Today was filled with awakened awareness, what else can I call it when there is so much happening on the inside of myself, the outside can't keep up. I decided to be still and get into that space where I let God lead, which often means...road trip. So I got into Widda Black and headed to Hermiston; across the mountain to desert area where I last lived before moving to North Powder. No specific agenda...just go look and see.
     There was one particular place I wanted to stop but had a hard time finding my way. As I looked for landmarks, I  found myself driving to my old house; the one that was my two-acre mini farm, my dream place.
The sight silenced my being and I still cannot begin to describe my thoughts and feelings so I will wait on that one for another day. It will take time to digest it's message and come to some sort of understanding of why, if God was leading (and He was) He would have me revisit this particular place. I've seen places run down before but this made me speechless.
     The area was a bit more familiar as I traveled the country road I used to drive when I drove as a school bus driver, after falling from grace from my Alcohol and Drug Counselor position for the county. (More stories for another day)
     I pulled over and stopped my car when I saw the buffalo. The herd is larger than when I lived there ten years ago. It was about 100 degrees and the large creatures rocked forward and back as they breathed the dry hot air. I thought about the buffalo nickels we spent or collected when I was growing up. I remembered the first buffalo I ever saw. It was in an open field and my dad got out of the car to photograph it on our way to Mount Rushmore when I was a small child.
     Still shedding their winter fur, the majestic animal looked hot, tired, and dirty. The reality of today was in harsh contrast with my mind-view of wide open spaces, large herds of buffalo roaming free in tall green grasses that comes from watching to many episodes of The Virginian.
     As I photographed, I got one particular shot of the big guy that seemed to say what it was that I could not find words for. (photo below)