“It is Here the Romance of My Life Began”

“It is here the romance of my life began.” I read this quote by Theodore Roosevelt while driving through the Badlands in North Dakota. I had recently read David McCullough’s biography of the president, and I knew what he meant by those words. He was twenty-four years old when his first child was born. Two days after her birth, both his wife and his mother died. He was grief-stricken, and in the solitude of The Badlands, he found his solace. It was the place where his heart began to heal.

I have been thinking of his words as we meandered, and they began to resonate. The first piece of literature I read about North Dakota quoted General Alfred Sully as he described the area while on a military expedition: “Hell with the fires burnt out.”  At first, I was slightly inclined to agree with him. However, I found myself thinking of Teddy Roosevelt’s experience, and the more I thought about it, the more I understood the meaning of his words. He had found great comfort here, and his love for the outdoors was kindled during those two years, ultimately leading to the formation of our national parks, forests, and monuments. This would become a part of his legacy. 

I was reminded of the beauty found in unexpected places. Intensely hard things can provide incredibly beautiful outcomes. The vast barren lands and the beauty of these wide open spaces were a revelation to me. I began to think about this on the quiet and unpopulated roads and towns in the Dakotas and Canada. Their unassuming grandeur, hidden from the casual observer,  became lovely to me.

I found myself thinking about a woman I met earlier in our travels. I noticed her beautiful knit cap at breakfast one morning and commented on it. When the words were out of my mouth, my heart knew she wore it because she had no hair. I asked her how she was doing. We looked at each other, and I could see she was hesitant with her response. I knew it would be a complicated answer. I reached over and held her hand, and she told me she had a reoccurrence of a malignant brain tumor and would start another treatment next month. She and her husband were on a road trip to enjoy some time together before she began her treatment. I found the most profound beauty in this moment with her.

I am often asked about the most beautiful place I have visited or if I have a favorite place. It is never just about the place but the gift God gives me as I open myself to see and to view things differently. Tom and I had the best time in each other’s company. We found joy in the simplest of things. We were surrounded by beautiful landscapes, kind people, and unique experiences. I could not have wanted for anything more.

Hell, with the fires burnt out or beauty in those ashes?

I’m choosing the beauty.