No Man is an Island

5/18 Typing while driving from Valentine, NE to Chadron, NE and changed from the Central time zone to Mountain time zone. My brain is exploding. I couldn’t believe at the campground last night when I let Penny out for her evening pee and it was not only still light out but there was a beautiful sunset at 9:05PM (the one pictured as this post's main photo). This morning Karl pointed out that on our ride today it would take only 2 hrs by clock instead of the 3 hours we would physically be in the truck. It’s one thing to be calling someone on the phone and being cognizant of the time change, but driving through it is mind boggling (LITERALLY!). When we were at the Last Resort Campground in Hanna, IN a women at the office opened up a beer, raised it in a toast and said “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!. Yeah - actually 3 miles down the road!!”... I know it’s May and even in Massachusetts it’s staying lighter later, but this much later is crazy. It really gives me insights as to what a sheltered life I’ve lived. I’ve traveled to other states and other countries and, hence, other time zones. But evidently believed that the world revolved around ME and my home time zone!!! I remember when we would have big blizzards and I assumed everyone in the USA was aware of it, even though part of me guessed that they were only probably aware if they had friends or relatives in the area and/or they saw it on the 20 second blurb on the national news. Anyway - feeling enlightened, but also sobered and a little ashamed. This gives me more insights that even when I feel like I am thoughtful and enlightened and feel like I am good at understanding other people’s plights - I AM VERY ROOTED IN MY OWN LITTLE LIMITED WORLD!! Roots are good - but not if they limit your judgement or open-mindedness, compassion or tolerance…Here's to realizing that we are shaped by our experiences and not to minimize how that impacts and limits our viewpoints.

Sorry to sound preachy…but it has been a profound moment for me on Rte 20 in the rolling hills of Nebraska…at 11:45AM (CST) on May 18th.