3 am.  Greg wakes me up telling me to come look at all the stars.   We have been trying to see the night sky but it seems everywhere we park there are dozens of lights so we can’t see anything.   Where we parked last night is pretty remote with just a few lights so at 3 am the sky is pretty amazing.   It’s hard to believe how many stars are really up there and we still aren’t seeing them all.   It’s amazing.  
By the time I get back in the truck I am freezing.  I can’t believe it but it’s 57 degrees this morning – in August!   Not that I mind really.   You can always get warm it seems but when you are hot it’s just miserable. 

We have about six hours to go to get to Minnesota.   Then we will see where we are off to next.  

School starts today for the kids.  Even Maddi is going to pre-K.   She is so excited. Sadie starts first grade and Kaiden starts junior high.   I can’t believe it.   Where has the time gone.  

The girls got their hair cut Saturday  getting ready for school.  

   
    
   
Yesterday they spent the day getting ready for baby Alex.  Just about 3 weeks away.  Can’t wait! 

DG: Who has the cutest grandkids?  I do. No really. Everybody says theirs are the cutest, but just look at those Angels. No brag, just fact. 

Spring Valley, Minnesota is where we are. Parked for the night in the parking lot of an out of business variety store. One wonders, looking at the now empty shell, what happened?  Mismanagement? Better competitor?  Or community apathy. I just wonder how different things would be if communities, as a whole, took a more active role in supporting the businesses of their neighbors. There would be no room for chains and franchises. Sure you may pay a little more for your goods and services than a larger corporation would be able to sell for but you would keep the integrity of your town.  Now there’s is not a city, town or berg in this country that does not have multiple vacant buildings. Buildings that once housed the dreams and aspirations of a familiar family.  And now the big chains and corporate stores buy up land once used for farming and out up giant buildings and fill them to the rafters if things we do not need or want but will impulsively throw into our buggies as we walk the isles of these monstrosities spending way more than we needed to or intended. 

I’m reminded of a little corner market close to where I grew up where a mother and housewife could call the proprietor and place an order for her weekly needs and then pick up the order later that day or send one of the children after it, the cost of which being put into an account that would be settled at the end of the month. 

Spring Valkey looks like it was once one of those places. Now the empty shells of bygone days sat and as tombstones along the graveyard that was once Main Street. 

I am thankful for those memories even though they are now accompanied by sadness. Those are memories that no other generation will ever know.  And that is truly sad. 

I know you are probably thinking of Wal Mart as the perpetrator of this new way of life but I did a little research and discovered the origin of self service. You may be surprised but Piggly Wiggly was the first store if any kind to offer “self service”. Which essentially means “no service”. You pick from the shelves, carry your products to a counter and a clerk takes your money. The store saves on labor, but do your goods cost any less?  No. 

Annie – Turning in.  Don’t have to get up at 3 but get to sleep until about 7.  Woo hoo!  Our next trip is north just a bit and then dropping it in Union City, Georgia.  Again.  

Goodnight, y’all.