go with us and enjoy the routing of the Giants by the Rams. (Sorry Grousser)

After the game, we visited family in Philly and down the shore. I was looking forward to Joy meeting my friends from high school.

We had several objectives for the weekend. One was to recreate a picture we took after a pickup football game in 1973. Another was enjoying good bar-b-q and music. The last objective was to update each other on our families.

A lot of the conversations took place around the kitchen table. Updates on kids, jobs, and of course retirement. We were also able to facetime one of the guys who is overseas.

Sunday morning we went for a walk around the farm and enjoyed Bill's knowledge of all things geological, biological and zoological.
We found out what a 'tor' is for.

The infamous picture from fall of 1973 was recreated based on the original, compliments of Steve. We left the farm and drove to New Providence to the same field where we met as freshmen in college over the Thanksgiving break.
Joy was a great director and got us all position to take the photo.

Of the many highlights, I enjoyed over the weekend one of them was playing guitar with Greg. We played several songs but the big surprise was working on a song together that Joy and I wrote the lyrics to based on the tune The Wreck of the Edmonds Fitzgerald. A verse was written for each of the guys. We had a lot of fun singing the song in the kitchen with everyone sitting around. A version will surface in future gatherings thanks to Jack's great videography.

Best security guards ever for the Admiral

Rambunctious Pioneers

Before Joy and I left we had the guys get together for a Ramily photo in back of the Admiral, with Admiral IRV. There were two more guests in the photo. Jeff brought along his Storm Troopers for added security.

We had a lot of fun mugging for the photo.

Rick and Bill did most of the planning and it was a great event I will never forget. Rick was the most gracious host. He had things set and ready to go every phase of the cooking, sleeping, playing. Could not have been better. Bill and the boys grilled their hearts out. Great cooperation and conversations.

As they say in the industry... Farm Fest III is a wrap.

"Forty-five years are gone but the lovefest goes on. Pioneers and bros we will always be!"

Otto and Grousser looking up. What new gathering is on the horizon?

What Inspiration Is Fame

  

We had the privilege to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH

I may be thinking too much but the  PFHOF was full of inspiration and also full of conflict and confrontation to my reason today. I thought of all the life stories represented in that series of rooms and theaters. Some of the stories I remembered watching (coming from a family of boys) back in the 60s. Some I even invested in emotionally and rooted for them, yelled and screamed at the TV, cried if they lost, and held grudges against "the enemy" team. Football has been a passion for a very long time. I really thought I could grow up and marry Joe Montana.

All 5 boys played football, all for the same High School, different eras, different coaches. Two ended up on the All-Decade Team for that school. Two played in college and one is in the NFL. All are successful, all are famous in my eyes for different things. Football teaches teamwork, tries to instill integrity and responsibility, creates a sense of community, and gives them the opportunity to influence others. I am grateful for those values that my boys have achieved through sports, and it also kept them out of trouble. [Coaches had a strong Code of Conduct]

early gear

Jim Thorpe statue

Jerseys and Helmets

Jim Thorpe

Could have been after last weeks game

Giant men 

Perfect Season Marino

 

Facts I did not remember, that integration of NFL did not happen until 1962.

It is also a woman's game and more women are getting to know the game daily!

Norm Van Brocklin

The wall of busts of those honored was amazing and breathtaking to take in. In one area of expertise, football, these are acknowledged as the best of the best for their excellence and accomplishment in playing the 'game'.

Larry Czonca

Mike Ditka

Tom Landry

Jerry Rice

Ray Guy

So glad there is a Punter in the Hall of Fame. Ray Guy's Award is the most prestegious accomplishment for punters.

Ryan Allen won the award twice, back to back. 2011, 2012

Jerry Rice we met at the ProBowl. Many of the players went on to do great things because of the character that they gained or chose during their time playing. There are a lot of tragedies that happened to some of the men in the HOF, also. Integrity is something one must choose.

The paths to this room were all different. There are legacies shown here, some even from the same family. Some team legacies and some from areas of the country. Below is the display of the QB Kurt Warner. I love his journey because of what it took to get to this room. He was a free agent who had to play in other than NFL realms, arena, several teams, and yet this man has the place of fame in the ranks of many others. We especially sought out the Rams players. Good representation.

I am going to create my own Hall of  Fame with the focus on the unseen rather than the nationally and globally broadcast heros. There are heroes every day in our life. I also want to celebrate those men, like my husband who served developmentally disabled adults for 32 years and loved them.  He also overcame some amazing adversities and chose integrity.

Parents of autistic or disabled children that will always be with them.  Heroes. Those who beat addictions and chose a better life, heroes. Those who serve, military, police, doctors, nurses, firefighters, EMTs, Teachers and others whose small monetary gains cannot pay for their personal service. Heroes!

My Hall of Fame may even include you!