Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Peak to Peak. What is a daughter to do when her mom needs help? She goes and helps even in the Summer of 2020.

With some hesitation and then careful planning, I packed the car with masks, disposable gloves and the most natural hand sanitizer I could find. As well as plenty of snacks and drinks so we could keep stops to a minimum. Years ago, I would travel and find a hotel when needed and where I could. Not this summer and not with kids along. I planned everything in advance. 

When I drive to northern Wisconsin I always debate a bit, the Iowa route or the South Dakota route. Because of Covid we would not be staying with family or friends along the way, so I had a few more options when planning the route. I decided that the kids need to see more of the country than just along the interstates, so my goal was to get to the Mississippi River and drive north on the Great River Road. 

Our first night we spent in Lincoln, Nebraska. Every time I heard, “How much longer till the hotel?” I would say how cool it is that we are staying in the capitol city of Nebraska. I went on about why it is named Lincoln and then I stopped. I had one of those moments when I realized I have become my father. I was telling my kids all about the history and significance of places as we traveled. I smiled and glanced back at my kids. Headphones were on and movies were being watched. No one was listening to me. I chuckled and wondered if I had ignored my dad. I am sure I did some, but not as much because I did not have a Walkman and cassette tapes of my own until well into the 1980’s. I sat with the memories of family road trips. And was grateful for the silence and a break from the backseat arguments. 

The second day on the road we left very early in the morning so we could drive through the beautiful Iowa countryside and find The Field of Dreams. We turned off the interstate north of Des Moines and headed to Dyersville, Iowa. We realized on our morning rest stops that day that very few people in Iowa were wearing masks. We doubled up on the hand sanitizer and didn’t touch anything we didn’t have to at gas stations. 

Outside of Dyersville we drove on county roads and in the distance I could see baseball field lights. I felt like I was driving in a VW van with Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones. I started quoting the movie and was surprised how excited I was. It felt just like the movie. We ran around the bases and in the outfield and even in the cornfield. The corn was very short but that was okay. The kids rolled around in the grass and had such a good time. They have never lived in a place with grass like that and it was very entertaining to see their reaction to it. The Field of Dreams movie site was a great place to visit. 

We then headed north weaving between corn fields and pig farms to connect with the Great River Road. The air started to smell like water. Then we saw her, the Mighty Mississippi. I heard wows from the back seat as I explained that Mississippi is an Ojibwe word that means great river. I was so impressed that the kids were so impressed when seeing the Mississippi. They actually liked my silly game of learning how to spell the word and thought about the questions I asked about why the river was so important to Native Americans and Europeans.

Soon all the running around on a baseball field and the movement of the car caught up with the kids and they fell asleep. I fully enjoyed quietly driving through the small towns along the river. There were bluffs and more green leafy trees than I had seen in a long time. By late afternoon we drove into the beautiful town of Winona, Minnesota. I breathed in that humid river air and remembered why I love road trips so much. I love seeing how the scenery changes from place to place. I love how the air smells and feels different. I love looking at the architecture of churches and barns and banks and thinking about what European ethnic group lived here and built these structures.  

The next morning we crossed over the Mississippi River at Wabasha, Minnesota, and drove into one of the states I call home, Wisconsin. I am a huge Laura Ingalls Wilder fan and being so close to her birthplace in Pepin, Wisconsin, we made a short detour. The kids were not very excited about this stop. They knew we were only a few hours from grandma’s house. I chose not to argue and understood their eagerness to get back into the car. 

Driving to a place I once called home never ceases to excite me. I get so anxious and feel the smile on my face. I am always a little shocked to see how things have changed but also feel the comfort of knowing this is home. 

I had a lot of work to do on this visit with my mom. It was not the relaxed vacation time that usually happens when I visit. I walked back in time as I went through box after box in her basement. Seeing and touching memories that took me back to my childhood. My baby dolls’ crib, Christmas decorations that my sister and I would hang on the tree, my roller skates, a quilt my grandmother made for me, my first Nancy Drew book, E.T. drinking glasses from Pizza Hut, my great-grandparents tea set and so many more treasures. There is some sadness when you have to go through these things knowing mom cannot and should not keep these things anymore. It is her children’s turn to make some of these decisions and start the process of moving her to a place that fits her life now. 

After the majority of the work was done we took a day to enjoy being on a lake. Is it possible to go to Wisconsin and not spend time on a lake? Some friends hosted a wonderful day of canoeing, being on a pontoon, fishing and swimming. They live on a small lake where there were no speed boats or even other people to be seen. We saw loons taking care of their nest. I enjoyed swimming in the lake so much I did not want to climb back on the pontoon. It was a wonderful day of rest with good friends and good conversation before making the trip back to Colorado. 

On the journey home, I had two goals. Get home safely and see the Dignity statue in Chamberlain, South Dakota. As we approached Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I thought my goal of safety may be compromised. We drove right into one of the worst rainstorms I have ever been in. Visibility was zero and every vehicle on I-90 pulled over and stopped. It was about 30 minutes of intense wind, rain, thunder and lightning. The kids huddled together in their seats as the car shook. It was scary. Our comfort came in knowing we were together and in that moment we were in the same situation with everyone else on the road. 

The next morning the sun shone bright as we approached the Missouri River. And there she stood on the banks of The Big Muddy, Dignity of Earth and Sky. Dignity is a 50 foot sculpture of a Native woman. It is made of stainless steel, and she holds a starquilt made of 128 diamond shapes the color of water and sky. Dignity stands with power, grace, courage, perseverance, wisdom and beauty to honor the Native people of the Great Plains. 

I was not sure if I should cheer or pray when I was in her presence. For someone who wants marginalized people in our country to be seen and heard and respected, this is a powerful representation of honor and is rightly named Dignity. 

Our Summer of 2020 road trip was a success in many ways. I was able to help my mom. We saw that there is more than just mountains and pine trees in the United States. We saw rolling green hills, the Sandhills of Nebraska, prairie grass, oak trees, rivers large and small, loons and lakes all in the hopes of broadening our horizons. 

(Originally published in the July 16, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)