Tennessee and on to Illinois

 The churches that we see on our travels are so beautiful.  The old architecture of them  verses the ones that were built  today are so different.  These churches have such stature.  When you go down the main streets and see them along the side of the road, you feel as if the town is a town like Joplin, that plays together and works together.  There are so many different churches in one town, one after another right next door to each other.  I wouldn't be surprised that when they have the "church social" that they take turns having them.

Homes like this one have been turned into museums or historical societies.  It is where a person can go to find out about their roots of their ancestors or just what the town was like a hundred years ago. It is so good to see that the old homes are not destroyed and something modern take its place.

No matter where you go in this vast country of the United States, Main Street remains Main Street.  The buildings may be different, more or less in number, but the feeling of "This is Home" remains the same.

Once again you can see the difference between the old and new.  They had added on to this church, but the new part detracts from the old church.  It would have been better, I think, if they had at least tried to match the brick color.  But, then again at the time of the addition, money may have been an issue.

If you turn left on Seventh, you will be able to go to the Legion Bar & Restaurant and when you are finished with your meal you can go to Midwest Archery.  But come to think about it, it would be best to go to the archery and then go to the bar and restaurant.  It wouldn't be good to mix bows and arrows with liquor.  This activity would best be done on an empty stomach.

This home is still a private residence.  Main Street homes are always so well cared for.  There have only been a few instances that the homes were not well maintained.

My husband made an observation as we were driving through a town the other day.  That was he didn't see fences around the homes.  I looked back over some of the pictures that I had taken and he was right, there were no fences in the older communities, only in the bigger cities and the newer neighborhoods. I could tell the ones that had some  type of animal, for there would be a dog run or a cage, but no fence.  We only see fences in the newer neighborhoods in the large cities. Maybe with the development of the brick wall, came in the loss of community.  With the advent of the brick wall, it stopped you from knowing you neighbor and you could not "talk over the fence" with them.  People began to stay to themselves and have no desire to know  their neighbor.

Brick walls in communities now days, kind of like the Berlin Wall of years ago.  These contribute to the loss of community, for you don't know who or what about your neighbor.  Kind of scary, when you think about it.  If we knew our neighbor better, maybe there would be less child kidnappings and the like.

I have seen some strange tourney's, but this one makes me scratch my head.  What is a Washer Tourney?  Is it where everyone brings their washing to a central place and they see who can do the washing the fastest or maybe washing a car.  I have no clue as to what this could be.  If I ever have the chance to return here, I will find a way to stop and ask the question.

The military convoys are usually seen on the interstates and not on the local roads.  The first thing that came to mind when I saw these guys, is the old movie, "The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming."  It is a comfort to know that our military is always prepared to defend us and our freedom's.

When I saw this home it reminded me of the homes that are in my hometown.  They have a large front porch where the family can sit out on in the evenings enjoying the fresh night air.  Watching the fireflies flit about in the yard and catch up on the day's events. Or listen to the older people of the family reminisce about  times, long ago.  Notice that the "fence" is a hedge.  A person can still visit with the neighbor or see what is happening outside of the yard.

This small town of Flora,  in Illinois,  has a population of only 5,100 and they received the Governor's Home Town Award in  2006.  The sign says that "Opportunity Returns Through Volunteerism".  Here is a small town that pulls together and works together for the common good of where they live.  Why can't Washington, take a page from this little towns example?

When I saw this sign, I just had to have my husband honk his horn twice.  I assume the sign if for some sports team.  Then again it could be a substitute for an alarm clock, for whoever lives there.  I just plain enjoy the homemade signs I see along side of the road, but sometimes I have no clue as to what the are about.

It is time to call it a night so, until the next time, I'll see you on the Other Side.

Leaving Texas and heading for Tennessee

These cows were out in front of the Eastern Oklahoma State College.  They, once again, look real.  There was a book that I read years ago about a cattle drive in present time titled "The Last Cattle Drive", by Robert Day.  It was about all the problems that the cattle drive encountered along the way.  Roads, cars, fences among a few things.  If you would like a good laugh give this book a try.  It is still in publication. The story begins in Kansas, if I remember right.

Going through some of these small towns is like stepping back in time.  The old movie theaters are still on the main street showing current movies.  It is refreshing to look out and see shops that are open and not shuttered as I have seen in other towns.  Riding down the street, is like being in the movie "Back to the Future".  Is all you would need is Michael J. Fox driving down the street in a DeLorean like a madman, to make the feeling of "time" complete.

The old buildings that have all the designs on them are still standing from years ago.  I think this is now the Chamber of Commerce building that was once the court house in Vinita, OK.  The reader board tells us that the "Half Fry T-Shirts are available.  I wonder what a "Half Fry" is?  I guess they don't do "Whole Fry's".

