I thought I was alone with my loneliness in the North Dakota fog.
I’d left my brother’s farmhouse early in the morning to make it to my destination before sunset.
The forty mile stretch south of my parents’ Montana lake home is dotted with white crosses, symbols of lives lost on the treacherous stretch of highway. It’s challenging by day, treacherous by night. I was eager to be on my way, but dreaded the journey of the day.
My nine-year-old daughter dozed in the back seat quickly recovering from waking too early, as children do.
I was sorry to leave my birth state, but not sorry enough to move back. My husband and I have been Pacific Coast residents for eight years and have adjusted to the big city life. But not enough to stay there forever.
We are caught between the two worlds.
The loneliness of driving down that highway
in the middle of a prairie,
in the middle of a lonely county road,
in the early morning hours,
was no different
than the loneliness of living
in the middle of a busy city,
in the middle of busy roads,
with people who never sleep.
I was painfully alone with thoughts of past, present, and future in an infinite emptiness.
The open prairie was my loneliness, my loneliness was the open prairie.
Then I spotted a figure in the fog.
Because I drive my camera on my lap, I captured this moment.
Confidant I caught the perfect shot, I put down my camera and missed the real photo op.
But the scene is imprinted on my heart and soul.
Like any good North Dakotan who passes someone on the road, he lifted his right arm and waved, without turning his head.
He never saw me or the tears on my cheeks. He’ll never know he empowered me with fresh resolve from this simple revelation.
It only took
one person
one second and
one action
to remind me ~
the cure for loneliness
in the middle of a prairie
in the middle of a lonely county road
in the early morning hours
is no different
than the cure for loneliness
in the middle of a busy city
in the middle of busy roads
with people who never sleep.
You can actually wave loneliness away.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder of my childhood in North Dakota.
You’re so welcome! I’m thankful you have beautiful memories to carry with you.
Your lovely photo is very evocative of my childhood growing up on a North Dakota farm. Your post is beautifully written.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m so glad I could bring back some warm feelings from your amazing upbringing. There’s just something about North Dakota, isn’t there?
Thank you for your kind response. I believe my upbringing allowed me to go out into the world and appreciate it with a sense of wonder, openness, and gratitude, all while valuing the place from which I came.
yes I remember the long roads that were out in the country seemingly to go for miles and then just over a small incline there is a sign of another car. the warmest greetings come from the other passers by and then back to the lonely road.
Beautifully put! I miss living out in the country where everyone waved whether you knew them or not 🙂
Beautiful.
What a lovely reminded of the influence of simple actions when we’re just being ourselves.
Beautifully written, Mindy.
I love the picture.