So here it is...
First off, let me say that while the midwest may be a vast hole of really bad cliche redneck hell, in the summer it really is quite pretty. Humid as hell and hot, but because of the humidity thing it is very green. I have never seen so many beautiful green trees. It was very lush. I knew it was going to be flat but i dont think i had fully prepared myself for just how flat it is. I had never spent time anywhere that I couldn't see at least some mountains in the distance. That whole Big Sky thing was kind of a trip. Also, beleive it or not, Arkansas is sooooo unbeleivably beautiful.
The first full day I was there, my Dad had to work so I spent the day with Jan. In the past, this had been the source of some really good times. But, of course that was before the surgery. I was surprised when she slept until 11, but not as surprised as I was when she proceeded to get up much later for the rest of the time I was there. It seems that she usually gets up around noonish or so. Anyone who has met her and knows of her previous habits knows that this is about 5 or 6 hours later than she used to. And then she sat in the sun porch and smoked all day until about 3 when she started drinkng. I asked her several times if she wanted to do something, ANYTHING, and at one point she said "I don't wanna do anything, I just wanna sit here and smoke" and thats what she did. I wanted to hang out with her so I did the same that first day. I went from 3 or 4 smokes a day to a pack over the course of 24 hours. And then, I got to meet their friends. Somehow they found two of the most redneck obnoxious morons I have ever met and made them their friends. We went out to dinner, where Rick proceeded to slam back about 6 drinks and then get in his big ol truck and drive to my dads house. At one point he tried to get my dad to race him. Fortunately my dad had enough sense not to. We went back to the house where we played pool and Rick told me a horribly offensive joke involving his penis. Linda, his girlfriend, is well intentioned, but dumb as a rock. A very small rock. She is JUST like this woman I worked with in Yosemite, Carol. EXACTLY. I finally went away and occupied myself with their slow ass computer and more cigarrettes. They played pool and drank until one in the morning. My dad was very understanding that I hid all night.
Anyway, my dad and I actually got a lot of quality time in. We took a few motorcycle rides. One day we got in the truck and decided to go in search of the Ozarks. We just took off in the direction of Arkansas and played it by ear. I have to say the very best moment of my whole visit there was when we were driving down the highway in northern Arkansas and blasting Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" and we were both singing at the top of our lungs. We started off into the Ozarks on some kind of main highway and then saw a little county road and decided to see where it went. It was great. Hills, trees, flowers. Absolutley wonderful. We saw a big sign advertising the Strangset Residence in the Ozarks. We decided to check it out. It was definetly bizarre. We had fun laughing at all the wierd stuff. Its hard to really explain. Check out www.guigleyscastle.com and you'll see what I am talking about. Anyway, best road trip ever. My dad likes to go for drives like i do. Just go and turn when you feel like. You'll find your way home eventually. It was one of the best days I have had in a long time. We also got to really talk a lot.
He told me that he and Jan are going to give it a year and then visit the possibility of moving back to Cali. He would be financially screwed and he would probably never retire. But he cannot possibly be happy with the way things are. And he would sink himself financially before he would give up on Jan. Its really sad what has happened to Jan, but I cant help but feel slightly resentful towards her for making my dad unhappy. I understand being depressed and missing your family, but she really is being very selfish. She will not give Missouri a chance, even though my father clearly loves it there. She wont even unpack because she doenst consider it home. She says shes just leaving in a year anyway. I tried telling her that unpacking and nesting will help her feel more at home but she just kept saying she didnt want to do that. I think I might of kind of gotten through to her a little bit. My dad said she recently mentioned the possibility of unpacking. But that is going to be difficult since she fell down and broke her foot the last day that I was there. i Dont know. I just want my dad to be happy. It wouldnt surprise me if they moved back by next summer. It was really frustrating spending so much time with somone so intent on being unhappy. I know that I have had my bouts of depression and self pity, but Jan has reached new depths of misery. It kind of opened my eyes.
Anyway, thats pretty much it. oh, flying is SOOOO much better with valium and dramamine.