The Miracle of Shady Water

When I tried to walk to Stillwater, I got very thirsty.

I stopped at a couple of houses, but no one would come to the door.

So I walked a little farther, up a hill, to where a canopy trees shaded an intersection of the highway and a road.  There was a cemetery sign and at the base of the sign was a plastic orange sherbet container of water, clean water, just a little sand.

I’ve now been up and down that highway four times (two trips up and back) and have looked for that spot.

It’s not there.

There are no places on Highway 177 between the I-44 overpass and Carney where trees are even very close to the road, they certainly don’t shade the highway.

There are no intersections with country roads at the top of a hill, no cemetery signs on the east side of the road.

I did see the vineyard where they wouldn’t come to the door and I saw the mobile home where no one would come to the door, but they’re in the opposite order from what I remember, the mobile home being farther south.  I visited the mobile home second, I’m sure of it.

So, perhaps I lost consciousness during my walk, but I’m pretty damn sure I enjoyed water.  I can still taste the sandy taste.  It was awesome.

Just after the water, I was resting my feet and was picked up by the old farmer who eventually drove me the last 20 miles or so to Stillwater.