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Day 8, On Which We Suddenly Decide to Head for Home.

This sign is the inspiration for the title of this web site.  Versions of this sign appear in a number of places on the road right after you have passed an Indian market near the Grand Canyon.  I found the sign a bit startling.  I never knew if it was intended to be informative, reassuring, or to put me on my guard.

This day and the next four were to include Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Monument, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (where we were going to camp out), White Sands National Monument (at the full moon!), a visit with my cousin in Ruidoso and, last, Carlsbad Caverns National Monument.

Paula's mood that morning was subdued, pensive—not the happy, agreeable traveling companion she had been for the past week.  I asked her what was wrong and she replied that she was just a little tired and just not in the mood to talk.  A little later, I looked over and saw tears in her eyes.  "What's wrong?," I asked.  She replied, "I just realized that I'm homesick, and I miss my kittens.  I want to head for home."  So we did.