This does not quite qualify as a devotional on doing things decently and in order, but I noticed a huge difference between driving styles out west in the states that have an 80mph speed limit on interstates and here, where 80mph will net you a felony reckless driving charge.

First, there is the obvious difference in population density. Though we never reached the place my sister had 20 years ago where she didn't see another car for hours while driving in some western states, it is obvious that Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota are much less densely populated than we are. There is more room for error at 80 mph.

But secondly, the western states are used to following the driver's manual to the letter. Pass on the left. Move over if approached in the left lane by somebody wishing to pass you. And, like in Europe, the safe way to indicate a desire to pass is not riding up on somebody's tail, but staying back and flashing your lights once or twice.

It was funny to watch license plates because, as a rule, the people who camped in the left lane and got defensive/slowed down when someone indicated a desire to pass them were all from the east. We are not the world's most polite drivers here. LOL!

I will say a word of warning that, after the summer crowds, the national parks remain crowded in September. I think a lot of retirees thought like us. Wait till the kids are back in school! So in September the roads out west are full of RVs pulling cars and trucks pulling campers, most of them with older couples in them. It was really very sweet because the national parks are all open 24/7 with campgrounds in them (which are discounted with the Senior Pass) so we saw lots of folks enjoying respite after working hard all life long! I myself was very tempted to go back into Badlands NP after dark to see the famous night skies (with no ambient light, they would resemble what David saw and told us about in the Psalms). We need to go back and see so much more!

Note: the National Parks Senior Pass can be purchased by a familymember once they hit 62--it then covers everyone in their vehicle for free entry to all national parks, monuments, forests, etc. Twenty dollars a year or eighty dollars for a lifetime pass. Camping and other amenities are discounted 50% for the passholder and his/her vehicle. If two families bring campers, both need to have their own pass. And the pass does not cover an entire bus or commercial vehicle.