5/5/12 Drove to Jackson Hole today. It was a really nice, relaxing drive. The weather was perfect with those amazing poofy white clouds creating shadows in all the right places on the hills and planes. I saw several herds of antelope, loads of horses, cows, sheep, and quite a few llamas. I also saw pick up trucks, cowboy hats and kids playing without fear. Driving through those little towns, Cokevile population 235 (I made up the population but not the town name, really… Cokeville, Wyoming), I felt a kind of longing, a feeling of homesickness, for simple life. Stopped at a gas station to pee (I am a nurse, I talk about these things – shall I give more description?) and everyone knew eachother by name. The lady knew then guy coming in to buy gas and the kids buying candy. They all look after eachother… no one is worried that the 10 year old rode his bike to THE store from God knows where because Jim Jones from the OK ranch will see if he misbehaves for Mindy will tell his mom if he gets hurt. We lose a bit of that in the city… of course, we gain the anonymity that makes life a little easier. I am sometimes happy to not have a full conversation with the checkout girl…

Country living here I come. 

5/6

Arrived at lake about noon. Wandered into the clinic which was open but completely empty. Big place… I guess I will have the formal tour later. The caretaker came and found me and brought be to my apartment. The drive was very nice… saw a herd of antelope, several herds of bison, a fox, a coyote, and a MOOSE- which I have now been told is very rare. There were patches of snow once I got into the park as the road was not open to public use, but not bad at all. The lake IS iced over (I wasn’t sure if that was going to be true J ) I went for a little walk around the employee housing and around the hotel. My apartment is right next to the clinic and the charge nurse is right next door. My roommate arrived late this afternoon. She came from Florida with her husband (husband is staying the week). I was really nervous about sharing a flat, having to deal with the meat thing, but turns out she is vegetarian. Seventh Day Adventist. Woo hoo! Someone is looking out for us.  It snowed briefly this afternoon, but bright sunshine is coming through my window now.