In a Day

Our Oklahoma destination, chosen by Bonnie Powell, was Oklahoma City. In April 1889, with the land rush, the population went from nothing to over 10,000 in one day! In April of 1995, the city (and we as a nation in many respects) changed in one day. Our assigned mission was to visit the Oklahoma City National Monument.



The monument and adjoining museum are not there to remind us of the tragedy of the bombing. It does seek to focus on the outcome of violence as a response to discord, but mainly it is a testament to the resilience and humanitarianism of our people in the most difficult of times. We spent hours there because we simply couldn't walk on without reading each piece or viewing each photo and artifact.



I don't think I can truly describe what this visit meant. Those of you who know me know what a stoic I am. I don't often cry in public. I spent most of these hours with my hand clasped over my mouth trying to hold back the loud sobs that kept rising up. I was unsuccessful. But in the midst of the heartache and gut-retching feelings I knew I needed to be here. Standing outside in the shade of the survival tree, viewing the empty chairs for each victim including the little chairs for the children, seeing the list of survivors on the piece of wall still standing, and knowing how precious every moment in life is. Thank you Bonnie for making sure we understood.









We had a very quiet lunch in the Bricktown area and took a long walk beside the canal that runs through it. Guess what I found; another bronze sculpture set depicting the land rush! This one is still in process and will be added to for the next 4 years until it reaches a length longer than a football stadium. The Bricktown area is filled with restaurants and you can ride water taxis on the canal similar to a small version of San Antonio. Very cute.


Our next stop, after a driving tour of downtown, was out to the park area where several museums, the zoo, and the racetrack are located. Although the thoroughbred races aren't live until the evening, it is a huge place and they were using the jumbotron that broadcasts the races to show college football. It wasn't the Mizzou game - go figure. Must be because that game doesn't start until this evening. Why else would they NOT be showing Mizzou football in Oklahoma?



Now that we have completed our assigned missions and destinations, we are pointing the truck toward home. We went as far as Stillwater, Oklahoma to spend the night with Caryne and Greg Salyer. It was so great to see them in their home environment! We got an upclose tour of the OSU athletic facilities that Greg takes care of. Then we took a short driving tour of some of Stillwater including the drive thru liquor barn; too funny! And we enjoyed dinner and great conversation for the night. We offered up a toast to her siblings, the newlyweds, Crystal and Troy, who were having their Chicago reception this evening that we missed.






Tomorrow we head for Missouri!

Stats:

207 miles
Gas $41.60
Lunch $14.72
Museum $20
Dinner $58.15


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