May 31, 2007  Marijke has been a great connector for me in this area. She rang on Tuesday night and said that I had to meet Jennifer Williams who also lives in Bighorn. Jennifer was married to Joe Pullitzer of the Pullitzer Price. I rang her yesterday morning and told her who I was and Marijke felt that we needed to meet so Jennifer invited me to her place.It truly amazes me how friendly people are in this area. Here is a complete stranger, who calls and says that a friend had felt that we should meet, and she immediately says yes to this. When I arrived at her home, I was welcomed by the smell of fresh baked cookies. I mentioned to her that I like it that people still cook and bake in this area. Often I have experienced in this country that people go out for lunch and dinner most of the time and that the old fashioned family life has disappeared.  I grew up on a horse farm in a small country town in

Holland with about 2000 people. My mother always cooked. We only went out for dinner on special occasions. When living in

New Zealand, I used to bake my own bread and cookies and we had a vegetable garden. I guess I am a bit of a homebody and still love to cook, especially gourmet dinners for my friends. I don’t like to go out for dinner too often as I still feel that it needs to be something special. Am I old fashioned? Maybe, but I like it. Although I enjoy meeting people, I also love being at home, the log fire going on a cold day, candlelight throughout the house. Yeah, I am romantic too.Maybe that is why I feel so at home in this small town of Wyoming. I feel there is still the old fashioned warmed and family life. I had planned to stay only for a few days in this area but more than a week later, I am still here and will be for a few more days.Jennifer told me that because it is so sparsely populated in

Wyoming and people have so much space that this could be the reason why people do like to be in each others company. I think she is right. When we live in big cities, we don’t have any personal space so when we come home, we needed to be in our own space for awhile to recharge and don’t feel the need to be with others.I like the city but feel that I am happier in a small country town. 

While writing this, I am sitting at the local garage as the RV needs to have new oil. (Yes Dad, I finally did it) I love watching people come in. Every one wears jeans, dirty cowboy boots and of course the cowboy hat. It is so much fun to be in this Western town for a while.

I went to dancing again last night and had a great time doing the cha cha cha and the samba. I know all these dances but don’t always have a chance to dance so whenever I get the opportunity, I grab it. Marijke was there with her dear friend Levi, a man in his late twenties. After dancing we had something to drink in one of Sheridan’s nice lounges. Marijke is a very bright and passionate woman and I really like her.

We talked about how important it is to have a network of supportive people around you. The indiginous people have villages in which not only the parents take responsibility to raise their children, but grandparents, aunties and uncles and friends also get involved. Each person has their own gift, their own strenght and if you had an issue, you might seek out your grandparent who would be just the right person for that particulare issue. For something else you might go to your uncle. I really like this idea. Sometimes our parents are just too close to us and it would be better to discuss a situation with someone who is more objective. Also you can receive so much more love from other family members that are close to you then just counting on your parents. In our society we are so caught up with making money or being successful and we have lost touch with the importance of the family life. Can we bring this back or have we gone to far?