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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Posting from Mount Rushmore

I want you to know just how dedicated I am to this cause. I'm sitting inside the Keystone Library, in Keystone, So. Dakota, and yes, I know it's 12:30. But the Keystone Library doesn't open until noon and I seem to have left behind my little internet gadget that inserts into my laptop so that I can go on-line inside the motel room. The bag with that gadget is sitting somewhere at home. Brent and I have a bet. I say it is sitting in plain sight. He claims it's probably still sitting in my office invisible to the naked eye.

With that explanation I'll get on with my post. Saturday morning we started our vacation, leaving Utah behind and entering Wyoming working our way to "Devil's Tower". Oh! it was an amazing sight.

Our next stop: "Deadwood". Now if you've never been to Deadwood, you don't know what you're missing. It's the town where Wild Bill Hickok was murdered by the cowardly . . . I can't remember his name, only that he chose a very cowardly way to do his dastardly deed. We visited Hickok's grave and the grave of Calamity Jane. Deadwood is a quaint, old western town with several modern, big-city casinos, which really detract from the small town's beauty. But we had so much fun. (Let it be known that we did not put one coin inside those lusty machines.)

Right now I'm sitting just a few miles from Mount Rushmore, one of the most incredible sites in this world, I think. It's beauty is breathtaking and its meaning is timeless. You have to see it to believe it. Gutzon Borglum deamed a dream and made it happen.

While traveling I've been reading Rebecca Tally's book, "Altared Plans" It too, has kept my interest. I'm on Chapter 32 and can't wait to see how it ends. I'll do a review on my blog when I get home. So, be sure to check it out, sometime next week.

Before I sign off I need to leave you with some quotes from Gutzon Borglum, the artist who sculptured the faces on Mount Rushmore. He was a man who always believed the anything was possible, you just had to do it . . . to create it . . . to believe that you can.

Don't say, "I can't" On this work the "I can'ts are unknown in the world's work and unremembered in history. (Gutzon Borglum)

T (Gutzon Borglum)

(I found a couple more quotes from other well-known men I want to share before I sign off.)

"You see things and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were and I say "Why not?" (George Bernard Shaw)

One more:

"it may be those do most, dream most" (Stephen Leacock)

I have to go now. We are on our way to Custer, So. Dakota. Bye


4 comments:

Christine Thackeray said...

Years ago I had almost given up the dream of writing and I went to a RS activity where we were supposed to find our slogan in a magazine. The first page I turned to said "Dream Big!" I've tried to ever since.

Tina Scott, author, artist said...

JoAnn,
The quote that inspired me the most when I needed it was on a billboard on my way to college. It said, "A goal without work is merely a dream." It taught me that if I wanted anything in life, I needed to work for it.

Cindy Beck, author said...

Mt. Rushmore is amazing. Makes you glad for people who work to fulfill their dreams.

Tristi Pinkston said...

Holy cow! I want to go see Calamity Jane's grave!

Of course, I'd be picturing Doris Day the whole time.