A Study in Contrasts

We gave a presentation Thursday night about our July trip across country.   We had carefully selected around 100 slides to depict our journey, out of the 1000+.  We divided the presentation in half and each did our part.  I think it went well, and people certainly appreciated it.

During the question and answer time, one person asked an excellent question  (which we had already asked ourselves).  I don't remember the exact words, but it was something like this::  What stands out to you the most, or What overall impression do you have?

We had the answer at the time.  Vastness.  If you haven't driven across the country,  one cannot really grasp how vast this nation is.  And variety.  There is so much variety in the terrain, the agriculture,  the lifestyles, the population density, the vegetation.

After thinking about that a little bit more, I would add another word.  Contrasts.  Going across country was a study in contrasts.
From black lava fields, to lush waterfalls.
From wide open spaces, to dense green forests
From cram packed cities with dense populations, to the plains with miles between homesteads and houses.
From the mountains to the valley to the ocean white with foam
From miles and miles and miles of arid desert and nothing but scrub brush, to the wetlands of North Dakota with a lake or water pocket every few feet
From interstate highways to rocky roads

It makes me understand and think of the words:  From purple mountains majesty across the fruited plains.

There is one other thing that strikes me, as I think about it.  People are generally the same.  And by nature, they tend to be interested, kind, hard working, friendly.

You would not be able to tell that from listening to the evening news. But the truth is, as Americans, we all have much more in common than not.