By Scott Shephard
It is somewhat rare for people to appear in this blog. It’s even rarer for this person to show up. So what possessed me to take a selfie? It was the time, the atmosphere and, most significantly, the place.
The sun was setting over the Little Bend/Mission Creek area of Lake Oahe in central South Dakota. It was a warm evening for October and the “golden hour” light was flattering both to the contours of the land and to the well-worn jeans and skin of this 68-year-old man.
Why am I smiling? For one, I am in one of my 2 or 3 favorite spots on earth. I have written redundantly about this, but this place, especially on a calm, October night, is full of memories and of hope. To some, this part of our continent is “flyover country.” It is considered semi-arid and can be harsh both in summer and in winter. But it is anything but empty.
Another reason for a smile is this: I was in my 30s when I first “discovered” this place. If you had asked me then what it might feel like to be approaching 70, I would have said, “It can’t be good to be that old.” But I would have been wrong. Life has been, life is and life will no doubt continue to be Good. I am grateful for this blessing and I am smiling again as I write this.
Canon R5 f/4 120 sec ISO 320