When I saw this sign, it made me wonder.  Does this pertain to the convenience stores or the fridge at home?  Most of the  stores I have  been in the beer is in the same cooler as the milk.  The sign does make you stop and think about where you keep your beer, that is if you are a beer drinker with kids.

This old truck was hauling what looked like to be produce from the farm as it was passing this old building.  The smaller white building in the background is a grocery store.  I can picture, as the residents of the town walk in, the grocer greets them by name.  I think that here is where you would come to find out what is going on in town. Information Central.  The sign on the store says it has been in business since 1922.  I hope that it remains in business for many more years to come.

As we traveled towards Afton, Oklahoma, we crossed Horse Creek.  From the name of it, one would assume that this where they watered their horses during the cowboy's travels.  I have seen some strang names for creeks, and wouldn't dare ask as to how they received their names.  Too much information.

On the outskirts of Afton, Oklahoma there is a buffalo ranch.  You can stop and watch the bison roam in the pasture.  We were there when there were little ones there and they were so cute.  The daddy was fierce looking and when he headed our way, we thought it would be prudent to step back from the fence.

These animals are so ugly that they are pretty.  Thousands of them roamed the plains, and now they are surrounded by fences.  I know of only one free roaming buffalo herd and that is located in Southern Utah.  There maybe others, but I do not know of them.  Some ranchers have cross bred them with cows and they say the meat is less fatty and lower in cholesterol.  I haven't tried it, so I can't say if it is good or not.

 When we went through the Wyandotte Reservation, most of the signs had mention of turtles.  I guess the turtle is the mascot of this tribe.  Many of the reservations have travel plazas, that you can get gas and in some cases part a few trucks for the night.

And they think that the turtle is lucky.  Every Indian Reservation I have been to has at least one casino.  Many of the larger ones have headline entertainment on the weekends.  Many of the big Country and Western groups appear at them.

 Following the road into Missouri, we drove down the main road in Joplin, Missouri only to be faced with a small portion of the destructive tornadoes that hit the city.  There were blocks with buildings, just gone.  Poof. It is hard to imagine the power of wind, until you are faced with the destruction that it can do.  The sad thing is that not only once, but had to come back the next day for a repeat.  I can't imagine living through something so devastating.  I think, that when ever I would hear the wind pick up in speed, anytime,  I would go into panic mode.

 The businesses did not stay down for long.  As you can see Home Depot is now housed in a huge tent in the parking lot of where the building use to stand. 

What amazed me is that huge buildings, like the Home Depot store was just taken off the face of the earth and the small convenience store and gas station, the building was still standing.  There were a few buildings that still had the roof on, and appeared as if nothing had ever happened.

 Whole parts of buildings, just torn away from the foundations. Metal and wood bent by the winds wrath. Wires and ducts just hanging down waving in the breeze.

 Blocks, on both sides of the street were disaster zones with heavy equipment working to remove the rubble by the truck load.  I've made this photo a little bit bigger, for there was a sign on the light post/traffic signal that said, " God loves you and so does relief ..."  The lady in the orange is collecting relief goods.  Anything that the people could use, to help replace what they lost or just to keep them going for a time.  The rebuilding is going to take time, but people are resiliant, and draw together when bad times hit.  The people of Joplin are an example of what people can do when they pull together and work towards a common goal.

Positive signs were on every corner, light pole and building.  All were attesting to the rebuilding of the city and overcoming hardship.

 This is the shell for the new Wal-Mart.  What I find interesting is that the building behind the new building is standing and appears as if the wind didn't even come near it.  It makes me ask the question, "Why"?

Even the local radio station was supportive of the efforts and had a sign out for those who would need a uplifting thought.  It was truely amazing and touching to see the careing for each other,  that the people had, here.

 I will leave off here, on the journey.  Until the next time, I'll see you On the Other Side.

Where have I been, let me tell you.

We delivered the load in MO and then we headed to Dallas, TX.  What an interesting journey.

At a stop light we saw this old trailer.  The saying on the back has been removed from the newer trailers.  There had been too many comments about what the "Snack" could be, so they changed their saying.  This is according to my husband.

We are traveling in Oklahoma now and they are proud of their western heritage.  Where ever you look there is a building about cows, cowboys, cowgirls or horses.  Someone had to have a good imagination to come up with some of the displays that they have on their buildings.

Then you come to the Indians.  They played a great part in the history of the West. When I have picked up a newspaper lately, there is some type of advertisement for an Indian Pow Wow.  The events that are listed appear as if they would be a lot of fun to see and participate in.  But, once again, where can you park an 18 wheeler.  Very limited parking.  Don't mind the blob in the picture, for a bug tried to be part of it and didn't succeed.

 On the historic Route 66 there are all types of 50's and 60's cafes restaurants and diners.  This one had the diner and hotel that said you would step back in time.  I wonder if the prices are the same as they were in the 50's and 60's?  Don't think so.

Now as we passed this road sign, I looked over to the left and what did I see, but a prison.  Makes one wonder, if the person that came up with the street name had a sense of humor.

