On day eight, I came back from Miles City with the goal of reaching Powers Lake, North Dakota for the night. Powers Lake is a town where I had gone to school when I was a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grader (remember 4th grade was spent in New England from day six, I think it was day six anyway).
Because of this Western North Dakota oil boom there is no way to get lodging if you are passing through. So I am excited to be headed to the Maruskie's home in Battleview, were I lived as a child: Battleview, not at the Maruskies, to spend a night or two. The Maruskie's are a family who took care of my family when we were fish out of water living in North Dakota 32 years ago. Collectively they are some of the best human stock I have known in all my travels and all these 32 years since. I have always had a memory for them, each member.
Eileen was my age and she was always the prettiest girl, not like us who feel like we need makeup and hair products. Kenny, who was my sister's age, was the one I had a crush on, my first I think. I will act cool if I get to see him. Scott was precocious. Ray was interesting and Daryl was a grown up. Glennis and Nealon, the parents, were good to us everyday; and you never forget that no matter what your age.
Circa 2011, the trip to Powers Lake/Battleview is a memory maker as well. I decide to go to the Teddy Roosevelt National Park and enter at the South end to remember what all the hub-bub of the Badlands is about.
There are several characters to meet along the way along the way...:
...and thoughts to contemplate...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSakrTxFTsE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
I don't really understand the map and think I am headed north, but I am nothing more then headed in a circle. When the adventure is over I end where I began and am hours behind schedule. I pull out my atlas and plan the route. It is ill planned, but, I fear, the only option, given where I am in this state of economic insanity. I get stuck pretty quickly on yet another road being redone. It is in the hour of the gloaming so everything is hard to see. I follow the truck in front of me with high hopes and notice no one in anything other then a semi is traveling this route. I hate it when everyone is in on the joke but me.
I try to text Eileen to inform her of the delays, as she is my welcoming committee, but no signal for mile after mile. I am coughing on the dirt blowing on my KIA. I am wondering if my car will ever be clean again; but not in a "I care to much about it'' kind of way.
I finally arrive at Powers Lake and I have no signal to call Eileen to tell her...I drive up and down town with my cell phone outside the window searching like a city slicker for some bars. Nothing! I head out of town and get one bar and a call goes through. I hear Eileen's voice and the joy is ruined by a car pulling along side of me. A window rolls down and smoke fills the air. A voice asks if I can tell them how to get to Tioga and judging from the Bud Light cans in the console I am assuming they don't notice my Georgia plates.
I don't know how to get to Tioga, and I think you ding-a-lings are blocking my cell reception; call drops with Eileen.
I pull forward and try the call again and after a short conversation, Eileen appears behind me. She is warm and welcoming and giving her a hug on the side of the road to Battleview is the warmest quilt I have felt in a long time. She navigates us out to her mom, Glennis' house; where I have secured a room.
We take dirt road after dirt road and I am beyond at home. I want to jump in the front seat with Eileen and tell her how excited, nervous, heartbroken, alive, I am to be here in this place of my childhood. But I don't. I keep it cool and choke back the stuff that would just be awkward.
When I drive into her mom's yard I am 8 again and my brother Wade is 13 and my sister Tracey is 10. We are right were we belong. I visit with Eileen and her mom for a couple of hours and then I hit the hay. And my cup has run over. I am not even sure what to pray for.
I am greeted in Battleview with a perfect bed and no 11 am checkout. I sleep like I am in heaven, and maybe I am.
Recipes: There is so much to digest.
Roadtrips: Always take the back road; even if you get stuck behind a work truck it is still more interesting then the main road.
Renovations: Don't change a thing; everything seems to be working out right in its own time...
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