[at-l] Warm Springs, Montana -- Reminiscing

[Datto <datto996@yahoo.com>]

As I read Kahley's post this morning about Jim and
Ginny being back in Warm Springs, Montana I realized a
few days ago was the anniversary of Ditto and I going
through that same area of Montana on our hitchhiking
trip to the west coast many years ago.

It is something to have an Indiana boy see the Rocky
Mountains for the first time...as seen from eastern
Wyoming...and then realize the trip has to go through
the Rocky Mountains.

I still remember saying to Tony as we were standing
along the highway near Buffalo, Wyoming. looking over
the vastness of the mountains ahead... "How are we
going to get through there?". Ha. 

You know, if we could survive the Pyramid Power Lady
from the day previous, we could survive the Rocky
Mountains up ahead.

Well, we made it through there, even with 45 mph winds
and six inches of snow in late June. 

I think I might have related this story before but...

You know, there is nothing better than being a
hitchhiker and getting dropped off at the front gate
of the Montana State Prison. Ehhmmm... All kinds of
roadside signs saying "Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers". 

That was the point where Tony, in his infinite wisdom
and being almost a full-fledged college graduate, made
the hitchhiking sign we used in front of the nearby
Indian Reservation main entrance down the street...

"Get your picture taken with a real live Italian." 

I must have laughed for 15 minutes when I saw Tony's
cardboard sign.

No kidding...a car with four Indians in it picked us
up not long after that. Got us out of there far enough
that we could revert back to our original, tried and
true cardboard sign:

Free Jokes.

Datto

PS: I recenly found a picture of me (8x10 no less)
that Tony had taken of me in the architectural studio
at Ball State about that time. Wow did I have long
hair! I am sleeping on a lawn chaise lounge, with my
arm over my eyes to hide the light from the blinding
fluorescent ceiling lights. One Doberman is at my feet
sleeping. The other Doberman is wrapped around my
waist sleeping. How did we all fit on that chaise
lounge every night? And yes, Tony and I had run out of
money (again!) and had moved into the architectural
building...much to the dismay of the administration.
Wow were they glad when Tony and I finally graduated. Ha.
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