On my way to Denver via Dodge City.
Almost time to get going, almost due west to Denver, which is about 1200 miles from here. Tonight I’ll be stopping in O’Fallon, just west of St. Louis. I think it’s probably actually a suburb of St. Louis.
Melissa returned from staying overnight with Jerry in the hospital, where he is doing well and feeling somewhat better. He’ll be there seven days for the entire course of antibiotics. She just left to minister at church, and will go back to the hospital after that.
I scattered some of Bev’s ashes, right by the statue of St. Frances – we have two garden statues of him at home ourselves. A beautiful spot.
I dreamed of Bev last night, which is actually the first dream I’ve had of Bev, although I’ve very much been wanting to dream about Bev. The dream was very vivid and wonderful. I was at a gathering to commemorate Bev, perhaps because Jerry and I were talking about that last night, when Bev showed up. It was lovely to see her, but confusing as I knew Bev had passed 6 or 7 weeks ago (in my dream, that is; in reality, it’s been just over 5 months), and I couldn’t understand how she was there and alive, and very much Bev in every way. I started to go round to let everyone know that Bev was alive, before they saw her walking around, but no-one seemed surprised. I couldn’t understand how she was with us, but it was great.
I couldn’t get over the fact that Bev had returned from the dead; I was happy. I thought perhaps we’d all been mistaken about her death, or that perhaps I’d simply dreamed that Bev had died and she actually hadn’t, or maybe she’d just been ill, or in a deep sleep or a coma, but not dead and had now had woken up (just like Snow White or the Sleeping Beauty). We held hands, we laughed, we talked, we walked, and we laid together on a bed, and I let Bev know that Doris had been holding her hand when she passed.
I was confused though, and then I remembered this journey was all about releasing and spreading Bev’s ashes across the country, and that Bev’s body had been cremated, and I realized this could not be. At that moment, I drifted back into awakeness and realized this was the dream, and the dream was not that Bev had not died. It was lovely to see and be with Bev, and I was very happy when I woke up, although then became a little sad. Still, I couldn’t have wished for a better dream.
And now off to O’Fallon, Missouri., and farewell to Versailles, for now at least.
And now, arriving at 4:30 central time (I’ve changed time zones now), I’m here at the Super 8 in O’Fallon. Actually, the rooms here are pretty nice for an economy motel. It seemed like a long drive, covering about 380 miles, passing through Louisville (pronounced “Louvihl,” and I learned from Melissa that Sevierville is similarly pronounced “Sevievihl,” but I’m not going to say it that way 😊) and, many miles later, St. Louis.
I’ve been listening to music and also listening to a lot of 1940 and 50’s radio series on Sirius XM, some of which are pretty good. It also passes the time, and especially on highways like Interstate 64 that just go and on, with very little to see of interest. States like Indiana, which I passed through today, and Missouri (where I am now) and Kansas (which is the next state west of here) are flat and pretty boring, with little (if any) interesting scenery. Passing through St. Louis, which I’ve been to a couple of times, was nice to see, even from the highway, but I just wanted to get here, as today and the next couple of days are just stop off points on my way to Denver, where the scenery and surroundings are fabulous.
Consequently, most of the way there really wasn’t anything of interest to photograph, except the view of St. Louis from Interstate 64, but there was no way to take a photo and drive. But, here is that view from I-64, which I found on the internet. Pretend I took that photo.
On my way to Denver, though, I do plan to take a detour and pass through Dodge City, and am looking forward to that as a famous town of the Old West. I’ll be on the look out for the Long Branch Saloon and Marshall Dillon (the TV show Gunsmoke, for those who may not know), but as Ken said, I’d better not let him get the drop on me or I’ll wind up in Boot Hill.
But right now, in this rather unscenic area around the motel, I plan to take a walk in the still very hot sun (91 degrees at 6 pm), and then maybe I’ll go to a movie.
I took a drive around O’Fallon, and then found the Busch Greenway and Katy Trail in nearby St. Charles, about 25 minutes east of here, and took a decent size walk along the well-maintained and nice looking forested trail in the Missouri State Park. It was almost dark by the time I was done. Now I’m going to sleep. Maybe I’ll dream of Bev again.😴
