ISOC takes to the road - the Carlisle Chronicles: Chapter 1
ISOC takes a road trip. The Carlisle chronicles Day 1 Fort Collins, Colorado to Guymon, Okla. We started the day full of anticipation for our road trip SE across America - something we have always wanted to do. This appealed to us for many reasons, including not having to be searched like a terrorist and flying on an airplane. It seems like a great transition to our retirement and we have not traveled through the "Old South". We love driving in a car. It becomes a meditation after about the first 2-3 hours. We are trying to limit our mileage to 400-500 miles a day with days off along the way to really get a feel for the country. No plans or reservations, just drive down the highway and decide where to go. Our general plan is to go through Tulsa and see the campus of the Univ of Tulsa – where I went to college. Then through Hot Springs, Ark and through the SE to Savannah, Ga. We have been to all other areas of the country, but not the SE. We took US HW 287 almost all the way to Guymon today. Pretty much straight south from Fort Collins. We found out from a gas station manager in Lamar, Colorado that 287 is known as the “Port to Plains” highway because it starts in Houston and provides a direct route north to Denver, Co. Brand new concrete highway all the way from Limon, Co to the Co/OK border. It must be the best route because there are trucks galore on 287. And boy is there a lot of plains along the way that we drove. Big Sky, beautiful clouds, long vistas, and very few people. The highlight of the day was the help and attention we received from a gas station attendant in Lamar, Colorado. Lamar is where Kirsten's great grandparents homesteaded in Colorado in 1876. He had an energy, a want to help and alertness that stood out from the usual zombie like service we usually receive from station attendants. His behavior reminded me of what being fully present and interacting with people means. Something that makes all the difference in being in the service professions. It is a rare commodity now. Practicing your people skills, with service people is a great way to hone your relating skills. These service people are so numb and bored, that if you can connect with them you can connect with anyone. You can bet if I am in Lamar again, I will stop by his gas station. Tulsa town, time and TU tomorrow.
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