Update: 3
I am currently at home. I just wanted to let you know what my plans are for finishing up this 50 States project. I also wanted to share some interesting things that I’ve learned since being home.
I am not going to continue to post every day, since I am not traveling, but I have begun my Literature of the World Project. Click on the link to find more info about that. I will post again to the travel log once I am in Alaska, and again when I am in Hawaii. I will be in Alaska on the 19th.
Since being home, I’ve been asked multiple times what my favorite part of the trip was. This isn’t an easy question to answer. It almost depends on who is asking the question. Why would I say that?
I’ll address that momentarily. But right now, I will briefly discuss the events that stuck out in my mind more than the others.
It’s hard to dismiss some events over other events, but I would say that the first thing that really impressed itself upon my mind was my tour through Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. Other than the fact that it is the largest cave system in the world, the most significant moment for me was when the tour guide turned the lights off deep within the cave. The cool air wafting on my skin in a completely dark cave, void of any light was, as I think I said, heavenly.
The Museum of Science, in Boston. Although I wasn’t able to spend as much time there as I would have liked, the subatomic cloud chamber was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I don’t know how it works exactly, but the fact that it allows a person to, in a way, see subatomic particles is astounding. I loved it.
My hometown Church building in Cheraw, South Carolina was surreal as anyone could say something was surreal. The faces, the names, were all so vaguely familiar, but they all knew who I was. It was a very humbling experience.
The Georgia Guidstones. This was interesting, but had it not been for the man that I met there that spoke seventeen languages, this wouldn’t have made my list. It is rare to see a person, so knowledgeable and, say, compassionate toward the notion of faith. It was a real treat.
Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana was, being true to myself, I’d have to say my favorite place I visited. It is only by virtue of the Mary Stirling appearance that this place even makes my list. It would have been merely interesting prior to the ghost incident. However, I hesitate to say “ghost” now because more news has transpired. I had a hunch, and therefore had my genealogy wiz sister look into her history a little further. It turns out that Mary Catherine Cobb Stirling has had her work done in the records of the Church. I won’t elaborate any further than that. My record of her description stands true.
The Decalogue Stone in the New Mexico desert was a thoroughly thought provoking visit. Not only did I have to trek alone into unfamiliar territory, but my destination holds a mystery of which its implications could be extremely significant. I feel more energy should be spent in understanding when and how this rock with the Hebrew Ten-Commandments on it came to be.
I might be adding to this list in the coming weeks, as two states remain. I will, now that I’m home, continue to write, but I will only revisit this Travel Log when in Alaska and Hawaii. After that my 50 States Project will be complete. As I said, I have started Literature of the World. I won’t be posting those entries to Facebook though.
See you on the flip side.