 As we all know Oklahoma is known for the cattle drives.  I had to look twice to make sure that I was seeing right.  They are statues, not the real thing, but it gives you pause as you drive by.

 No matter what road you drive on, there is some type of road construction going on.  Here we have a guy watering the grass or asphalt.  I am not sure which, but he is intent on his job.

The road crew is busy laying down the asphalt as we drove by.  At least most of them are working and not just watching how the machine lays down the road.

 We finaly arrived in Dallas, TX.  The skyline isn't that different from other big cities, as I have said before.  How some of the buildings are placed make the difference.  I enjoy the skyline of Dallas, but the traffic you can keep.  The roads make no sense and the get on's and get off's are just plain crazy.  In some places you have to cross three lanes of traffic inorder to get to the exit that you need and very little time to do it in.

 There are roads that have over passes that have over passes over the over passes.  Now say that fast three times.

We have reached the end of our journey to Dallas, TX.  Where we will go next, is a good question.  Until we find out, I will see you On the Other Side.

Next stop MO

From Ohio we are going to the state of Missouri to a small town by the name of Meta.  It is in the back woods of the back woods.  The roads to this town I think were drawn on the ground by a drunk cowboy dragging a stick behind him.

Some of the small strip malls along the road have eye catching structures.  This one made me think of the Arabian Nights, but I didn't see one store that would even have anything to do with Arabian Nights or the Far East.

 Then as usual I find the repair crews interesting.  Here I see the power company at work.  One guy is working on the lines and the other is doing...well it appears as if he is looking for something in the grass. In the back woods of the country you can find anything, from spiders to snakes to frogs.  Then there are the four legged creatures that can stink to high heaven.  You know, the ones with a stripe down their back.

 This is a true "Yard Sale". I think you could find even the kitchen sink here.  Or, maybe they were just slow in getting "Spring Cleaning" done.  However, there are times that at these yard sales you can find some good buys on things that are old and of value.  The sad thing is that there is very little room to park the truck to go and look at all the interesting things to see

 The old buildings are of interest to me.  When I see them I wonder what was there before it closed.  Did the people just give up, move away, or did Wal-Mart come to the county?  I wish I could step back in time and see the building as it was when it was a going concern and people were going in and out of the busineness

Then on the country roads you find the idiot that is in a hurry to be made into and Angel.  Either that or he wanted to see what you get when you cross and Chevy with a delivery truck.  I think the outcome would be down right ugly.  The next thing this nut did was pass on a solid line.  I guess it only applies to those who aren't colored blind and can see the road.  Urgggg.

I have found it interesting that in many small towns there is at least one building that sits kitty corner on the corner. Was it done by design?  Here again, the building is standing empty. Main Street America is not the same anymore.  I have seen more empty buildings than I care to count.  These small towns at least aren't giving up, and are trying to survive. 

The signs you see along the side of the road are interesting, to say the least.  There are those that are done by the professionals and then there are the ones that are homemade.  The latter are the ones that I find the most interesting.  They tell a little about the business that is on the sign.

And as in any town you come to there is at least one building that has just a little bit of everything.  At least they are using an old building and keeping it use. I would have liked to stop here and just go in to see if the floors were the old hardwood floors of yesteryear.  They would creek in certain spots when you walked on them and the owner of the store would know where everyone was just by the sounds of the creeks.

In most all towns you go to in the U.S. there is at least one bar, that the locals can go to to relax and have a good time.  Irish Pub's seem to give the impression that they are the places to go for a good time.  But this isn't a true Irish Pub, for they are advertising Bud instead of Guiness. 

Old homes tell the story of the towns they stand in.  The way the yards are taken care of and the homes themselves.  I see these old homes and think they would make great Bed and Breakfasts. It would be a sight to see the lilac bush in full bloom and smell them.

 I have been reading in the papers that the United States Post Office is considering closing Offices across the nation.  What a shame.  Here is one that is not large and more than likely has one person that works there.  These small town post offices are the hub of information for the community.  Everyone that goes there stops to visit and find out what is going on in each others lives and those that they know.  (Small town gossip)

I question is, if FedEx and UPS can make a profit, why can't the post office?  The former use the post office to deliver many of their packages.  So, what is wrong with this picture?  Post office is losing money and Fed EX, UPS are making money.  Hum.

 You can always tell when you are in farming country.  The farm equipment is lined up along the side of the road ready to go.  Some are rented by the hour and others are purchased.  From some of the lawns I have seen for front yards, you could sell the grass for feed and make money.  I did see a yard that had vegetables planted instead of grass.  Now that is making the best of your yard.  You just have to pick it, instead of mow it and you get to eat what you pick.

It has been a long road today, and much to see.  Soon it will be time to stop for the night and hit the road again tomorrow.  So, until till then I'll see you On the Other Side.

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