It’s been a month since I’ve posted, but Dad’s birthday adventure seemed as good a time as any to come back.
Dad would have been 78 Sunday, so my mom, sister and I — and six of our eight kiddos — took a little time off to celebrate his life, with his old stomping grounds of New Rockford, N.D., in our sights.
I can’t quite narrow down all the photos into one post, however, so I’ll do it in parts, starting with the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Mandan, where his body was laid to rest in January.
We were disappointed that despite what we’d been told, Dad’s headstone still wasn’t up. Still just the marker – hopefully next visit, there will be something more.
But it was nice to honor him, to listen to the birds singing, to watch the clouds dance overhead.
It’s a beautiful spot out here – better than the snow-filled version. I took it all in.
Another 12-gun salute was going on during our visit. It reminded us of the one we experienced in January.
Dad would have said, enough of the sad stuff. Let’s go exploring. So we set a course toward my sister’s place of residence.
But first, a visit to Salem Sal. It’s always exciting to spot her from the interstate.
Some horse-back riders wanted to see her, too.
Ah, what a sight that big old Holstein — the world’s largest, the sign says, weighing in at 12,000 pounds.
Newcomers might think Sal’s the main attraction…
But what they don’t know are the secrets Sal keeps.
Oh, they are lovely secrets. Secrets of wildflowers…
And blessed perches…
Of unusual, natural-made formations.
We met up with a guy from Georgia who said his next house is going to be built right here.
Good luck convincing Sal. She guards her home pretty well. But she does love company.
Dad used to bring Camille and I walking in the Badlands near our home in Northeast Montana. I remember grabbing our walking sticks and chugging along, enjoying nature with him.
When walking started getting hard for Dad, life changed.
I hope he’s getting a chance to walk easily again, free as the birds and the grandkids he loved.
Light as the wind.
That cemetery in Mandan is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the view, my husbands best friend is buried there. I can still hear the echoing trumpets. We need to visit there again, maybe in the fall, I hope your Dad has a permanent marker by then.
Perhaps you are just the person to answer this..what do you do with the temporary marker? We have one of those ..not sure about the proper thing to do with it.
Salem Sal is something else..and the kids seemed to enjoy that adventure! 🙂
What a grand re-entry into blogging land 🙂 We took family photos with our Dad at the top of the cow one summer, right after my brother and I were both married and before we had kids. Your photos truly do the area justice and I know someone in heaven is truly a grinnin’ today 🙂 Thank you friend- Holstein Sue will always be a treasure memory of mine and now I am honored to share it with you!! What a beautiful resting place for your Dad- my own father once thought he’d rest there too, but then had a change of heart before his passing. Hugs to you as you remember your Dad!
Thanks Connie and Vicky. It’s so nice to know that when it’s time to come back, I don’t come back to an empty room. 🙂 Love you both!