Day 6

Yesterday, I commented that I felt like I was in hostile territory. Our trip into Custer last night proved it. G3 wanted to stop at a souvenir shop but not long after going in, he came out. The shirts inside and outside were offensive and demonstrated a hatred of women and the LGBT community, as well as an infatuation with guns. And to think, people who are so full of hate and so supportive of gun violence have a greater say in our government, as one can see based on our Senate representation. Here is a small sample:

Last night, for dinner we ate in Pizza Hut. I hate it but G3 and Kati love it. Our waitress was really nice and after our meal she quietly and sheepishly asked me if Kati and I were a couple. When I told her we were a family she actually became giddy and said we totally made her day. I’ve never experienced such a reaction. It turns out she is saving money to visit her girlfriend. No wonder she was excited. In a community that so outwardly hates LGBT people, a happy rainbow family must have made her feel normal.

We have been going to bed late and getting up early so we could see sites and still drive a substantial distance. Now that we will stay in one place for a bit G3 asked if he could please sleep in one morning. I can’t sleep in when traveling so while the family slept I hiked. There is a short loop — only a mile — at the campsite so that’s what I did.

G3 has been wanting to see Mount Rushmore for forever. Today, he finally got there. Of course the first thing he wanted to do was explore the gift shop, his favorite part of any expedition. From one angle it appeared to Kati as if Roosevelt and Lincoln were in an intimate pose with each other. It’s all she talked about the entire time we were there.

After Rushmore, we went to the Crazy Horse Memorial where they are carving Crazy Horse into the mountain. I was there 25 years ago and in all that time they don’t appear to have made much progress. Only his head has emerged from the stone.

What we enjoyed most was the educational and cultural program. We learned an abbreviated history of the Lakota people and watched a few cultural dances. G3 really enjoyed the Hoop Dance and the Feather dance. He said those dances reminded him of XMA in taekwondo.