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Here’s To You, Wyoming

Mar 21, 2014
by Caroline Miller
last vestiges of the American frontier, writing a blog, Wyoming
8 Comments

Today marks 4 years since I began my blog, March 22, 2010. Since that date, I have ruminated 5 days a week on matters concerning literature, writing and life as it’s viewed through the lenses of my fellow writers. I began as a party of one, sending my thoughts across the virtual world, hoping to connect with others. And connect I have. My blogs have reached as far as India, Australia, Brazil, Russia and most other countries of the world. What’s more, the audience has not only grown but a majority have stayed with me over the years. That kind of loyalty is humbling and I want to thank my readers for their support. But for all the blog’s success, I am left with a puzzle.

One place on the planet exists where I have not a single reader. I refer to the great state of Wyoming. My guess is that the ranchers on those windy plains are too busy feeding cattle. A few cities exist in that state, but mostly it’s comprised of people who work the land. I know this because I once volunteered to make calls across Wyoming on behalf of a national campaign. If I was lucky enough to find someone home, the voice at the other end of the line was usually friendly, ready for a chat and more than ready to express his or her views on politics. After sparring with one rancher for a time, he broke into a laugh. “Tell you what,’ he said in his Midwestern drawl. “You’ve got me so convinced about your candidate that when I drive those 20 miles to the polls next week, I’ll haul Betty and Elsie along with me. Those two cows are as smart as any two-legged critters I’ll meet at the ballot box.”

 I liked the dry wit I encountered in Wyoming. Maybe the open plains and the scarcity of neighbors have taught these folks to find humor in the way the wind bends the grass. Certainly they know about hard work and how to fend for themselves. I think of them as the last vestiges of the American frontier, a place where John Wayne could comfortably rest his spurs. John Wayne is dead, of course, which makes me wonder about the fate of these ranchers living in the middle of our country, surrounded by technology and urban growth. Before the last Wyoming rancher gives up his acres to Wall Mart, I hope that I am gone. I wouldn’t want to be around to witness the extinction of a heroic way of life.

 So on the 4th anniversary of my blog, I raise my glass to you, Wyoming, to your rugged people and their independent spirit. I’ve never set foot in your state, I admit, so it’s only fair you’ve never read a blog of mine. But I know you’re out there and that’s enough for me.

Wyoming rancher

 

 

 

 

 

(Courtesy of www.press.uchicago.edu)

 

 

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8 Comments
  1. Christine Webb March 21, 2014 at 7:24 am Reply
    Congratulations for reaching this milestone, Caroline and for having continued for so many months to write a blog that so many have found relevant, fascinating and appealing. Have no doubt, that after having, in a sense, thrown down this gauntlet, you will have a plethora of readers from Wyoming in no time at all. It may even be that quite a few of your readers are looking for their address books at this very moment! Looking very much forward to the next four, and beyond, years. Thank you... :)
    • Caroline Miller March 21, 2014 at 7:55 am Reply
      Thank you Christine for your comment. I hope you're right about Wyoming. Just waiting to hear.
  2. Bill Whitlatch March 21, 2014 at 9:47 am Reply
    Congratulations !
    • Caroline Miller March 21, 2014 at 10:41 am Reply
      Thank you, Bill. It's only words, words, words, but I do feel 4 years of daily blogs is an accomplishment. Thank heavens the world is so complex.
  3. Pamela March 21, 2014 at 7:47 pm Reply
    Congratulations INDEED, Caroline. You are a wonderful blogger, everything I am not--you write daily, thoughtfully. I feel enriched when I read your posts. This one is amusing to me, as my husband has relatives in Wyoming and they are surely salt-of-the-earth folks. In fact my first ever CNF piece was the recounting of a time I was present at a bull castration on a Wyoming ranch. Have you read Gretel Ehrlich's The Solace of Open Spaces? Takes place in Wyoming of course. So perhaps the day will come when you and Wyoming will meet actually and virtually. Meanwhile, keep up the amazing writing--it inspires me!
    • Caroline Miller March 22, 2014 at 7:38 am Reply
      Thank you for such encouraging words. You've put enough wind under my sails for another 10 years of blog writing. No, I haven't read Gretel Ehrich's book, but fully intend to do so now that I have your recommendation. I'm also heartened to know that because your husband has relatives in Wyoming, you can assure me my impression about the people of that vast and great state is true. "Salt of the earth" is exactly how I imagine them.
  4. mike March 24, 2014 at 2:45 pm Reply
    Greeting Ms. Miller. We have a mutual friend - and you now have #wyoming on your list. Congrats on kicking off year five of your blog. I've only discovered it thanks to our friend, but look forward to reading much more. Wishing you continued success - and when you need a break, you know where to find us ;-)
    • Caroline Miller March 24, 2014 at 3:23 pm Reply
      Well, hello Wyoming! Lovely to greet you and I'm sure I can guess the identity of our mutual friend. Aren't we both lucky to know her? I will have to thank her for roping you in. As for sauntering by sometime, I'd like that. I know where Wyoming is. I know it has great plains and lots of cattle, but I'm guessing findng people might be a little tricky.

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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