Friendship in Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD was a one night stopping point for us as it is about halfway from Mt. Rushmore to Des Moines, IA.  It was the first time in over a week where we were in temperatures above 70 and it was not a day we wanted to be outside.  So we hunkered in the RV, in the AC and relaxed.  But, there as laundry to be done.

We debated on waiting another night to do laundry in Des Moines because we would be there for 2 nights and have more time.  But as the evening went on, I decided that we should take care of it now rather than later.  So off I went to the laundry room with the first round.  I got it started and went back 30min later to change the loads.  I decided to wait around the laundry room this go round because the dryers did not take too long.  While I sat there, another women came in to do her laundry.  She came in and out a few times and we exchanged hellos.

After I dropped my first clean load back at the RV, I went back to wait for the rest to dry.  The women from earlier was there and of course, like in any laundromat or campground, we struck up a conversation.

The women's name was Lynda.  She was from California and on her way back after many stops, like us.  Her farthest point was Chicago, and they were on their trek back home, as we were.  They were heading to Mt. Rushmore and Yellowstone, so we exchanged some info and gave her the heads up on her upcoming stops.

As we are talking, I am trying to read Lynda as to if she is a safe person to disclose more information about myself.  Over the course of this vacation, we have had a few close calls and moments where we were unsure of our surroundings, concerned for my and Frankie's safely once and we have had to proceed with caution because we are a lesbian couple.  Yes it exists and yes it is very real.

Lynda lives in California and was originally from Boston.  She was a bit older than me, but I figured, what the heck, lets test the waters and see what happens.  So I dropped into conversation that I had a wife and she had worked in Boston, and that we enjoyed our time there.  Lynda looked at me, and said that she was trying to deduce the same thing about me, whether I was a safe space and that is was in fact traveling with her Wife, Barbara.

Lynda told me about how they had been together for over 30 years, had kids and grandkids that were around Frankie's age.  We talked about how we have to be so careful when we travel to areas of the US that are more conservative and not so accepting of people who are not like themselves.  In this current time, it has become accepted by a small majority that hate is the way it should be, and the hate has been given a voice.  So we cannot be who we are, wherever we are.  They sometimes pretend to be sisters in certain areas.  We have done the same...acting one way, for self preservation and for safely.  This is even more magnified for Diana and I because we need to keep our daughter safe.

Lynda and I spent over an hour talking over folding laundry, talking about life, travels and the world moving forward, hoping for the best.  I stopped by later to meet Barbara and drop off my email to Lynda.  This was one person who I sincerely hoped to keep in touch with.  The next morning, Lynda stopped by with a small gift that her and Barbara like to give when they meet some new people.  It was a flag of the state of California.  When I get home I will hang it up as a reminder to take a chance and that there is always a friend to be made.  We have already exchanged a few emails and I know that this friendship that started over laundry will continue for many years to come.

Is Mt. Rushmore a Big Deal?

I had talked to many people over the course of the last year about our trip, and many people said it would be cool to see Mt. Rushmore.  Most had not been.  The few that had had mixed reviews on whether it was something cool, or just a rock carving.  And I think it truly is through each person's eyes what they see and how they feel when they are there.

Through my eyes, Diana's Eyes and Frankie's Eyes we are here to say that Mt. Rushmore was an amazing sight, quite a feat of engineering and made us reflect on the amazing leadership that has lead this country through some of the most difficult times that occurred in our young country's history.



Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt, larger than life, are looking down on all the land.  Frankie decided to become a Jr. Ranger here as well and we had to watch the video about the creation and conception of Mt. Rushmore.  The time and effort that went into this carving was the long game.  It took so long that the head of the project died before it was finished.









I wont recommend that you visit...because your experience will be different than mine.  Different from your neighbor and even your friends.  But if you go in with on open mind, no matter what you think of the carvings, you can walk away with some more information and a bit more appreciation of the presidents that are honored on Mt. Rushmore.