Johnson Shut-Ins
(Part one)
On October 20, 2022, I started a quest that became my own
personal Holy Grail. I would visit every one of Missouri’s 57 state parks and 36
historic sites. I included two facilities that weren’t categorized, but they
were on the list!
And that’s how 95 became my magic number.
chasing a dream
I hike in the shadows
of personal grief
I went back in time to memories of family reunions along the
Black River. We would rise early while the day was still cool. It was a long
drive to Arcadia Valley.
We always took the scenic but treacherous Highway 21. So many fatal accidents have occurred on this road that a 28-mile stretch of it is still called blood alley.
a twist here, a turn there
each of us praying
no one gets carsick
oncoming cars
Dad’s knuckles turn white
passing a cement truck