The Laramie Project

Wow. A lot to report after the past few days.

First of all, the Sturgis Biker Rally is finally over--thank God.  Now that all the bikers are gone, and now that all the families with kids are heading back home to get ready for the school year, all of the visitors are old people who love to complain about anything and everything.

I have, however, encountered a TON of Europeans.  One German couple told me I could stay with them at their house in Muenster anytime I wanted; another German guy offered me a job. (Oh, and some funeral home director offered to give me a tour of Philadelphia and help me find apartments there, if I ever choose to move to Philly in the future...)  A French man was surprised to learn that I, myself, was not European, because I "do not have the physique of an American."  I'm assuming that what he meant was, because I'm not morbidly obese, therefore I don't look like I'm from 'Murica.

I also had an hour-long conversation in Sign Language with a deaf couple the other day.  After I told them that my Sign Language was VERY rusty, they forced me to sign with them for an hour about the history of the monument, the presidents, etc., and I must admit that it was SO amazing to sign again, and so much of it came back to me when I was in the middle of signing.  So cool.

Today was my day off, so Ranger Stephanie and I went on another road trip to explore more of Wyoming. We first went to this place where the people on the Oregon Trail passed through, which made me incredibly nostalgic about that Oregon Trail computer game I used to play.  The original wagon wheel ruts are still there, right near the Platte River in Guernsey, WY.  Next, we went to Laramie to see the death site of Matthew Shepard... surprisingly, there was no placard or memorial there, but we located the field where it occurred and placed flowers there.  Finally we headed over to Cheyenne and bopped around there for a while... very sweet.

One week left here before I head back to Michigan.  Where has this summer gone?! (Yes, part of it went to France...) Look at my life, look at my choices.