Flat. This southern route through the Rockies and the other mountain ranges is flat. Sure there are some distant little peaks here and there, but the valleys between are broad and …. flat. This is not like the northern routes in which you are meandering the valleys through the high snow capped peaks.
Nonetheless, there is still some beautiful scenery to enjoy. I’ll soon post my pictures, mostly taken at high speeds through the window of my car, up for viewing.
I had an enjoyable evening with Paul in Albuquerque. I tried to help him set up his new computer onto the internet, but there was more there than I could accomplish in the short time I was there. I discovered to my chagrin that I underestimated the mileage to my next destination of Chicago and my uncle Bram. So I needed to cut short my visit and head out across the flat New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma landscapes.
I made good time and arrived in Evanston (a suburb just north of Chicago) early Friday afternoon.
Bram was waiting for me and we began our chat. An enchanting chat that seemed to go on without stop for the two and half days I was there. Topics ranged from international trade (the business he was in) to politics, statistics and demographics of India, family histories and more than I can now remember. He took me to the Shed Aquarium on Saturday which like SCUBA diving without the gear or getting wet. Great fun.
We went out for dinner with his good friend Donna and a old friend of Donna’s Andrea from Duluth. The next day we met up with Jim, Karen, Alison and Jake Falduto. Alison is Bram’s daughter, my first cousin. I had seen them almost a year ago when I first traveled west to BC. It was real nice to see how both Alison and Jake had grown and matured. Great kids.
Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day found me driving on the cold flat roads of Illinois and Michigan to Toronto. Crossing the border into Canada took less time than stopping at a traffic light.
I arrived at Heidi’s around 7:30pm that night where I still am until tomorrow when I head off to Ottawa. However, watching the US Presidential inauguration yesterday was awe inspiring. How often can you say that? Obama’s speech was inspirational.
Regarding being assigned to a project, I have been seriously considering a position in Barmer, Rajasthan, India that would begin in late March. I have been in communication with volunteers who have served in India and some who are still there. And as I mentioned I have been researching the various elements of India, such as culture, economy and politics. I will let you all know if this is the direction I finally take, but my feelings right now is that it will be.
Peace,
Mark
“Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” - Rumi
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