"I'm Still Driving"

 Writing about the day before the following morning, has some advantages.  I will probably be less verbose as I am not so caught up in the emotions.

My first adventure of the day was to visit the First Americans Museum.  It was very impressive: from the building structure and design itself to the displays, the visuals and the artifacts.  However much of it was another reminder of how our ancestors were not the best people in treating others.  Again, Native Americans were forced out of their lands for the profit of others, were put into forced labor or camps. were denied so many things.  Reminiscent of my feelings at the Civil Rights Museum.  One of the things that I really loved and want to explore more is the creation stories that the different tribes had.  They seemed to connect the elements, the stars, the land, the animals and how they harmoniously came into being and existed.  

The next stop was the Cowboy Museum.  I should have read more about it.  I was expecting to see Cowboys.  (maybe my current vision of Nashville cowboys and rodeo men).  Not even one did I see.  However there was tons of paintings, sculptures, and walk through experiences.  I have wanted to go to an Art Museum on this journey and I believe the Cowboy Museum satisfied that want.   

I decided that was good for Oklahoma City and set out for Tulsa.  Sadly, I think the is the turning point and I am now headed home.  Will stop and Tulsa and then head to Joplin MO from there.

Anyway, since I had enough of museums, I decided the Botanical Gardens would win out over the Woodie Guthrie Museum.  (I know, maybe not the best of the two.)  The gardens were very nice.  They were doing a huge renovation so the waters that typically run through everything were not there.  The one area that I loved was the Children's section.  It  was all about experiences.  

Some random thoughts on yesterday:

An interesting side note on the visit to FAM.  There was a huge group of teens that were being taken on tours of the museum.  I don't want to be that person that categorizes people, but I do think they were Native American teens based on their looks.  I hate to say that.... And then in my restroom stop there was a group of girls that all had on black turbans and they were sharing and putting on lipstick.  Again, my brain and experiences categorized them in to an ethnic group.  

Getting from OKC to Tulsa required toll roads and my I-pass was not accepted.  

Rural America is an amazing sight.  Seeing cattle, horses and sheep in the same fields, and seeing acres and acres of just green.  On route 44 towns are not close and not to be seen.

However there were tons of advertisements for Casinos.  I learned at the FAM that there are 39 tribes that are in OK.  Curious how many of them have Casinos.  I do know that they make a lot of money for the tribes and they do give it to their members - at least Gun Lake Tribe did.

Supposedly I drove on Route 66 from OKC to Tulsa and from Tulsa towards Joplin.  If that was the case, I am not going to do the Route 66 Tour in the future.  You are on a highway (toll road) with no indication that you are even on it.  

All in all it was a good day.  Just hoping today is the same.  "8 days on the road and I'm going t make it home sometime".  Think musical version of that.  :-)