Travel

American is a trip...literally. We take for granted how big our nation is, until you've gone to Europe and can do 3 countries in a day or something. Or do what I just did, which is travel 15 hours to see friends, stay 3 days, and travel 15 hours back. HAD A BLAST. But 15 hours as a single mom in a car, well, that's an adventure no matter what. My kids were good thankfully, and I saw a variety of signs/billboards that celebrate the diversity that makes up our nation. For example, I drove through a town called "Friendship" (awwww...). I saw a sign that said "Free Manure" (um, as opposed to poop I would have to pay for?)! I drove through a town in southern Ohio that is preparing to celebrate their annual Tobacco Festival (huh). I drove behind a truck in West Virginia that said "Body Piercing by Smith and Wesson" (again, huh). I saw a billboard with a picture of a coal miner in a hard hat that said "Coal. Keep the lights on" (this goes against my eco-mommy thing, trying to get away from fossil fuels, and yet aren't these people just trying to support their families too?) Anyway, we're home now and thankful for Indiana but also thankful to be a part of something...bigger. I won't break out the Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be An American" or anything but driving through the country is a good way to get the ol' thankfulness brewin' !