Park Paradise

As we picked up our sandwiches for lunch later in the day the clerk asked, "Are you guys headed to the park?" Receiving an answer in the affirmative, she grinned and said, "Lucky!"

Well, I don't know about luck but we sure are fortunate to live part-time in a place where you can hop in your car, drive through a most-appropriately named Paradise Valley and arrive in the nation's first National Park one hour later.

Yesterday two of my daughters and I, my 4 year old grandson in tow, set off early for an anticipated day of wildlife spotting and scenery enjoying. Yellowstone National Park never disappoints. Before we even drove through Roosevelt Arch at the northern entrance in Gardiner, MT we'd been treated to bison and antelope sightings, to say nothing of the fabulous snow-capped Absaroka mountains. And you can't "say nothing" about them - they are simply breathtaking on a gorgeous sunny day, which we had. They are so perfect-looking we always comment that it all looks like an artist-painted backdrop, which it was, since God made them!

Our park entrance pass expired in March so I had to purchase a new one. I told the ranger that I was sorry to hand over the old card as it bore a fabulous shot of a Yellowstone bison, or buffalo as we commonly call them, just emerging from the river. "That's OK, " he replied. The new ones have otters on them and I like those even better." We exchanged comments on our appreciation of the park. He told me how much he loved Yellowstone and how he just couldn't believe his fortune at living and working in such a special place. It makes me happy when people who live and work in a place still appreciate it every day!

My grandson has an appreciation for buffalo, just like his Nana does. Most days they are not difficult to spot and often you can see "buffawo on da road," as Lukie said when he was really tiny. And they were everywhere, including on the road. When they are, you wait until they decide to move. The largest land mammals in North America go where they want, when they want. Despite their bulk, they are pretty agile and pretty quick. Several foolish visitors have found out to their detriment thatthe big guys run fast - faster than they can.

We always hope to spot a bear, but though both the black and grizzly varieties are out of hibernation, they remained elusive to us on this day. We were most content and actually thrilled to see a zillion of our bison friends (that's an exaggeration - there are only a little more than 3,000 of them in the park; they're massive size just make it seem like more!), antelope, bighorn sheep, sand cranes, big elk herds, mule deer and a beautifully bushy wolf who crossed the road directly in front of us.

Then there there was Nana and her old bladder to give us a laugh. Not kidding. We had stopped at an "outhouse" sort of restroom, out in the Lamar Valley. I knew what to expect, but Lukie did not. As we entered the hut,which really wasn't all that repulsive as non-flushing, no sink restrooms go, I spotted all the trash in the pit toilet. I hoped Lukie had not, but he grimaced and said in a most confused tone, "That is for garbage." And not for what it was really for apparently, as he refused to use it. He went over to the peculiar-looking urinal and relived his little self. "This is really splashy!" he commented. That initiated my giggle relex, which led to all-out belly laughing, which led to...well, let's just say I had to sit on a blanket when I returned to the driver's seat. "Some people don't know where to put their garbage," he reported to the aunties. Wise little Luke, you are so right! Shame on them - they apparently don't possess the sense of a 4 year old! Ah, laughter. Good for you even when wet pants aren't so much.

The end of the day was complete with the purchase of more "Buffys" - a stuffed mama buffalo and her baby, gifts from auntie to her nephew. Nice auntie. Happy nephew. And happy, most blessed Yellowstone visitors.

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth." (Psalm 104:10-14)