when the silence fades away

I spent last week in South Dakota - a family vacation with my parents. My dad has been changing over the past few years in negative ways and some of that came to a head over the week. That, combined with the fact that I couldn't be an approved driver on the rental car meant that I didn't get any real time to myself. I felt crowded. And in the middle of a mess that I couldn't fix.

South Dakota, however, was beautiful and perfect. I got to geek out appreciating the geology, chemistry, and biology (I so love prairie dogs) of the area. I was taken aback by how patriotic I felt looking up at Mt. Rushmore - and the guilt I felt when confronted with the real history of the American Indians and their treatment. I was comforted by how small I felt standing next to Devil's Tower (yes, it's technically in Wyoming, but it was part of the trip) and walking trails in the Badlands. I was soothed by the silence in Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and the Black Hills. I'd like to go back. By myself.

I'm not ready to be back at work, back to the worries, back to the noise and chaos.