The long drive home

First off, I need to say a belated happy birthday and father's day to my wonderful husband. Unfortunately I was unable to be home for Nathan's birthday because I was in Denver and father's day also wasn't much fun as we spent a good chunk of the day driving back from Great Falls after picking up Emma. But you are still my best friend, a great husband, and a caring father. I know Emma shares my admiration by the way she reacts to you when you get home. WE LOVE YOU NATHAN!!!

For me, long drives are a very cathartic thing. I can finally sort out the thoughts and ideas that have been on my mind for awhile. I have to admit, however, because I am busy with thoughts, I don't make the best company in the car. Sorry honey! But I was able to drive to Denver on my own recently and, although lonely, it was great! I got to listen to some country music without having to look over and make sure Nate was asleep. (I LOVE YOU GARTH!!!)

Blame it all on my roots...

Besides some great music, I also got to unwind my convoluted thoughts. Here are some of the things I sorted out:

• Dave Beck is one of the greatest people I know because he has the noble quality of being an amazing friend. Not just to Nate and me, but all of his friends. I hope you all have a friend as wonderful as him.
• I would like to devise a pilot program to of universal health insurance in MT but I'm still working on the details of this one. I wonder if people would go for initiating a sales tax to help fund it.
  
• Please tell your mothers thank you because being a mother is hard work and worrisome. I spent most of the car trip thinking about the kind of person Emma will grow up to be. I imagine her being as outgoing as her grandfather (my Dad), as intelligent as her other grandfather, as driven as her mother, and great music ability fits in there somewhere. Mostly because I like going to concerts. Most importantly, though, I just want her to be happy.
• Every woman needs her girlfriends. It's important to be able to talk about family and marriage issues with somewhat removed third parties. I miss you Becky, Kate, Laura, Megan, Danielle, Lynn, and Carmen!
  
• I thought a lot about the concept of forgiveness. My brother Ben recently went through a broken engagement called off by the would-be bride and I was really surprised by how angry I was at her. I figure it's my protective big sister reflex kicking in. Although he seems to be doing remarkably well, I can't seem to get past how she could do this to him. I know I really should forgive her since it was the best thing for both of them it seems, but I'm still working on it.
  

I also like to think about fictional books I would write if I had the opportunity. This trip I came up with the idea of writing a book of short stories. The first page of each chapter would be a picture of actual graffiti and the chapter would describe the story and characters behind the graffiti. I always wonder when I see things on overpasses or in bathroom stalls like "Mark loves Tina" whatever happens to Mark and Tina.

I think if I journaled every night I would feel better. I love writing but just can't seem to make the time for it. I found a few papers recently that I wrote in college and I couldn't help but think, "what has happened to my mind? Where did all my important, amazing thoughts go?" Maybe if I wrote more, they would come back. Please?