Adventure 272: Cheyenne, WY

Rocking!

Our friend, Dinah Coble, related that she once spent a miserable night in Rock Springs in the early seventies. I can certainly understand since the mining town is as rough and tumble as ever, but they've been trying to improve. The city's movers and shakers wrote a grant which has made great strides to revitalize the down town. The events center where we parked over night has become a focal point for Wyoming events including professional rodeo  as well as hosting the Wyoming state high school rodeo championships. They even have an event in March called "Stop and Smell the Horses". The point is the community, which still mines coal and also supplies the world market with baking soda, is trying to improve. We've been here twice in as many years. Both stops have been brief, but pleasant. As we move eastward bee-lining toward wedding central, we were happy to have a comfortable stopping place. Tonight, we're fortunate to park in front of Tim and Carissa Ulmen's (Dave and Liz's oldest son and daughter-in-law) house. It's a nice respite.

  Now for a little marriage rambling, which Judy says is starting to sound preachy. Maybe so, but here it goes. It says right in the vows not to expect peaches and cream every day, which brings me to fighting. It's important to learn to fight well. Bad fights leave one or the other partner with hurt feelings. If partners have too many bad fights they end up in court. (Bad fighting includes the silent treatment-Always a no-no). As it is, newly weds face long odds. Of the roughly two million marriages that occur in America every year, 1 in 15 last ten years. Scary, if true, but we all know about damn lies and statistics; it's an election year, after all. So, take it with a grain of salt. Here are five rules I think could be considered as fighting fair. 1. No dead dogs allowed. This means it's out of bounds to bring up old mistakes, long gone examples of bad judgment, or embarrassingly grievous behavior. 2. Keep expectations realistic. The person you married isn't perfect. Expect less and get more. 3. Hold no grudges. Forgive and forget. Accept and love. Practice love rituals. Kiss often; snuggle more. Marriage is hard enough without carrying bags of regret around. 4. Think and say loving things.  There are no off days in a relationship. Loose lips can sink the ship. 5. Quit telling me what to do! In other words, there are no bosses in an equal partnership. Make the life decisions together, and if you can't, wait a day or two to talk it out.

 Here's the sermon. 

Take the time to honestly discuss each other's needs. Talking to each other Is sort of like wearing a belt and suspenders. Love  and commitment are the suspenders. Defining space for each other is the belt. If you can manage to support each other in the good times and the bad, then life will be good, practically every day.

Rock Springs has a nice walk of memory that celebrates the coal miners next to the refurbished train station.

Without the railroad, Wyoming would likely count antelopes, snakes, and jack rabbits as its residents.

We were welcomed to Banning Park by the lush fragrance of blooming lilacs.

Tim Ulmen, an accomplished wood artist made this piece.

It's called Ulmen Time because the drawer, like the Ulmens themselves, is just a little late to the party.