McFarthest spot in the United States? Or the annual and well-attended Sheep Shearing School held in those parts? Or my recent selfish thoughts about the paving project that may change the remote area where we used to live?
Well, the effects of the road project is chump change compared to what will happen if companies confirm a major oil field find that stretches across region where South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana meet. Even way back in 1978-1985, when we lived out there, rumors flew about an oil field far below millions of acres of range land and tall grass prairie. But everybody thought it would happen someday far in the future.
According to a recent Sioux Falls TV news report, someday could be now – or in the near future. The possibility leaves me with mixed feelings, but I thoroughly enjoyed the TV clip. The video footage captures the wide open spaces better than still photos. And the shots of what the newscaster call “the tiny town of Buffalo” made me giggle, since we lived in even tinier Camp Crook 23 miles further west. Who knows what adjectives the newscaster would have used to describe that hamlet?
But weirdest of all is a dream I had a couple weeks ago. In the dream, oil was discovered north of Camp Crook. A hundred workers came to town, houses were built, roads were paved, and businesses sprang up overnight. The school popped at the seams and more teachers were hired, one of whom was yours truly. I woke up in a cold sweat.
Prophetic dreams are not my forte, so even with the news report, I don’t put much stock my imaginings. For now, I’m content to view and review the TV story about a place where we used to live. Sure beats driving 600 miles to get there!
