WHERE---EXACTLY--IS SHANGRI LA

I've been invited to come see for myself: A Mayberry of a town out on the Kansas Prairie. Cottonwood Falls, an Emeral city in the emerald green flint hills--Darlene and Linda's hometown and they've invited our "tribe" to come see for ourselves.

I stopped to take a picture--turned around--and these curious cattle had assembled--looking expectantly at me. I naturally assumed they wished to hear a few words from me--so I quoted a special poem I wrote for them some years ago.

SERMON TO THE COWS

Whenever I walk by a herd of cows

they stop whatever they're doing,

raise their heads to look at me

and quietly keep on chewing.

Such focused attention is truly rare

so far's I can determine.

It rouses up the preacher in me

so I preach the cows a sermon.

I introduce myself as Randy,

a long-time lover of milk,

a special friend of cows everywhere;

my words flow smoothe as silk.

I urge them to be good cows;

stay within their fences;

share the grass evenly;

honor their bovine senses.

I warn them about those handsome bulls;

rascals up to no good,

who satisfy their lust and run

away from fatherhood

I'm warming up--I speak of calves;

I warn of loco weeds;

describe the joys of bovine heaven

for those who've done good deeds.

I'm prepared to preach on but suddenly

they're all back grazing again;

such a wonderful audience---but

a short attention span.

Stopped to puzzle over this odd structure--what is it--a water tower? Nobody was around to ask--have to remain a mystery, I guess.

The tribe was already assembled for evening circle when I arrived---full time RVers from around the country will gather like this when the call goes out to come experience something new.

This was Mothers day --Ernie provided roses to every mother--I offer a poem to these now-single ladies brave enough to travel the country in their own motor home:

MOTHERS OF THE ROAD

These are Mothers of the road--

finished rearing up their brood;

now with time and lighter load

express a traveling mood

Ernie gave each one a rose

honoring Mothers day.

let flowers speak what everyone knows,

but none of us can say.

Cottonwood Falls fairgrounds---free parking if you don't need electricity---stayed a week.

Courthouse---stately status symbol of Chase county pride. Courthouses usually are--symbols of status and pride. In Texas counties-- they carried this urge to ridiculous extremes--building massive, ornate, county courthouses to rival the Taj Majal---each seeking to outshine the others. It's worth a trip through Texas to see them.

From the 3rd floor looking down on Cottonwood Falls. That's the whole business district.
The interior floors, walls, staircases and furniture were marvels of carpentry.

A stallion and his harem? Close enough! We're touring the courthouse jail.

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve---just outside town--a vast area--treated with great care by dedicated rangers--you're seeing almost precisely what the pioneers saw--heartlifting just to know its there.

I happened upon this stunning scene--A sure fire sign you're in Shangri La----bicycles NOT LOCKED UP.

Madonna of the trail---famous statue in nearby Council Grove.

A strange man lived 3 years in this tiny cave---declared himself a holy man--migrated to Las Cruces, New Mexico---Indians killed him.

This marker lets me return to the subject of Shangri La. Is it reasonable to believe that somewhere else you might make a better life?---yes!--But not reasonable to think that the good life could ever be a PLACE. I go further and say that all places (and all people) must be MOVED THROUGH to experience the Shangri La feeling. All people and all places grow stale--It is MOTION (albeit sometimes very slow motion) that generates happiness. I see signs everywhere that humanity is beginning to grasp this insight---marriages are shorter---jobs---avocations--even friendships. To be happy, one must be going somewhere. Happiness like electricity can only be generated by motion. Thoreau left his Shangri La of Walden Pond because the experience was complete and he "had many more lives to lead." I believe most people squander their lives chasing the delusion of permanence.

So to answer the title question precisely: SHANGRI LA IS AN EVER FADING FLICKER IN THE HEAD. The Good news is that there is an infinite supply of flickers available to those with the courage to MOVE.