I am back in Rapid City. Overall, the trip was "productive".
At my new place, the previous tenant did a wonderful job landscaping. Yellow roses by the driveway, Rhododendrons (I think) along the walkway up to the front door, and yucca and barrel cactus along the front. I pulled some weeds and sprayed a couple of small wasp nests (one was active). I sent a message to our maintenance man not to remove the nests. They are small enough not to be noticeable.
I spent some time completing the "move-in" checklist the manager gave me. The home is only four years old, so there is no damage; just a few cosmetic blemishes that I can fix when I get settled in. I don't normally watch TV, but I spent my evenings watching what's happening to our country on various local and national news outlets. On the one hand, I am happy to see the outrage that should have happened pre-election, but I am disgusted with the way my country is being torn apart. I saw it coming long ago, but it still sickens me.
Last night, I stopped at the hospital to visit my dad. I got checked in and received my official "visitor" badge. I was waiting on an elevator to go upstairs when the doors opened, and my mom was standing there. She was coming down to get her badge. It was great to see her again after about eight years.
We went upstairs to see my dad, and he didn't recognize me at first. Not sure if that is good or bad. We had a nice visit. He is walking three times a day, but still needs a lot of help. He thinks he will be leaving the hospital by Tuesday. The biggest problem is finding a rehab center that has a bed available and is covered under their Medicare Plus/Humana/Ultra-Platinum Advantage insurance plan. There are just too many rules involved.
After dinner, he went for his evening walk and was ready for pain meds when he got back to bed. We avoided discussing politics and current events, since he is a Trump Loyalist.
At one point, I had to fire a warning shot across his bow. He reiterated a comment that he had made years ago that I "will always be his SON." I told him that I know who I am and my documents are in order. My mom corrected him and said, "DAUGHTER". I told them that I understand that they still wrestle with this (after six years), but that does not change who I am or how I will live MY life. What they fail to understand is that when we pretend to be something we are not, when we try to adapt our behaviors and every aspect of our lives to fit society's mold, it creates problems within us. People are welcome to join me in my life, but if they don't want to, that is their decision.
My mom said that the important point is that they love me unconditionally, that I am still family. I said yes, "I am still your child (meaning offspring, not a baby)." I also told my dad that his comment does not offend me because I know he did not mean it maliciously. (I know he was trying to get a dig in, but that could be that the OxyContin was diffusing his filter.) I told them that one of the things that therapy has helped me realize is that the only opinion that matters is mine. I will continue to live MY life as I choose, and what anyone else thinks about it does not matter.
It was getting late, and my mom offered the keys to their house so I could spend the night. I declined and said I would rather just drive straight through and sleep in my own bed. Hotel beds suck! So we said our goodbyes, and I got back on the road just as a wicked thunderstorm was blowing through.
I stopped in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to get gas and saw this:

Throughout the rest of the trip, the storm stayed just ahead of me with a spectacular light show. Huge cloud-to-cloud lightning bolts lit up the sky every few seconds. I finally got home shortly after midnight, and my prediction was correct: It was SO good to sleep in my own bed!
Thanks to all of you for your well-wishes. Very much appreciated.