The Last Part

“Time is tight”

That is the title of an instrumental by Booker T and the MGs. One of my all time favorites. And it seems all of our time is tight: there’s never enough. It’s what we gauge the day on. Time for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Time to head to work. Time to head home. Time for the weekend.

But time seems to do funny things when you’re on vacation. You count down the weeks, then the days, then the hours before you catch that plane to go wherever you are going.

The first couple of days, you relax and get into the groove to do what you have planned.

And before you know it…..time’s up. It is back to reality. Time to go home. Time to go back to work (shivers).

It’s hard to believe that 2 weeks ago today at this very time that I am typing, 1pm CDT, that I was here in Kearney, Nebraska, at the municipal parking lot at the eastern end of those 111 miles of triple track mainline to North Platte.

But at the same time of knowing that this trip is ending, I have great memories of where I have been in some of the most desolate, yet at the same time, some of the most beautiful parts of the Midwest. And I am glad I came out here.

Thanks, Sid, for once again giving me the nudge to come back out to Nebraska.

And some observations about our host states. We truly live in one great country. A country with fertile soil, hard working people, and immense beauty. When one flies over the mid-section of this country, you see those huge farms below. These are not rich people by any means. After all the toil and sweat thru the harvesting season, the farmers do maintenance on their machinery during the winter and get ready for the new growing season in the spring. And it never hurts to ask for divine intervention. I see all of these little churches in these towns and cities. From Catholic to United Methodist to Lutheran and more. These are God-fearing people. And I am sure they ask God for a little help. Farmers deserve our gratitude and appreciation. Goodness knows where we would be without them.

Then I look at the scenery and endless countryside I have driven thru. If you have lived around suburbia all of your life, you very much deserve to come out here to the Midwest and see what this part of the country has got to offer. No developers. No salesmen. Just beautiful, virgin country. And by all means, follow U.S. Route 30. If you like trains like I do, they’ll be the icing on the cake. If not, just bear with them but see what this country of ours has to offer off the Interstate pace. You don’t need any four or five star hotels to stay at. The ones that I have stayed at are all quite comfortable. You have all of the amenities. Once again, good hard working folks who will keep the light on for you and take good care of you.

And one important thing about all of these hotels: wireless Internet. Who knew, even 10 years ago, how important wireless Internet would be today, considering the number of businessmen and women who depend on it every day to keep up with their job’s home base?? And how helpful it has been to this author in getting this blog out every day?? Finding the local dial-up number for Earthlink was a big part of planning a trip back then. And you have to admit you would be a bit out of sorts if you didn’t have your daily dose of the Internet.

But now, it’s time to head home and sadly end this blog. I hope that you have enjoyed both the writing and the pictures. And before we go, some parting shots:

 The UP pipe train east of Cozad, Nebraska:

A beautiful partly cloudy sky above KRVN's transmitter site in Holdrege, Nebraska:

Mount Rushmore near Rapid City, South Dakota:

The Veterans/Public Service Memorial on the state capital grounds of Pierre, South Dakota:

Thunder River Mine, south of Gillette, Wyoming:

The bluffs at Scotts Bluff in Scottsbluff, Nebraska:

North of the Denver, Colorado skyline on I-25:

Some special art work on an eastbound coal train at O'Fallons, Nebraska:

A mural in Central City, Nebraska:

And finally......sunset at Columbus, Nebraska:

Outside, the rain is coming down hard as a cold front that I managed to stay ahead of has arrived here in Columbus. And it looks like some windy skies as I head back to Windsor Locks on Tuesday.

Thanks again to my son Chris and my daughter Caty for helping me with setting up the blog. Thanks to my younger brother Paul for the name of the blog. Thanks to my youngest brother Jay for helping out with our folks while I have been on vacation. Thanks to those who covered my shift at News8.

And thanks to all of you out there for following along. It has been an honor and a privilege. Take care.

I’m Philip J Zocco. On The Road. In Columbus, Nebraska.