Flashback Friday...National Park Tour

Don't you just love a good road trip? This was June 2003. Cliff had just barely returned from his first tour in Iraq (as in, we didn't know if he'd even make the trip) and we went to my brother's wedding in Wyoming. We decided that while we were in that neck of the woods we'd better take advantage and see some sites. Cliff loves nature and national parks, so it was a perfect opportunity.

This also happened to be Cliff's "Golden Week" of birthday, Father's Day and our anniversary. As a matter of fact, Cliff's birthday fell on Father's Day (as it does from time to time). It was the day after the wedding, and we were trying to make it to Mt. Rushmore that night. Turns out, we were trying a little too hard and Cliff got pulled over for speeding just as we got into South Dakota.

Remember, we went right from Cliff's homecoming to packing and leaving for this trip. The van was still painted with red, white and blue window-chalked messages of "We love you, Daddy" and "Welcome Home...Our Daddy Our Hero", etc. If you look closely at the picture above, you can see some of it. (Trivia: That stuff STICKS. I kid you not, 5 1/2 years later, when our van was going to a new home, we were STILL finding little streaks of red or blue chalk.)

So back to the cop. He sees all this writing and asks what it's all about. Cliff told him he'd returned from Iraq less than a week ago and we had just been to a wedding and were headed to Mt. Rushmore. He took Cliff's license back to his car and came back a few minutes later and said, "In light of your service to our country, AND the fact that it's Father's Day AND your birthday, ("How did he know that? Oh yeah...duh! The license.") I'm going to let you go. Slow down.



We took SO many pictures...and these were not digital, either. (We didn't join the digital age until after Cliff returned from his second tour in Iraq the following year.) Rather than include a bunch of bad pictures, I just chose a few of my favorites and/or ones that tell a story. I have no idea where we were in the above picture of Troy. Could have been Mt. Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone or Grand Teton. I just love the picture. He had just finished 5th grade and life was pretty uncomplicated.



OK, I know you can barely see us...but there are only like 3 pictures of me the whole trip...and this is the clearest one. At least proof that I was there.



Probably the thing the kids remember most about every stop we made...the dreaded "Jr. Ranger" program! We had just made the decision to start homeschooling...so I was a little hyper-vigilant in the education department and insisted they participate in the Jr. Ranger program at every stop. Each time they did, they earned a sweet little badge or patch. I would have LOVED this as a kid. I don't know what their problem was. (I think it's so funny that Patrick is seen chatting up the lady ranger in this picture. He's always been...Patrick.)



This was taken at a night time, patriotic program and flag ceremony. It was beautiful. Before they went into the closing song, they asked for any military members to stay after and come forward to help retire the colors. The program ended with the National Anthem, for which we stood (of course). As soon as it ended, the large crowd started to pour up the aisles and out of the amphitheater, but we remained standing, waiting for a clear path to head down and help with the flag (without having to swim up stream). Only...this little boy in the red jacket didn't get the memo. He saw a crowd, and just followed. It only took moments for him to disappear and us to realize he was gone. Talk about panic! A 4-1/2 year old boy lost at Mt. Rushmore in June! We pushed through the crowds, yelling, attracting as much attention as possible...accosting rangers as we went, who went into action with their radios, alerting everyone to be on the look-out for a blonde boy in a red jacket. I don't know how long it took, but we got word he had been found upstairs (he had even followed the crowd into an elevator!) by a lovely snowbird couple. To this day, Jake insists we are the ones who left him...not the other way around.



This is definitely Yellowstone. If you've been there, you'll recognize the geo-thermal activity going on in the background. You'll also remember the lovely, sulpher smell! (Trivia: A few months later, we were watching some of the videos from this trip. As SOON as these steam/boiling mud shots came on the screen...Jake reached up and plugged his nose. Like it was smell-o-vision or something!)

The entire trip was awesome (even though we tent-camped through the whole thing) and I would recommend it to anyone...but you'll need longer than you think, especially at Mt. Rushmore. It is incredible! It was especially timely and our feelings were especially tender, given what Cliff had just been through. (I would have even gone sans air mattress if that's what I needed to do for him to have this trip...and that's saying something!)



The End.