This will be a short post. Nine hours of driving and 11 hours on the road (with stops for meals) have wiped me out. At least I’m safe and sound at my latest Air BNB stop, a lovely home in West Omaha. The owner, Schlar, and I have already “talked grandkids.” She has several and a set of great-grandkids as well. When I got here, masked gremlins and goblins were patrolling the streets, but Schlar doesn’t do Halloween anymore, so there have been no trick or treaters at the door.
Morning in Colorado Springs was chilly, 38 degrees. My long summer has ended. There was talk of snow coming on Monday, so I’m glad I got out of Dodge when I did. Nebraska is in the 40s and supposed to be about 50 degrees tomorrow. The drive was marked with contrasts—from the spectacular mountains of New Mexico and Colorado to the miles and miles of cropland. The change from elevation to flatlands occurred 
suddenly. It seemed that I was driving in a huge bowl and everywhere I looked was sky and grasslands. On one side of the road, bright green vegetation; on the other side, golden stalks of wheat. I can now understand why a friend’s parents, from Kansas, always complained of feeling hemmed in when they visited New England. Out here, the horizon has no boundaries; there are few trees or buildings marring the view.
Tomorrow, I meet a VISTA volunteer from Council Bluffs, Iowa (bordering Omaha), who volunteered to show me around in response to my email to VISTAs who were in my on-line fund-raising class. Annaleah has the whole day planned, beginning with breakfast at the Tea Smith, a tea house in the old section (Old Market) of Omaha. What fun to see a new city with a local guide to show the way!